There's a particular kind of quiet that settles over the Northwoods once the lakes lock up and the snow gets deep under the pines. Snowshoeing is the easiest way into it — no lift line, no groomed track required, just sturdy boots, a pair of webbed decks strapped underfoot, and a trail (or a stretch of untouched woods) close to Eagle River. Here's how we send our own guests out.
Getting started
Do you need experience to snowshoe near Eagle River?
Barely any. Snowshoeing is close to just walking with wider feet — there's no gliding technique to learn like cross-country skiing, and no real balance skill beyond a slightly wider stance. Most first-timers get comfortable within the first few minutes on flat ground, which makes it one of the easiest ways for a mixed group — grandparents, kids, a friend who's never done a winter sport — to get outside together.
Outings scale easily, too. A short loop near a trailhead might take forty minutes; a longer push into the national forest can fill an afternoon. There's no wrong length, and no shame in turning around early.
Trails
Where are the best places to snowshoe around Eagle River?
Nicolet National Forest
Miles of unplowed forest roads and hiking-trail corridors open right up once real snow settles in. Quiet hemlock stands, deep woods, and often nobody else in sight.
Nordic trail systems
Many of the groomed cross-country ski networks around town set aside separate snowshoe-only paths — use those instead of walking the classic or skate tracks, which skiers depend on staying smooth.
Right from the cabin
On a good snow year, our guests often just step out the door — across the property, along the shoreline, into the adjoining woods — no trailhead or drive required.
Gear
What gear do you need for snowshoeing in the Northwoods?
Modern snowshoes with metal crampons underfoot grip well on packed trail and crusty snow alike, and most rental pairs fit right over winter boots. Look for waterproof, insulated boots — wet feet are the fastest way to cut a walk short — and dress in moisture-wicking layers under a windproof outer shell, since you'll warm up quickly once you're moving. A pair of poles isn't required, but it helps a lot on hills and rolling terrain, and doubles as a way to test snow depth ahead of you.
If you'd rather not haul gear north, local outfitters in town rent snowshoes and poles by the day — handy for a spur-of-the-moment sunny afternoon.
Make it a weekend
How does snowshoeing fit into a winter cabin trip?
It pairs naturally with everything else the Northwoods does well in winter. Warm up after with a soak in the hot tub or a session in the cedar barrel sauna, then swap trail notes over a fire. If you want more ground to cover, our cross-country skiing guide covers the same trail systems for a faster-paced day, and our area guide rounds out the rest of what's nearby.
Where to stay for a snowshoe weekend
Both cabins are open year-round and built for the season — The O.G. on Lake Arbutus and The Grandy Dandy on the Sugar Camp Chain, each with a hot tub, a firepit, and quiet woods right outside. Winter weekends book up around the Derby and the holidays — plan ahead.
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