A list of the best attractions and activities and the fun things to do in Monicqua in summer!
For the past few years, Minocqua’s tourism popularity has surged, urging more people to visit it every summer.
But how exactly can you make the most of your trip to this lake town?
Well, you have to make sure you’re not missing out on the most fun things to do in Minocqua in summer when you travel Wisconsin.
Spoiler alert: it involves many water activities, land exploration, and food excursions!
Get your bags, swimming gear, and sunscreen ready. You’re about to have the summer of a lifetime in Minocqua!
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Overview: Top Things to Do in Minocqua in Summer
- Kayaking or paddleboarding on the Minocqua Chain of Lakes
- Hiking at Bearskin State Trail
- Enjoying local food and ice cream
1. Boating on Lake Minocqua
Minocqua is known to be one of the best lake towns in Wisconsin.
So, unsurprisingly, our first stop when we visited the area was Lake Minocqua, one of its chain of lakes.
Upon seeing the view of this vast lake and witnessing everyone else having the time of their life out on boats, we knew right then that we also had to try boating on Lake Minocqua.
We rented our boat from a company called The Beacons of Minocqua, but we heard from other tourists that the R&R Motorsports company also offers great rates.
Just be sure to return the boats on time to avoid hefty penalties.
Until now, I still remember our boating experience as one of our best weekend trips in Wisconsin. It is undoubtedly one of the best things to do in Minocqua in summer.
2. Kayaking or paddleboarding on the Minocqua Chain of Lakes
Boating is a relaxing activity perfect for bonding with friends and family.
But when it comes to adding a little adrenaline rush to your water adventures, kayaking and paddleboarding are the go-to summer activities!
If you’ve been following my blog, you’d know I’m no stranger to these two watersports.
But kayaking or paddleboarding in Minocqua differs from your usual aquatic escapades.
Apart from the serene surroundings, you’ll have the opportunity to kayak from one lake to another! That experience right there is something that you’ll hardly find anywhere else.
Although some Minocqua lakes are renowned for their challenging rapids, some are so calm that even a child won’t be able to tip the kayak!
Tomahawk River, for example, has very long stretches of calm waters.
If you’re more experienced and up for an adventure, just stop by Minocqua’s visitor center (open 24/7) to pick up a (not-so-easy) paddling map of your choice.
3. Swimming at Torpy Park Beach
Beat the Minocqua summer heat by swimming at Torpy Park Beach!
This beach has everything you could visualize in a perfect summer getaway swim, with its sandy shoreline, clear and clean waters, and family-friendly atmosphere.
The first thing we noticed about this beach was that it wasn’t huge—at least not relative to the beaches we’re used to visiting.
But don’t worry; this park still has all the amenities you may need for the perfect beach adventure.
We saw plenty of picnic shelters, grilling stations, sand volleyball courts, and clean restrooms.
Its playground also had a large area, making it impossible to resist trying to heal and channel our inner child.
If anything, the small area of Torpy Park Beach just made it feel more “homey.”
Another good thing about this park is that it’s in the town’s downtown area.
So, if you still want to explore more things to do in Minocqua in summer after swimming on this beach, you’ll be within walking distance from the shopping centers, shops, and cafes!
4. Fishing excursions on Lake Minocqua
I’m no fishing expert, but hand me a rod and reel, and you’ll never see me reject the offer.
So, it’s safe to say that within the first three days of our stay in Minocqua, we already found several fishing spots around the town.
After all, fishing is one of the most popular things to do in Minocqua.
Spoiler alert: I barely caught a handful of fish.
But the thrill of catching each one just lingered for the entire day!
Luckily, my friends made up for my not-so-great fishing skills by almost filling their buckets to the brim.
The tour guide introduced us to many popular fishing lakes and the abundant fish species we could possibly catch, and we ended up going to these two lakes: Clear Lake and Big Arbor Vitae Lake.
Right off the bat– the picturesque scenery of both lakes blew me away.
We visited during summer, so it was a bummer that we couldn’t enjoy their beauty during fall (I could only imagine how vibrant those lakes would be).
Regardless, I took lots of pictures of postcard-worthy scenery.
We caught musky, walleye, largemouth, and another species that I can’t quite remember.
To legally fish in Minocqua, purchase a fishing license online, at bait shops, or at one of Wisconsin’s DNR service centers. Better yet, consider hiring a fishing guide for a stress-free experience.
By the way, Wisconsin holds two “free fishing weekends” yearly.
One falls on the third full weekend of January, and the second is on the first full weekend of June. During these dates, you can be on any public lake in Wisconsin without a license.
5. Hiking at Bearskin State Trail
The Bearskin State Trail is one of my favorite places to visit in Wisconsin in summer.
Not only is this place naturally beautiful, surrounded by the towering trees of Wisconsin’s Northwoods, lakes, and wildlife, but it’s also a former railroad line.
So, it has that unique vintage vibe and shows a unique glimpse of Minocqua’s transportation history.
We started our Bearskin State Trail hike in the north trailhead town of Minocqua and completed about a quarter of the 21.5-mile trail before returning.
If I had known the trail would be that beautiful, with some parts bridging into the heart of forests, I would’ve planned ahead to complete it.
You might end up walking further than initially planned (like we did) when you realize that hiking this spot is one of the best things to do in Minocqua in summer.
