Lodge at a Glance: Black Bear Lodge

Wisconsin’s Northern Highland region is home to some of the nation’s best freshwater fishing, with muskie, walleye, northern pike, bass, and panfish inhabiting the hundreds of lakes that dot 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.” Black Bear Lodge sits along the edge of one of these quiet, cool lakes—the Little St. Germain—and it has two sandy beaches, fishing and pontoon boats, canoes, and kayaks so you can make the most of your stay.

• Wild Bear Grill & Pub: Grab lunch or dinner while entertaining yourself with the pool table, jukebox, and arcade games.
• In-home amenities: stone fireplace, full kitchen with a fridge, dishwasher, and stove
• Take in the country air on your lodge’s lakeside deck or patio.
• Build a campfire with complimentary firewood and roast marshmallows.

Wisconsin’s Northern Highland: Towering Pines and 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 claims that this region boasts the world’s third-highest concentration of lakes. There are 900 in the Northern Highland-American Legion State Park, and many of them are ideal for fishing, boating, and canoeing. While you’re exploring this 220,000-acre state park—the most visited in Wisconsin—you might see animals such as black bears, otters, beavers, and deer.

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