By: Mindy Simons
The maples turn first. By the last week of September into early October, the rolling hills around Hayward blaze from green to deep crimson and burnished gold, and the whole region settles into a slower, golden-hour pace that suits a family weekend. Kids who squabble over screen time at home will press their noses to the car window the moment the color tour begins.
Our curated fall color tours map out the routes worth driving. One winds through the towering pines and fiery hardwoods of the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest, where the road threads between stands of maple, papery white birch, and shimmering aspen that catch the slanting afternoon light. Another follows the quiet back roads above the Chippewa Flowage, where the glassy water doubles every flaming ridgeline. Pack a thermos of cocoa and a bag of crisp apples to enjoy during the ride.
When everyone needs to move, the trails are right there. The forest holds mile after mile of footpaths that welcome short legs, from flat, leaf-strewn walks under an hour to longer ridge climbs that earn a breathtaking view. Take in the color that surrounds you, and the peace that only the woods in fall can provide.
Bikers have it good here. The CAMBA trail network covers more than 300 miles of trails across the Hayward and Cable area, with clearly marked beginner loops a 10-year-old can finish and brag about for weeks. Fall is the sweet spot. The bugs are long gone, the dirt is tacky and fast, and the thinning canopy scatters bright leaves across the trail like confetti. Rent bikes in town if you traveled light.
For families who want more ground under them, the Sawyer County ATV and UTV trail system links up hundreds of miles of winding routes that snake through the colorful woods and connect one cozy Northwoods town to the next. Riders need to follow age and licensing rules, so sort those out before you load up, then pull off for a hearty lunch at one of the area’s family-friendly bar and grills, where burgers, baskets of fries, and a warm welcome are easy to find. There are local rental outfitters ready to help make your fall four-wheel adventures a reality.
Then there is the fishing. Muskie hunters live for the frenzied fall feed, when the big fish move shallow to fatten up before the freeze. Walleye and bass keep restless kids busy with steadier, reel-bending action from a sun-warmed dock or a rented boat. Carve out time for the National Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame and let everyone clamber inside the colossal muskie that stretches 143 feet in length. It is half museum, half playground, and the goofy photos from the open mouth way up top never get old.
Book a cabin and the day stretches long and lazy. Picture a fire snapping in the hearth, a teetering stack of board games, and the rich smell of cocoa while the temperature dives outside. Many rentals sit right at the water’s edge, so morning coffee comes with silver mist curling off the lake and a good chance of spotting deer along the tree line. Kids sleep hard after a full day outdoors. Parents finally get the quiet they came for. Visit HaywardLakes.com to start planning your fall visit.