6. Biking along the Heart of Vilas County Trail System
If you love biking, The Heart of Vilas County Trail System is going to be one of the best attractions in Minocqua for you.
It offers a 52-mile “bike through the woods” experience without the hassles of uneven or bumpy surfaces, which is very rare, I must say.
Yup—this trail is almost fully paved, yet it offers an authentic nature experience that showcases wild forests, glacial lakes, wetlands, and other types of landscapes.
Along the way, we found many lovely towns (though we didn’t have enough time to visit each other), plenty of resting spots, bike fixations, picnic areas, and restrooms.
We rented bikes from The Corner Store in Sayner on the first day. Then, after grabbing a quick breakfast in the area, we started biking from the trailhead in St. Germain.
After that, we spent the night in Manitosh Waters, which had great lodging options, and completed the trail the next day until the trailhead in Mercer.
If a 52-mile biking trip sounds daunting, you can always start this trail midway.
This trail system has over 20 parking areas that each serve as their starting point, so every biker, regardless of experience, should be fine enjoying this trail.
I recommend downloading the Map it Vilas County App to easily find the right trail for you!
7. Horseback riding at a local ranch
I didn’t know this before, but horseback riding is one of the best activities you can do in Minocqua.
My friends and I initially went to a ranch called Holiday Acres near our accommodation to spend the afternoon playing Go-karts and Mini Golf.
But minutes after arriving at the park, we immediately fell in love with their horses.
So, despite being unplanned, we spent our entire afternoon enjoying guided horseback trail rides through 40 acres of woods.
And I must say– that was a very memorable trip.
The ride involved walking and trotting, so there were definitely moments when my heart raced.
We spent $40 each to experience a nearly 1-hour trail ride.
Well worth it and one of the most fun things to do in Minocqua in summer if you ask me.
6. Mini-golfing at Settlers Mill Adventure Golf
If you’re still wondering what to do in Minocqua, try mini golfing.
We tried this activity in Settlers Mill Adventure Golf because we missed golfing.
And although mini-golfing varies size-wise to standard golf, it also brings a different type of fun to the table.
Settlers Mill Adventure Golf had 18 beautiful holes scattered throughout a uniquely-themed
“mini park” that even had 50,000 manmade waterfalls.
If you were to ask a kid to describe their dream backyard, most likely, their answer would be similar to how this mini golfing park is laid out.
Seeing children enjoy this place made it clear that mini golfing is one of the most exciting things to do in Wisconsin with kids.
But even adults were having a blast in this location.
Apart from mini-golfing, we enjoyed hanging out in the game room and snack shop on the indoor portion of the facility.
Going here was really one of our greatest Wisconsin vacation ideas.
9. Exploring the Northwoods Wildlife Center
Those who spend their family vacations in Wisconsin typically explore the Northwoods Wildlife Center, one of the best Minocqua attractions.
With a mission to improve the future of wildlife, this center protects and rescues injured or endangered animals and educates people on how to help the local wildlife strive.
It’s a refuge or rehab for wildlife (not a zoo).
So, all the animals in this center are either injured or recovering, waiting to get better until they can be released back into the wild.
When we visited this center, we were guided by a very friendly staff around the facility.
Touring the Northwoods Wildlife Center is technically free, but a $5 per person donation is highly recommended.
After visiting the Northwoods Wildlife Center, we tried to find fun things to do near Minocqua and visited Lake Namakagon.
This lake is known to be one of the best places to vacation in Wisconsin.
We stayed in one of their luxurious cabins, and the staff was very nice. They even recommended that I watch the live online classes of Artha Yoga, one of the most popular yoga retreats in Wisconsin.
10. Enjoying local food and ice cream
Last but never least, one of the best things to do in Minocqua in summer is to enjoy good food.
Everyone’s favorite summer dessert is a lovely ice cream.
Whether we were visiting a local town or just going on Wisconsin road trips, we always remembered to enjoy regional delicacies.
And you guessed it– Minocqua’s food doesn’t disappoint.
During our short stay in town, we instantly became repeat customers of Dan’s Minocqua Fudge, an unmatched dessert shop in the area.
Our favorite dining spot?
It was inevitably the McGregor’s Blink Bonnie Supper Club (though it’s technically in St. Germain, about 20 minutes from Minocqua).
They had one of the best steaks I’ve ever had, which came in a sizzling hot plate.
Just a heads up, though— the wait here typically lasts 2 to 3 hours on average (crazy, right?), so make sure to arrive early if you’re not the patient type.
My final thoughts on things to do in Minocqua in Summer
The list is endless if you’re looking for fun things to do in Minocqua area in summer.
But if you have limited time in the area, as most tourists do, the activities I’ve mentioned above are your best bet in truly immersing yourself in this town’s beauty, fun, and uniqueness!
Minocqua has many enjoyable adventures that can transform any summer into the summer of a lifetime. So, if you’re still contemplating visiting this town, stop thinking twice and just go for it!
You don’t have to choose between beaches or mountains or rural adventures.
Because in Minocqua, you’ll be able to enjoy all sorts of activities in all sorts of landscapes precisely the way you crave them!
Hola! I’m Paulina, a seasoned travelette who crossed the Atlantic Ocean by Boat HitchHiking. On my blog, find expert insights for an extraordinary holiday through outdoor and sustainable travel like hiking, cycling, and sailing. Let’s embark on unforgettable journeys together! 🌍🚀
