Lake Arbutus in Wisconsin's Northwoods near Eagle River
← Pine & Dandy

Eagle River · Vilas County, WI

The Northwoods Journal

Local guides and trip-planning tips from your hosts — by season, on the water, and off it.

Notes from the people who host you — what to do around Eagle River and the Northwoods, written for first-time visitors and returning regulars alike. New guides land a few times a week.

Golfing Near Eagle River: A Northwoods Golf Guide

Recreation · Golf · July 24, 2026

The in-town course, the pine-lined Northwoods classics worth the drive, and how to fit a round around a lake weekend from a lakefront cabin.

The Perfect Eagle River Weekend: A 3-Day Northwoods Itinerary

Trip Planning · Itinerary · July 22, 2026

How to spend a perfect weekend up north — a Friday-to-Sunday plan for the water, the woods, a supper-club dinner, and slow mornings on the dock from a lakefront cabin.

Stargazing in the Northwoods: Dark Skies & Northern Lights Near Eagle River

After Dark · Stargazing · July 20, 2026

Why the Northwoods sky gets so dark, the best nights to look up, how to catch the northern lights, and the dock-and-hot-tub way to do it from a lakefront cabin.

Waterfalls & Scenic Drives Near Eagle River: A Northwoods Day-Trip Guide

Day Trips · Waterfalls · July 13, 2026

The forest waterfalls tucked in the Nicolet National Forest, the backroad loops that pair with them, and how to build a full Northwoods day trip from a lakefront cabin.

ATV & UTV Trails Around Eagle River: A Northwoods Rider's Guide

Outdoors · ATV/UTV · July 10, 2026

How the Vilas County trail network works, what to know before you ride, the best seasons to go, and the dusty-then-lakeside way to build a Northwoods riding weekend.

Hiking Near Eagle River: Our Favorite Northwoods Trails

Outdoors · Hiking · July 8, 2026

The flat and easy Three Eagle Trail, old-growth hemlock walks in the national forest, a wilderness worth the quiet, and what to pack for a Northwoods hike.

Cross-Country Skiing & Winter Trails Around Eagle River

Winter · Skiing · July 6, 2026

The best groomed Nordic trails near Eagle River, when the Northwoods snow is right, first-timer tips, and the sauna-warmed way to end a winter day.

What to Pack for a Northwoods Cabin Trip, by Season

Trip Planning · Year-Round · July 3, 2026

A season-by-season packing list for a Wisconsin cabin getaway near Eagle River — what to bring in spring, summer, fall and winter, and what we already stock so you can travel light.

An Eagle River Events Calendar: What's On Through the Year

Events · Year-Round · July 1, 2026

Season by season, the events that fill the Eagle River calendar — the January Snowmobile Derby, Klondike Days, Fourth of July on the water, and October's Cranberry Fest.

Rainy-Day Activities Near Eagle River: Indoor Fun for Families

Family · Indoors · June 27, 2026

What to do when the weather turns — indoor stops for kids in town, a host's plan for the day, and the cozy way to wait out the rain back at the cabin.

Musky Fishing 101 on the Eagle River Chain of Lakes

Fishing · Musky · June 19, 2026

Where to start, the gear and tactics that work, and when to go — a host's beginner guide to chasing musky on the world's largest chain of lakes.

Supper Clubs & Friday Fish Fries: A Northwoods Food Primer

Dining · Supper Clubs · June 17, 2026

What to order, how a supper club night works, and where to find the Friday fish fry — a host's primer on the most local dinner around Eagle River.

The Best Swimming & Paddling Spots on Lake Arbutus & the Chain

Summer · On the Water · June 15, 2026

Where to swim on Lake Arbutus, where to point the kayaks on the world's largest chain of lakes, and how to plan easy Northwoods lake days from the dock.

Ice Fishing on the Eagle River Chain: A Beginner's Guide

Winter · Ice Fishing · June 12, 2026

Where to start, the gear you need, what's biting, and when the season runs — a host's beginner guide to fishing through the ice on the world's largest chain of lakes.

A First-Timer's Guide to Snowmobiling in Eagle River

Winter · Snowmobiling · June 11, 2026

Eagle River is the Snowmobile Capital of the World. A first-timer’s guide to the trails, the famous January Derby, where to rent a sled, and what to know before you ride.

Fall Color in the Northwoods: When & Where to Leaf-Peep Near Eagle River

Seasonal · Fall · June 10, 2026

When the colors peak, the best scenic drives and paddles, and how to catch the Northwoods at its golden best from a cabin on the lake.

Planning a stay?

Both of our lakefront cabins — The O.G. on Lake Arbutus and The Grandy Dandy on the Sugar Camp Chain — sleep the whole crew, with kayaks, a hot tub, and the lake out the door.

Book The O.G. →Book The Grandy Dandy →