Leaf Route Drive Times:

• Madison—3 hours
• Milwaukee—4 hours
• Twin Cities—4 hours
• Chicago—5 hours

Auto Tours

Traveling the gorgeous scenery between the communities of Merrill, Tomahawk, Rhinelander, Crandon and Antigo offers the perfect opportunity to view the spectacular fall colors. Take the back road options many which wind around lakes, rivers and streams for an even more scenic drive.

Nicolet National Forest, Forest, Vilas and Oneida Counties Auto Tour – The Heritage Drive National Forest Scenic Byway, the first scenic Byway on the Nicolet National Forest, was dedicated in May 1992. The Byway incorporates a 10-mile section of Military Road (Forest Road 2178) and 4 miles of the Butternut Lakes Road (Forest Road 2181). A tabloid-styled interpretive guide “Heritage” and special byway signs help visitors learn more about Nicolet’s rich natural history.

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Nicolet National Forest, Forest and Vilas Counties Auto Tour – The self-guided natural history auto tour begins at Eagle River and ends at Three Lakes. The 80-mile tour takes about four hours to complete. There are two developed picnic areas along the route, one at Lac Vieux Desert, near Land O’ Lakes and one at Franklin Lake, east of Eagle River. There are twelve designated stops on the tour. Two stops feature short walking trails and one stop is a museum. To receive more information on these tours, visit www.crandonwi.com or call 1-800-334-3387 and request a Forest County map.

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Lincoln County Scenic Auto Tour– The tour begins at the Merrill Historical Museum in downtown Merrill. Drive northeast on Highway 17 and turn west on Prairie Dells Rd. There you will encounter the picturesque Prairie Dells Scenic Area with beautiful granite rock formations and a breathtaking waterfall. Continue northeast on Highway 17 to Haymeadow County Park located along the Prairie River. Journeying along Highway 17 discover, the Gleason Area, what anglers know as the “Trout Fishing Capital of the World”. As you cross County Highway B you will encounter two great points of interest: the scenic Harrison Hills Moraine and Lookout Mountain, the highest point on the Ice Age Trail. Head west on Bear Trail Road to take a rest at the Roothouse Lake – Nature Area (with hiking and fishing) or the Otter Lake Recreation Area, which offers a swimming area. Or, follow County Highway B north, as it heads west and turns into County Highway D and encounter Hiawatha Trail and SARA Park along the majestic Wisconsin River. Continue South on Highway 107 along the river to Grandfather Falls dam, which offers picturesque 1.8 billion year-old rock outcrops. Remain on Highway 107 and you’ll run across Camp New Wood County Park and the Father Menard Monument at the top of Nine Mile Hill. For more information on this auto tour, order your free Lincoln Country Trails map today by visiting www.discoverlincolncounty.com or calling (800) 569-2160.