The Northwoods Is Open: A Full Day in the Pickerel-Pearson Area
May 20, 2026
If you have been waiting for the right excuse to head north, here it is: The Northwoods is open, and Langlade County is ready to show off exactly why it is known as Wisconsin's County of Trails. This is the kind of day that starts with a helmet, shifts into hiking boots, turns into a plate of smoked brisket, and ends beside the Wolf River with that tired, happy feeling you only get after a full day outside.
This Northwoods getaway lets you experience more of Langlade County without having to choose. Start your day riding through glacial terrain, spend the afternoon slowing down on the Ice Age National Scenic Trail, enjoy a great meal in the Pickerel-Pearson area, and settle in for a relaxing night nearby. It is a true Play. Dine. Stay. day in Langlade County, Wisconsin.
Throttle Up in the County of Trails
There are places where ATV/UTV riding feels like a short side activity, and then there is Langlade County. With more than 106 miles of ATV/UTV trails, plus hundreds of miles of open road routes tying communities and recreation together, this is one of those rare spots where the ride becomes the day.
The terrain is part of the appeal. One stretch rolls through hardwood forest, another opens up to wetland views, and then you crest into the kind of glacial hills that make you want to ease off the throttle for a second and take it in. Lakes, rivers, moraine country, small towns, and trail-friendly stops all work together here, which is why riding in Langlade County feels less like looping a trail and more like exploring a region.
This is also what makes the County of Trails stand out for motorized recreation in northern Wisconsin. You are not boxed into one experience. You can spend the morning chasing scenic backroads and wooded corridors, then pull into a local business for lunch or a cold drink without ever feeling far from the trail network. In Langlade County, the ride connects you to the landscape and the communities that keep Northwoods adventure moving..jpg)
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Take the Scenic Route on Foot
After a morning on wheels, hiking is the perfect reset. Langlade County has more than 120 miles of hiking trails across 10 trail systems, including a remarkable stretch of the Ice Age National Scenic Trail consisting of 66 miles of trail plus miles of road routes. If you want to trade engine noise for birdsong and wind in the pines, this is where the day shifts gears.
Longshots Pearson Smokehouse: Fuel Up with Northwoods Flavor
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By the time you have put in miles on the trail and a solid hike, you have earned a meal with some real payoff. Longshots Pearson Smokehouse delivers exactly that.
This is the sort of Northwoods smokehouse stop that makes you start planning what to order before you even park. Brisket and ribs come out smoked daily, and the menu leans into comfort in all the right ways, from mac and cheese and pulled pork to hand-cut fries, smoked loin, and prime rib. If you are in the mood for something piled high, the pulled pork nachos are calling. If you somehow still have room after the main event, there is also dessert waiting at the end, including a rich "Death by Chocolate" option that lives up to the name.
What gives Longshots its own personality is that it does not stop at smokehouse staples. There is a little supper club energy in the mix, a famously large salad bar, pizza on the menu, and weekly specials that keep regulars coming back.
In the Pickerel-Pearson area, it is the kind of place that feels equally right after a trail ride, a day on the lake, or a long stretch of hiking boots and dusty roads.
Norm's Hollow: A Wolf River Stop with a View
From there, keep the day rolling with a stop at Norm's Hollow, where good food, cold drinks, and easy river views come together in classic Langlade County fashion. This is one of those places that understands exactly where it sits and who it serves, with a friendly atmosphere that welcomes both locals and visitors to enjoy themselves.
Its location makes it especially convenient for trail users. Three ATV and snowmobile trails meet right in the parking lot, so it is an easy stop if you are riding through the Pickerel-Pearson area. But even if you came by car, the real draw here is what is waiting down County Road A.
Take the motorized bridge over the Wolf River and head toward the water access area. It is a simple jaunt, but it adds a whole other layer to the day. Maybe you walk down just to stand near the river and take in the view. Maybe you catch paddlers putting in or taking out. Maybe you just pause long enough to hear the current and remember why the Northwoods never really needs to raise its voice to get your attention.
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That mix of trail culture, river scenery, and casual gathering space is part of what makes Langlade County travel so easy to love. You can move from recreation to food to scenery without forcing the day to feel overplanned.
Trailside Inn: Rest Easy Near the Trails
When the day finally winds down, Trailside Inn makes a strong case for staying the night and doing it all again tomorrow. This small Northwoods motel has 11 rooms and a park-like setting that feels relaxed from the minute you pull in. After a full day outdoors, that quieter pace feels just right.
