37+ Fun Things To Do In Hayward, Wisconsin

Hayward, Wisconsin, offers diverse experiences for making memories. Imagine standing inside the mouth of a 143-foot-long, four-story-tall fish and attending the Lumberjack World Championships. Of course, looking at wildlife dioramas performing human activities is unusual, too. One diorama, a boxing match between a fox and raccoon, has a beaver referee proclaiming the fox the winner by holding his boxing glove and arm high in the air. For a slower pace, eat locally made premium Wisconsin ice cream or camp on islands only accessible by boat.

Most people know the small town of Hayward for its resorts and pristine lakes flourishing with fish, particularly musky. Hayward has earned the nickname “Musky Capital of the World,” but this vibrant small town in Northwest Wisconsin offers far more than just world-class fishing. This guide isn’t complete, but it is a great place to start. Head to Hayward, where you’ll have a blast in this Northwoods family-friendly town.

Entertainment In Hayward

Scheer’s Lumberjack Show

Modern-day lumberjacks compete head-to-head in ten events in this family-friendly show. Competitors dressed in flannel and suspenders use razor-sharp axes, chainsaws, and spikes to wow the crowd. Kids love hurling their best shouts in the Yo-Ho competition, and they get a chance to use cross-cut saws. The same lumberjacks compete on ESPN in the Lumberjack World Championships.

Freshwater Fishing Hall Of Fame

Look for the big 143-foot-long musky, the iconic Hayward landmark towering above the Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame. A paved trail leads visitors through Northwoods native giant fiberglass fish statues. Tour the museum, then get a photo inside the massive musky’s mouth.

Lumberjack Village Mini Golf

Kids and adults will enjoy mini golf at the Northwoods-themed Lumberjack Village Mini Golf course. The course sits across the road from Scheer’s Lumberjack Show. 

Outdoors

Jack’s Canoe Rental: Tube, Canoe, And Kayak The Namekagon River  

Float down Wisconsin’s moving National Park, the Namekagon River, in kayaks, canoes, and tubes from Jack’s Canoe Rental in Trego. Take kayak and canoe trips lasting from two hours to several days, or tube down the river for a half day of floating fun. Jack’s provides a free tube for your cooler, too. You can also buy gifts, shirts, and hats from one of the best gift shops in the area. Make a plan to get hand-dipped West’s Hayward Dairy ice cream.

Samuel C. Johnson Family Outdoor Center 

The Samuel C. Johnson Family Outdoor Center is located at the halfway point of the internationally acclaimed Birkie cross-country skiing trail. You can access the Birkie trail here for walking, trail running, hiking, biking, and skiing for a peaceful adventure into Wisconsin’s beautiful Northwoods. The outdoor center has a gathering area, a bike repair room, an outdoor fitness park, an electric car charging station, and clean restrooms. Check out the Birkie Bridge for an excellent forest view.

Sherman & Ruth Weiss Community Library Nature Trail

Many people visiting Hayward don’t know about the library nature trail, but they should. The easy half-mile accessible trail loops around a nature preserve behind the library. With a smart device, visitors can listen to Naturalist Emily Stone describe eighteen points and read a nature-based children’s book at stations along the trail. Walk on a pier that extends over the pond in the middle of the nature preserve. Be sure to watch for fish and listen to birds around the marsh. In June, look for baby deer near the bridge.

We included the Hayward Library Nature Trail in our book, Secret Wisconsin: A Guide To The Weird, Wonderful, And Obscure.

Riverbrook Bike & Ski

Located on Main Street, you’ll find a beautiful historic building filled with outdoor clothing and gear at Riverbrook Bike & Ski, a Trek bike dealer. Riverbrook rents and repairs Trek bikes. Looking at the shop’s architecture inside and out made our day.

New Moon Ski & Bike Shop

Explore the Hayward area by renting bikes from Moon Ski & Bike Shop. We didn’t rent bikes this time, but we saw an abundance of children’s, coasting, and fat-tire bikes lined up outside. The staff told us if we called ahead, they would have our bike rentals ready to go when we arrived. Hayward is filled with parks and bike trails, making exploring its outdoors easy for families. For a winter visit, the shop has many skis and equipment for rent. 

World-Class Fishing Near Hayward

Fishing and Hayward go together like peanut butter and jelly. A record musky was caught nearby in the Chippewa Flowage. Anglers come from afar to try their luck in Hayward’s world-class fishing lakes. Whether fishing for a record-breaking musky, walleye, largemouth, smallmouth bass, or panfish, you’ll find the fishing adventure you’re looking for. 

 

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Hayward Skateboard Park

Burn off some energy at the skateboard park. Located behind Hayward High School, this colorfully painted park is another spot most locals know about.

Lake Helane State Natural Area

For a tranquil outdoor experience, go to Lake Helane State Natural Area. The little-known 51-acre natural paradise surprised us. At one point, we drove alongside the lake and watched fish and turtles from inside our truck. Wetlands encircle the lake, making it a prime place for bird watching. Lake Helane State Natural Area is the perfect spot for those wanting to escape the crowds: hike, bike, fish, snowshoe, and cross-country ski in peace. We were the only people there on a Fall day trip.

