The Wausau story begins in 1836 with a treaty transferring waterfront property from the local Native Americans to the federal government. Two years later, George Stevens was sent to find the perfect area to turn the pine forests into lumber. By 1840, numerous sawmills could be found along the Wisconsin River. One of these mills was built in an area that then became known as Big Bull Falls. In 1850, due to the efforts of a Scottish immigrant and industrialist named Walter McIndoe, Big Bull Falls became known as Wausau, Wisconsin, and the town was officially incorporated in April 1861.
The city's population was over 9,000 and still climbing by the 1890s. Technological advances also changed the city during this period. As sawmills closed, many nearby towns disappeared, but the waterpower of the Wisconsin River and the Wausau Group saved Wausau. This group focused on preserving the city while building it. They also helped to shift the economy from lumber to paper making. These new industrial needs led to the creation of the Employers Mutual Liability Insurance Company. The railroad came to the area in 1874, and the first automobile arrived in the 1920s. The vehicle's arrival created a need for more hard-surfaced roads, allowing another economic shift.
Today, the economy is thriving, with a population of over 39,000. Visitors come to the area to explore City Hall Park, Marathon County Park, and River Life Park. They also enjoy the local cuisine at Ciao, 2510 Restaurant, City Grill, and Back When Café. Other popular places to visit near Wausau are Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum, Granite Peak, and The Grand Theater.
Campgrounds Near Wausau, Wisconsin
One of the most popular campgrounds near Wausau is Lake DuBay Shores Campground. This RV campsite is within walking distance of Lake DuBay. This lake is full of walleye, largemouth bass, northern pike, and muskies for anglers. This site also offers boats for rent, an on-site store, trails, sports courts, and boat slips. Other amenities at this location include showers, Wi-Fi, laundry facilities, and a dump station.
River's Edge Campground is situated on the edge of the gorgeous Wisconsin River. This location allows visitors to enjoy various water activities. You can explore the different hiking trails, sports courts, or the nearby bar and grill when not enjoying the water. Children and adults enjoy the inflatable slide and trampoline platform on the property. This RV campsite tries to meet all your needs by offering daily, weekly, and monthly rates along with full hookups, back-in sites, pull-through sites, and 30- and 50-amp connections.
If you love Yogi Bear, you will want to stop at Fremont Jellystone Park RV Campground. This site is one of the famous family-focused Jellystone chains. It is also called the white bass capital of the world, so anglers will love it too. This RV camp offers excellent amenities, including mini golf, a pool, a lake, walkable boat docks, a marina, rental boats, a restaurant, hiking trails, and playgrounds. Other essential features include a camp store, game room, laundry facilities, and a dump station.
State Parks Near Wausau, Wisconsin
Wisconsin has a wide range of gorgeous state parks. One of these parks is Council Grounds State Park. This 508-acre park sits along the Wisconsin River with a boat landing, accessible fishing pier, beach, dressing court, vault toilet, canoe portage, and beach shelter. This state park offers RV camping at its family and group campgrounds. Each site has access to a garbage dumpster, dump station, and drinking water. The park also has numerous trails, including Northwest Trail, Green Trail, and Big Pines Nature Trail. For a fun adventure, you can access Alexandre Hydro Rapids Stairways to reach the dam in this state park.
Another state park near Wausau is Hartman Creek State Park. This natural gem is located on the majestic Chain O' Lakes. This system of lakes includes various lakes, including Allen Lake, Grebe Lake, Hartman Lake, and Pope Lake. During Wisconsin’s hunting and trapping seasons, the park allows hunting and trapping in the open areas. Over 10 miles of hiking trails can be found in the park. These trails include the easy Deer Path Trail, Dike Trail, Ice Age National Scenic Trail, and the Oak Ridge Trail System, which spans nearly 5 miles. Fishing is another popular activity with four spring-fed lakes at the park containing largemouth bass, perch, bluegill, and other panfish.
Black River State Park near the town of Black River Falls in Jackson County contains 68,000 acres of pine and oak woods. In 2015, the state successfully released elk back into this area after they had been gone from the area for over 125 years. Campgrounds are available at Castle Mound, East Fork, and Pigeon Creek. Each of these campgrounds is a family site with garbage and recycling centers. This site offers a wide array of trail options for both hikers and mountain bikers, including the Wildcat and Smrekar trailheads. Other park activities include ATV riding, canoeing, fishing, and hunting.
National Sites Near Wausau, Wisconsin
One of the must-see national sites near Wausau is the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore. This site encompasses a section of stunning shoreline along Lake Superior and 21 islands. One of the most popular features of this site is the sea caves. These caves have arches, chambers, and passageways to explore. In winter, an ice bridge connects Sand Island to the mainland, creating majestic ice caves. The park's main visitor center is in the old Bayfield Courthouse Building. You will want to explore Little Sand Bay, Meyers Beach, Raspberry Island, Oak Island, and Basswood Island during your visit.
Ice Age National Scenic Trail is a national site that covers 1,200 miles. This trail traces the edge of the last North American glacier from 15,000 years ago. While this site is primarily a hiking trail, it also offers a variety of outdoor activities, including backpacking, bird-watching, stargazing, camping, skiing, hunting, and fishing. The site also offers indoor activities at the various interpretive centers.
A wide variety of flora and fauna can be found at Effigy Mounds National Monument in Harpers Ferry, Iowa. Many Native Americans consider this area a sacred space. These burial mounds dating back to the Woodland period were typically associated with the burial of the dead and number in the 4,000s. Some of the remaining mounds resemble animals such as deer, bison, turtles, and birds. A variety of hiking trails are located near this monument.
National Forests Near Wausau, Wisconsin
Ottawa National Forest covers almost 1 million acres. This forest has 18 named waterfalls. When visiting this area, your first stop should be at the Ottawa National Forest Visitor Center. This center provides visitors with maps, recreation information, and exhibits so you can learn more about the forest and its flora and fauna. This forest also offers a variety of hiking trails of varying difficulties to choose from.
Another national forest near Wausau, Wisconsin, is Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest. This forest encompasses more than 1.5 million acres. This area is used for multiple purposes, such as recreation, fisheries, and forest products. It is also known as a hiker's paradise due to the fantastic forest landscapes and wetlands. Some available trails include the Sevenmile Trail, Ridge Trail, Perch Lake Trail, and Nicolet North Trail. This area also offers a variety of scenic drives that you can enjoy in your RV.
Superior National Forest covers 3.9 million acres of boreal forest ecosystems. It is home to thousands of lakes, rock landscapes, and megafauna. One of the forest’s highlighted areas is Superior National Forest Scenic Byway. This 54-mile-long road has many stretches of dense forest. Another unique place within the forest is the Boundary Waters Canoe Area. The bedrock in the area was created by volcanoes and glaciers, making an excellent climbing surface. Other available activities in the forest include bicycling, camping, fishing, hiking, hunting, horseback riding, and water sports.