It is also a practical choice, especially if your Langlade County itinerary includes more than one kind of recreation. The inn is close to ATV trails and within reach of golf, fishing, hunting, and other outdoor options, so it works well as a home base for a weekend in Wisconsin's County of Trails. There is a full-service bar and restaurant right on the property, which means you do not have to go far once you are ready to settle in.
Traveling with a dog? A few pet-friendly rooms are available for an added nightly charge, which is one more reason Trailside Inn fits the easygoing, outdoors-first spirit of the Pickerel-Pearson area. It is cute, comfortable, and exactly the kind of place that feels right for a Northwoods overnight stay.
One Day, the Full Northwoods Experience
This itinerary is a reminder that Langlade County does not make you choose between adventure and comfort, or between high-energy recreation and slow scenic moments. You can ride ATV/UTV trails through glacial terrain, walk a piece of the Ice Age National Scenic Trail, sit down to smoked ribs and brisket, take in the Wolf River, and end the day tucked into a Northwoods motel that keeps you close to tomorrow's plans.
Click here for more information on the Langlade County Ice Age trail, the Pickerel-Pearson ATV/UTV trails, the Trailside Inn, Norm's Hollow, and Longshots Pearson Smokehouse.
That is the beauty of a getaway in Wisconsin's County of Trails. It is not one note. It is movement, scenery, local flavor, and the kind of overnight stay that turns a day trip into something more. So if you are looking for things to do in Langlade County, Wisconsin, take this as your sign: The Northwoods is open!
May 20, 2026
If you have been waiting for the right excuse to head north, here it is: The Northwoods is open, and Langlade County is ready to show off exactly why it is known as Wisconsin's County of Trails. This is the kind of day that starts with a helmet, shifts into hiking boots, turns into a plate of smoked brisket, and ends beside the Wolf River with that tired, happy feeling you only get after a full day outside.
This Northwoods getaway lets you experience more of Langlade County without having to choose. Start your day riding through glacial terrain, spend the afternoon slowing down on the Ice Age National Scenic Trail, enjoy a great meal in the Pickerel-Pearson area, and settle in for a relaxing night nearby. It is a true Play. Dine. Stay. day in Langlade County, Wisconsin.
Throttle Up in the County of Trails
There are places where ATV/UTV riding feels like a short side activity, and then there is Langlade County. With more than 106 miles of ATV/UTV trails, plus hundreds of miles of open road routes tying communities and recreation together, this is one of those rare spots where the ride becomes the day.
The terrain is part of the appeal. One stretch rolls through hardwood forest, another opens up to wetland views, and then you crest into the kind of glacial hills that make you want to ease off the throttle for a second and take it in. Lakes, rivers, moraine country, small towns, and trail-friendly stops all work together here, which is why riding in Langlade County feels less like looping a trail and more like exploring a region.
This is also what makes the County of Trails stand out for motorized recreation in northern Wisconsin. You are not boxed into one experience. You can spend the morning chasing scenic backroads and wooded corridors, then pull into a local business for lunch or a cold drink without ever feeling far from the trail network. In Langlade County, the ride connects you to the landscape and the communities that keep Northwoods adventure moving.
After a morning on wheels, hiking is the perfect reset. Langlade County has more than 120 miles of hiking trails across 10 trail systems, including a remarkable stretch of the Ice Age National Scenic Trail consisting of 66 miles of trail plus miles of road routes. If you want to trade engine noise for birdsong and wind in the pines, this is where the day shifts gears.
The Summit Moraine Segment of the Ice Age Trail National Scenic Trail is a great place to start. Around Jack Lake and Veterans Memorial Park, the trail follows the high ground of the moraine, and the scenery changes in quiet, beautiful ways as you move along the ridge. There is something especially satisfying about walking terrain shaped by ancient ice, then looking out at a landscape that still carries the marks of it.
The Lumbercamp Segment brings a different feel. This part of the Ice Age National Scenic Trail winds through old logging country and glacial features near the Baker Lake basin, so the walk has both natural beauty and a strong sense of place. You are not just stretching your legs here. You are walking through the layered story of Langlade County, where forest, water, and working-land history all meet.
That contrast is part of what makes hiking here memorable. In one day, you can experience the speed and reach of ATV/UTV trails, then slow down enough to notice the curve of the moraine, the texture of the woods, and the quiet that settles in once you leave the parking area behind. For visitors looking for outdoor activities in Langlade County, this pairing is hard to beat.