Camp On A Chippewa Flowage Island

On the Chippewa Flowage, 18 primitive island campsites are accessible only by water. One island is owned by the United States Forest Service (USFS), and 11 are located on Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) islands. The Lac Courte Oreilles Conservation Department allows reservations for island camping on six islands with a fee and reservations. The Cedar Tops West campsite has accessible facilities. Call the Hayward DNR office at (715) 634-7433 to reserve the campsite.

Northwoods History

Sawyer County Historical Society

Find what helped mold Hayward and the area during the Great Depression era’s CCC camps, up-north resort life, lumberjack camps, and world-class fishing. Downstairs, look into Hayward’s Northwoods cabin lifestyle during its heyday. Rooms are also filled with fun memorabilia not usually found in small-town historical museums. Don’t miss the lumberjack exhibit inside the log cabin. Admission is free, and the museum is handicap accessible except for the downstairs exhibits.

Moccasin Bar

Inside the Moccasin bar, quirky wildlife dioramas perform human activities. A spirited poker game between animals takes place in one scene. Royal Flush Joe, a bear cub with a corn cob pipe and a shotgun, holds cards with one paw while the other slips a carrot under the table to a well-dressed rabbit. Full House Pete, a badger wearing a red fishing hat, places cash on the table with the paw not holding cards. Many similar animal dioramas are encased in the walls, along with record-breaking mounted muskies. Locals told us the bar had been around since the 1880s, and a taxidermist sold the bizarre wildlife to the bar in the 1930s. 

Hayward Mural

Hayward’s iconic cultural attractions and outdoor recreation activities are displayed on a vibrant 12-foot-high by 45-foot-long postcard mural on the side of the Lake Kids building at 10553 Main Street. To take the best photo, we recommend getting to the mural early before cars park alongside the building.

Hayward Post Office Mural

Post offices built during the Depression in the 1930s and ‘40s often had murals of local history painted on their walls. Thirty-five murals were initially commissioned in Wisconsin as part of the New Deal under President Roosevelt. Sadly, many don’t exist anymore. 

When encountering a Depression-era post Office building, we go inside to see if a mural still exists. Most of the time, the Postmasters and employees do not know how significant their murals are. In Hayward, Stella E. Harlos painted the oil on canvas scene named The Land of Woods and Lakes. Look for the mural in the lobby wall above the postmaster’s door.

Where To Shop In Hayward

We Enjoyed shopping in Hayward’s historic Main Street.  Although we visited most of the stores downtown, this is only a snippet of the variety of shops you’ll find. Make a day out of it by eating at Main Street Tacos, the place locals go for superb Mexican food, then shop for gifts. 

Nordic Northwoods

Stop in Nordic Northwoods for unique Scandinavian gifts and decor. On Main Street, look for a blue awning, Scandinavian flags, and a wood-carved troll.

Hayward Fly Fishing Co.

A bright yellow house sits on the corner of W 2nd Street and Dakota Ave. Inside Hayward Fly Fishing Company, we found a variety of Wisconsin-themed hats from Rep Your Water, one of our favorite hat manufacturers. Of course, the shop also has plenty of fly fishing gear and tackle.

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Hayward Mercantile Company

Find cooking aha moments at the Hayward Mercantile Company. In addition to kitchen tools and a good variety of ingredients, the tasting bar offers flavored extra virgin olive oils and balsamic vinegar.

Lures Of The North

At Lures of the North, you can find unique art, wood carvings, signs, vintage lures, and home decor from nationally recognized local artists. 

Outdoor Ventures

Stock up before heading outdoors at Outdoor Ventures, where you will find plenty of supplies to enjoy your time in nature. The store has an excellent selection of Hayward merchandise, too. During our visit, we found a well-stocked dog section of toys and products and a bigger-than-normal hiking shoe section that is not typically found in outdoor stores this size.

Ronning’s Sweatshirts And Gifts 

Complete your Hayward Northwoods vacation with t-shirts, sweatshirts, hats, and gifts from Ronning’s. 

American Birkebeiner Office And Store

Not only does the Birkie store carry products to support the American Birkebeiner, but we were delighted to find a small museum about North America’s largest cross-country skiing event.

Picnic Spots Near Hayward

Silverthorn Lake Park

For an excellent family picnic spot, check out Silverthorn Lake Park. This beautiful park lies north of Hayward on Highway 63. The lake is small but just big enough for an outdoor experience without the crowds. A swimming beach, one of only two sand beaches in the county, and a playground are next to the parking area. There’s a covered picnic shelter, ball fields, hiking trails, basketball and pickleball courts. Silverthorn Lake is perfect for paddling sports, and a small boat launch is on the north side of the lake. A teacher we met there told us that the locals come here and that her husband also likes to fish here.

Hayward City Beach

Hayward City Beach lies on a peninsula next to the Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame. The park contains the other sand beach in Sawyer County and has picnic tables, a wood bridge, and a fishing dock.

