Deluxe, Condo-Style Lodges on Little St. Germain Lake

Wisconsin’s Northern Highland region is home to some of the nation’s best freshwater fishing, with muskie, walleye, northern pike, bass, and pan fish inhabiting the hundreds of lakes dotting the hilly landscape. The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources says that “this area epitomizes for many residents the image of ‘going north’ to sit on the shore of a quiet, cool lake under the shade of a majestic white pine.” Surrounded by such majestic greenery, the unincorporated town of St. Germain lies along the banks of Little St. Germain Lake. With access to 2,100 feet of shoreline, Black Bear Lodge provides abundant opportunities for ice-fishing in the colder months—not to mention miles of snowshoeing and cross-country-skiing trails.

The lodge encourages visitors to make the most of the natural surroundings, no matter the season. Several networks of snowmobile trails are accessible near the lodge, including the St. Germain Bo-Boen Trail. You can borrow a pair of complimentary ice skates to glide across the lodge’s outdoor rink, and warm up around a campfire afterwards. When the weather warms up, you can rent fishing and pontoon boats, canoes, and kayaks. Paved biking and hiking trails crisscross the property, leading out into Vilas County.

For a break from outdoor recreation, slip into The Bear’s Den, where you can fill up on fresh, homemade pizza and burgers while enjoying the pool table, jukebox, and arcade games. Later, retire to a two-bedroom, two-bathroom deluxe lodge home. Each condo-style unit features a great room with a stone fireplace, a lakeside deck or patio with open lake views, and a complete kitchen with a fridge, dishwasher, and stove. Upstairs, vaulted ceilings are tall enough to accommodate visiting Shaquille O’Neal impersonators.

Wisconsin’s Northern Highland: Towering Pines in World’s Third-Highest Concentration of Lakes

Hundreds of millions of years ago, this area of northern Wisconsin near Michigan’s Upper Peninsula looked more like the Rocky Mountains than the Great Plains. But between then and now, protracted erosion and glaciation slowly sanded down the once-towering peaks to produce today’s gentle forested hills and endless lakes. The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources believes this region boasts the world’s third-highest concentration of lakes. There are 900 in the Northern Highland-American Legion State Park, many of which are ideal for fishing, boating, and canoeing. Explore this 220,000-acre state park—the most visited in Wisconsin—to see a wide variety of wildlife, including black bears, otters, beavers, and deer.

Read the Fine Print for important info on travel dates and other restrictions.