The Lumbercamp Segment brings a different feel. This part of the Ice Age National Scenic Trail winds through old logging country and glacial features near the Baker Lake basin, so the walk has both natural beauty and a strong sense of place. You are not just stretching your legs here. You are walking through the layered story of Langlade County, where forest, water, and working-land history all meet.
That contrast is part of what makes hiking here memorable. In one day, you can experience the speed and reach of ATV/UTV trails, then slow down enough to notice the curve of the moraine, the texture of the woods, and the quiet that settles in once you leave the parking area behind. For visitors looking for outdoor activities in Langlade County, this pairing is hard to beat.
By the time you have put in miles on the trail and a solid hike, you have earned a meal with some real payoff. Longshots Pearson Smokehouse delivers exactly that.
This is the sort of Northwoods smokehouse stop that makes you start planning what to order before you even park. Brisket and ribs come out smoked daily, and the menu leans into comfort in all the right ways, from mac and cheese and pulled pork to hand-cut fries, smoked loin, and prime rib. If you are in the mood for something piled high, the pulled pork nachos are calling. If you somehow still have room after the main event, there is also dessert waiting at the end, including a rich "Death by Chocolate" option that lives up to the name.
What gives Longshots its own personality is that it does not stop at smokehouse staples. There is a little supper club energy in the mix, a famously large salad bar, pizza on the menu, and weekly specials that keep regulars coming back.
In the Pickerel-Pearson area, it is the kind of place that feels equally right after a trail ride, a day on the lake, or a long stretch of hiking boots and dusty roads.
Norm's Hollow: A Wolf River Stop with a View
From there, keep the day rolling with a stop at Norm's Hollow, where good food, cold drinks, and easy river views come together in classic Langlade County fashion. This is one of those places that understands exactly where it sits and who it serves, with a friendly atmosphere that welcomes both locals and visitors to enjoy themselves.
Its location makes it especially convenient for trail users. Three ATV and snowmobile trails meet right in the parking lot, so it is an easy stop if you are riding through the Pickerel-Pearson area. But even if you came by car, the real draw here is what is waiting down County Road A.
Take the motorized bridge over the Wolf River and head toward the water access area. It is a simple jaunt, but it adds a whole other layer to the day. Maybe you walk down just to stand near the river and take in the view. Maybe you catch paddlers putting in or taking out. Maybe you just pause long enough to hear the current and remember why the Northwoods never really needs to raise its voice to get your attention.
That mix of trail culture, river scenery, and casual gathering space is part of what makes Langlade County travel so easy to love. You can move from recreation to food to scenery without forcing the day to feel overplanned.
Trailside Inn: Rest Easy Near the Trails
When the day finally winds down, Trailside Inn makes a strong case for staying the night and doing it all again tomorrow. This small Northwoods motel has 11 rooms and a park-like setting that feels relaxed from the minute you pull in. After a full day outdoors, that quieter pace feels just right.
It is also a practical choice, especially if your Langlade County itinerary includes more than one kind of recreation. The inn is close to ATV trails and within reach of golf, fishing, hunting, and other outdoor options, so it works well as a home base for a weekend in Wisconsin's County of Trails. There is a full-service bar and restaurant right on the property, which means you do not have to go far once you are ready to settle in.
Traveling with a dog? A few pet-friendly rooms are available for an added nightly charge, which is one more reason Trailside Inn fits the easygoing, outdoors-first spirit of the Pickerel-Pearson area. It is cute, comfortable, and exactly the kind of place that feels right for a Northwoods overnight stay.
One Day, the Full Northwoods Experience
This itinerary is a reminder that Langlade County does not make you choose between adventure and comfort, or between high-energy recreation and slow scenic moments. You can ride ATV/UTV trails through glacial terrain, walk a piece of the Ice Age National Scenic Trail, sit down to smoked ribs and brisket, take in the Wolf River, and end the day tucked into a Northwoods motel that keeps you close to tomorrow's plans.
Click here for more information on the Langlade County Ice Age trail, the Pickerel-Pearson ATV/UTV trails, the Trailside Inn, Norm's Hollow, and Longshots Pearson Smokehouse.
That is the beauty of a getaway in Wisconsin's County of Trails. It is not one note. It is movement, scenery, local flavor, and the kind of overnight stay that turns a day trip into something more. So if you are looking for things to do in Langlade County, Wisconsin, take this as your sign: The Northwoods is open!
