Area Adventures

Get out and enjoy the recreational haven of Portage County. Here is a short selection of some of the adventures available. For a complete list and for detailed trails/route maps and local road maps contact the Visitor Information Center
(800.236.4636, info@stevenspointarea.com).

On the Water
Most routes can be accomplished with two cars. Local outfitters
can provide transportation for trips using rented equipment. (See Outdoor Rentals.)

Tomorrow River
(for intermediate skilled paddlers)
Begin your adventure in Nelsonville. Stop to view the historic Rising Star Mill, one of four historical museums maintained by the Portage County Historical Society. The mill is open for special events throughout the year. This segment meanders through woods and fields. Four miles downstream in the Village of Amherst, be sure to follow portage signs to avoid dam. Once you reach Amherst, stop for a stroll and lunch in the downtown district, complete with shops, restaurants and an art gallery. Continue on the Tomorrow River; suggested take-outs are at Highway T or Highway DD. Please note: during high water, submerged logs and swirling water can cause problems. During low water, rocks and shallows will be present.

Jordan Park to Iverson Park
(for intermediate skilled paddlers)
Park your car in Iverson Park off Highway 66 in Stevens Point, then travel Highway
66 east to Jordan Park. Jordan Park offers camping as well as a Nature Center,
that is open in the summer, complete with special programs and staffed by a naturalist. When you are ready, begin this route at the canoe ramp on the south side of Highway 66 in Jordan Park. The route will meander through generally flat water, and is an excellent trip for bird watchers in June and July. Because of the wooded landscapes on either side of the river, it is an excellent way to view fall colors in the area. Once you have reached Iverson Park, enjoy a dip in the water near the swimming beach, or walk on a short segment on the Green Circle Trail that makes its way through the park. If you are hungry, stop at the Hilltop Pub & Grill, just east of Iverson Park.

Wisconsin River North
(for intermediate skilled paddlers)
Take Highway HH West out of Stevens Point (approximately 4 miles) and you will find a boat landing on the right side of the road. Put in here and head back towards Stevens Point. As you proceed downstream, the islands to your left are surrounded by channels. The adventurous canoeist may wish to poke around the islands, spend some time fishing, bird watching or animal viewing. All channels headed south open into the Stevens Point Flowage and back to the main channel. In the Flowage, go under the power lines
and take out at the boat landing near the swimming beach in Bukolt Park on the left.
Try following the Green Circle Trail segment to Pfiffner Pioneer Park to walk along the riverfront. Across the river, you will see K.A.S.H. playground at Mead Park. At the southern most tip of Pfiffner Park, you will encounter the Riverfront Arts Center. Downtown Stevens Point, just one block east offers a variety of specialty shops,
dining, historical murals and other attractions.
Many other waterways offer recreational opportunities throughout Portage County such as: Lake DuBay, McDill Pond, Mill Creek, Adams Lake, Collins Lake, Lake Emily,
Jordan Pond, Sunset Lake, Lake Thomas, Wisconsin River flowages, The Little
Wolf River, and Spring Creek.

 On Land

Hiking
Start your journey at the Schmeeckle Reserve, the trailhead for the Green Circle Trail. The 30.5-mile trail circles the city of Stevens Point, through continuous paved and graveled trail. Visit the newest section of trail, just to the northeast of the Schmeeckle Reserve, where nearly a half mile section of boardwalk was recently installed. Or try heading west from the Schmeeckle Reserve, and walk through the Stevens Point Sculpture Park, the newest city park with trails connecting to the Green Circle Trail. Multiple access points for the trail, and its 14 segments, make the trail easy to reach. More than 80 percent of the Green Circle winds through secluded natural areas.
For a more rural view of the area, try the Tomorrow River State Trail. The 14-mile trail, developed on an abandoned railroad grade, connects the villages of Plover and Amherst Junction and consists of crushed limestone packed to a smooth surface. Hiking is also available at the George W. Mead State Wildlife Area, Ice Age Trail, Hartman Creek State Park, Jordan Park, Lake Emily Park, Schmeeckle Reserve and Standing Rocks Park.

Biking
Enjoy the varied rural landscape around Sunset Lake in the northeastern corner of Portage County. Begin your trip in the parking lot of the Sunset Lake County Park, near the Central Wisconsin Environmental Station. The country roads surrounding Sunset Lake are lightly traveled and offer a wide variety of terrain. Circle back to your starting point and take a dip in Sunset Lake, with a beautiful sandy beach. The clear crystal waters of this glacial lake offer a perfect spot for a picnic after your ride.
Standing Rocks County Park offers an assortment of mountain bike trails at various skill levels. The trails are open daily from May 1 to Nov. 16. There are plenty of climbs, roots, and rocks that wind throughout the wooded park. Mountain bikes must stay on designated trails at all times. All single track is signed and one way only.
(Trail fee required)
Biking is also available on rural routes (road biking) throughout Portage County, Ice Age Bicycle Trail, Tomorrow River State Trail, Green Circle Trail, Schmeeckle Reserve,
George W. Mead State Wildlife Area.