33 - Helpful Area Information

The Watersmeet Chamber of Commerce has a part-time secretary but no drop-in office. If you call (800) 522-5657, the Western U.P. Convention & Visitors Bureau will mail visitor info for Watersmeet. For info on chamber members and the community as a whole, visit the excellent chamber website, www.watersmeet.org.

The Land O' Lakes Welcome Center is in the conspicuous log building on U. S. 45 at County Road B. It's run by the Land O" Lakes Chamber of Commerce. It also gives out information about Michigan's Upper Peninsula. It's open year-round. From May thru Sept open Mon-Sat 9-4 Central Time, Sun 10-2. Otherwise open Mon, Wed, Fri 10-3. Call (800) 236-3432 or (715) 547-3432. Fax (715) 547-8010. Check out the outstanding website, www.landolakes-wi.org. Only lodgings and restaurants that are chamber members are included.

Not just Sylvania but many other lakes, rivers, and forest land in the Western Upper Peninsula are included in the Ottawa National Forest. Its website, www.fs.fed.us/r9/ottawa/, is quite information-rich. It includes updates on Ottawa National Forest public hearings and policy issues. Providing visitor information is the chief function of the national forest's Ottawa Visitor Center on the southeast corner of U.S. 2 and U.S. 45 just east of Watersmeet. Entrance roads are from both highways. It's open year-round, daily 9-5 Central Time from mid-May through mid-October. From Oct. 15 to May 15 open Wed-Sat from 9 to 5 Central Time. (906) 358-4724. On weekdays when the Visitor Center is closed, you can call or stop by the national forest's Watersmeet Ranger District office on Old U.S. 2 East. It's east of U.S. 45, north of the town center and high school. Turn east at the basketball court. This is the place for info on backcountry campsites outside the wilderness area. It's open from 8 to 4 Central Time. (906) 358-4551. TTY: (906) 358-4551.

The very eastern part of Vilas County, east of Land O' Lakes in Wisconsin, is part of the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest . Visit its website, www.fs.fed.us/cnnf/ Phone (715) 479-1308. TTY (715) 479-2827.

GUIDED FISHING TRIPS, CANOE TRIPS & BOTANY EXPEDITIONS
Watersmeet has several guides for fishing and hunting. Sylvania Outfitters is a good referral source for all guides active in the area. Fishing guides include walleye specialist Tom Schwanke's Wilderness Bay Guide Service (906-358-9956; 906-358-4319); and Bruce Becker (715-547-3100 or 906-358-9880). At Northern Outfitters on U.S. 45 in Watersmeet, Gregg Mallick specializes in walleye. Rick Whitehead's Rangers Guides Service (715-547-6960; www.bigstinkyfish.com ) operates on Lac Vieux Desert outside Land O'Lakes. Since 1983 Rohr's Wilderness Tours offers guided canoe trips, car spotting, outfitting, and cross-country ski and hiking events in the area, including the Ontonagon River and various headwaters of the Wisconsin River. They also offer canoeing instruction and certification at all levels. (715) 547-3639 or (815) 895-7635 (winter phone). www.RWTCanoe.com. Northwoods Native Plants Society leads free monthly Saturday trips in season to unusual habitats in Gogebic and Vilas counties and vicinity. They are posted on www.fs.fed.us/r9/ottawa/. See"Ottawa Interpretive Association."

EVENTS
Watersmeet and Land O' Lakes both have fireworks and parades over the July 4 weekend . . . . . In Land O' Lakes, the fourth weekend in July brings the big Art Impressions art and crafts show. The fourth weekend in September celebrates fall with the Top of Wisconsin Fest. Downtown merchants dress up for "A Dickens Christmas" and "A Christmas Carol" is performed. On January's last weekend, local people build impressive snow sculptures.

PICNIC PROVISIONS and PLACES

In Watersmeet, the Clark Lake picnic area (see below) at the edge of the Sylvania Wilderness Area provides drive-up access to a motor-free lake with swimming and hiking trails. Nordine's in Watersmeet is more of a large convenience and party store with some groceries. Local people shop at Greg's in Land O' Lakes or in Eagle River (below) or at the Old Settler's Co-op in Bruce Crossing. . . . Handy to U.S. 2 is the Imp Lake picnic area 6 miles southeast of Watersmeet with an interesting interpretive trail in an old-growth forest. Pleasant picnic areas are also at Mex-I-Mine Falls and Clark Lake.

In Land O'Lakes, the community supermarket is Greg's Foods on the main street, County Road B. An interesting, readily accessible picnic spot is the wayside park by the Wisconsin River's headwaters on U.S. 45 just south of town. Another picnic spot is at the Wisconsin's headwaters on Lac Vieux Desert.

If you're coming from the east on U.S. 2, a stop at the fabulous Angeli's Central Market in Iron River is in order. It's very large, contrary to what the old-timey name suggests.

Coming from the south, Eagle River, Wisconsin has two excellent big supermarkets, Trig's on Hwy. 70 East and Bonson's Pick & Save on U.S. 45 north.

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