Where To Take A Scenic Lake Drive Through Wisconsin’s Northwoods

Hayward To New Post: Island Hopping Through The Chippewa Flowage

Take a road trip in Wisconsin’s Northwoods by driving two-lane highways. We like to leave early in the morning to see wildlife. National forests are always one of our favorite places to drive. We recommend taking a national forest map with you and exploring as many small forest roads as possible because you never know what you’ll see. You’ll have the best chance to see wildlife on these less-traveled gravel roads. National forest roads are a great way to relax, drive at a slower pace, and unwind.

County Road CC, at New Post, travels over the Chippewa Flowage and is one of Wisconsin’s most fun and scenic routes. In some segments of this drive, water from this legendary musky fishing lake rises to road level, creating an island-hopping feel. Look for fishing boats because you might see someone catching a monster musky from this lake. We enjoyed stopping to watch wildlife.  As bald eagles circled above, turtles and fish swam near us on the shore.

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Where To Eat And Drink In Hayward, Wisconsin

Main Street Tacos

We watched a steady stream of locals come and go at Main Street Tacos, so we knew this would be a great place to eat. Even with all the traffic, people received their orders fast. The restaurant is small, with several tables inside and outside along the sidewalk. We had exceptional food and outstanding service and devoured their fresh, hot chips and homemade salsa in no time. We learned long ago to follow the locals for an excellent meal. 

Anglers Bar & Grill

Look at the area’s history while eating at Anglers Bar & Grill. Established in the early 1930s, the popular Hayward Main Street restaurant’s upper level was a gas station, and a bar existed on the lower level. This Northwoods-themed restaurant also has a bowling alley from 1936.

West’s Hayward Dairy

What better way to finish a day trip than with Wisconsin-made ice cream? Since the 1950s, West’s has been a Hayward tradition. Smooth, creamy premium ice cream is made fresh on-site in small batches. Some of their fun flavors include Chunky Musky, Coconut Magic Bar, Church Basement Lemon Bar, Blue Cupcake, Rustic Road, Bear Dump, and Coon Cabin Crunch. We couldn’t try them all in one trip, but we’d like to try. According to the staff, the best seller is Mint Chip, followed by Chunky Musky, Death by Chocolate, Coconut Magic Bar, and Almost Sinful.

Lynn’s Custom Meats

A Local favorite for grilling and picnics, Lynn’s Custom Meats makes a large selection of flavored brats, including root beer. We like root beer, so we’ll have to get some next time. The old-fashioned butcher shop also has a deli counter with sandwich meat and cold salads.

Backroads Coffee & Tea

Get your coffee and tea fix in a building that was once a blacksmith shop. We had a big day of exploring ahead, so we bought a cranberry scone and a slice of banana bread for breakfast on the go. Because of the building’s history and the shop’s decor, we suggest getting a beverage and eating inside.  

Millers Market

Miller’s Market, a Mennonite bulk foods store, offers bakery items and a deli with wraps and traditional sandwiches. The deli case and cafe are more extensive than those at an average Mennonite bulk foods store.

Main Street Gourmet Popcorn

This small gourmet popcorn shop on Main Street offers many savory and sweet popcorn flavors. We especially liked the dill and cherry chocolate flavors. If you want theater-style popcorn with butter, they use real Wisconsin butter. After all, we are in the dairy state, and anything else would be a tragedy.

Tremblay’s Sweet City

A visit to Hayward wouldn’t be complete without visiting Tremblay’s, a local tradition since 1963. Homemade fudge and candies fill the shelves and counters throughout the shop. From the sidewalk windows, watch staff make candy with their copper pot and marble slab.

Lynne Marie’s Candy

Several people in Northwest Wisconsin told us to check out Lynne Marie’s Candy. Each one said the candy shop had the best fudge, and they were right. The locally owned candy shop also hand-dips its candy in chocolate. A chocolate fish lollipop was our favorite find, and it would make a great gift. 

Two giant chocolate warmers used for hand-dipping candies brought back memories from another chocolate shop. I almost had to spend a night in a Danville, Indiana, jail because I nearly lost control while hand-dipping turtles. Chocolate Lovers beware!

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Where To Stay In Hayward, Wisconsin

Holiday Inn Express And Suites

The Holiday Inn in Hayward is unlike most hotels up north. We sensed the Northwoods as soon as we entered the front door. Log cabin decorations and a standing black bear in the entry greeted us right away. Common areas filled with vintage and modern lodge decor didn’t make us feel like we weren’t staying at a hotel chain. After a busy day, take the kids to their large pool or lawn for activities during downtime. We especially liked listening to calming waves as we sat on the dock.

Hayward KOA Holiday

Whether you’re RVing, cabining, or tent camping, Hayward KOA Holiday is a great place to stay in Wisconsin’s Northwoods. Amenities include mini golf, a pool, a waterslide, bike rentals, and the standard perks that KOA is known for.

Spider Lake Lodge Bed And Breakfast

For an all-encompassing Northwoods experience, consider Spider Lake Lodge Bed and Breakfast. The lodge began as a rustic fishing camp in 1923 and became an all-inclusive resort. In 2109, the lodge was awarded a place on the National Register of Historic Places.