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Eagle River is a city in Vilas County, Wisconsin.  Because of the many lakes in the area, the city is a popular vacation and retirement destination. The area contains many condominiums, seasonal vacation homes, and hunting cabins.

History

Eagle River was the site of the first permanent Indian settlement in the Wisconsin Northwoods, located on the shores of Watersmeet Lake where the Wisconsin River and Chain O’ Lakes meet. These early Indians, who were called Old Copper Indians, were succeeded by the Woodland Indians from 2,600 B.C. to 800 A.D. These Indians were probably the ancestors of the Chippewa, Potawatomi, and Menominee. The city’s name was derived from the abundance of eagles nesting along the river. The Eagle River Historical Society – Preserving the culture and heritage of the Eagle River Wisconsin area –   https://eagleriverhistory.org/  • Eagle River Early Settlers – https://eagleriver.org/about/history/

Founding

The first recorded white settler in what became Vilas County was a man named Ashman who established a trading post in Lac du Flambeau in 1818. Eagle River’s name was derived from the abundance of eagles nesting along the river. It is believed that Bethuel Draper and “Dutch Pete” Cramer camped in the area in 1853 and were responsible for naming the community. A settlement grew as other families settled in the area in 1857. The town of Eagle River was created by an act of the state legislature in 1885. Vilas County was set off from Oneida County on April 12, 1893 and named for William Freeman Vilas, a migrant from Vermont. Vilas had served for Wisconsin in the United States Senate from 1891 to 1897. In the 1850s migrants from New England, primarily from Vermont and Connecticut, constructed a number of wagon roads and trails through Vilas County including the Ontonogan Mail Trail and a Military Road from Fort Howard to Fort Wilkins in Copper Harbor, Michigan.

Geography

Eagle River is located in southeastern Vilas County at 45°55′12″N 89°15′1″W (45.919902, -89.250210), along the Eagle River, which is part of a popular chain of lakes. The Eagle River/Three Lakes Chain of Lakes is made up of 28 lakes, which is the largest number of inland interconnecting lakes in the world.

Eagle River Chain of Lakes

The Eagle River Chain of Lakes consists of 10 lakes connected by the Eagle River, and encompasses 14 miles between the two endpoints that includes 70 miles of shoreline for the system. The lakes of the Eagle River Chain are: Catfish Lake, Cranberry Lake, Duck Lake, Eagle Lake, Lynx Lake, Otter Lake, Scattering Rice Lake, Voyageur Lake, Watersmeet Lake and Yellow Birch Lake.

The two endpoints are known as the Burnt Rollways Dam at the top to the lower end where everything goes into the Wisconsin River through the Otter Rapids Dam. Since both ends consist of dams, the Chain’s water level is controlled by Wisconsin Valley Improvement Corporation at Burnt Rollways and Wisconsin Public Service at Otter Rapids where the Chain feeds the Wisconsin River.

Additional tributaries are the Deerskin River, Mud Creek, Rice Creek and the Wisconsin River.

Because the Chain is located in a busy tourist area of Wisconsin, the Chain is arguably the most high profile system in northern Wisconsin and highly sought after among recreationists and anglers. It is an integral part of Vilas County, and along the shores you will find many boat landings, public parks, motels and resorts and campgrounds. https://www.ercla.org/about/about-the-lakes/

Climate

Eagle River has a cool humid continental climate (Köppen Dfb), with long, cold winters and short, mild summers. Annually the temperature drops below 32 °F (0 °C) on 190 days, and below 0 °F (-17.8 °C) on 39 days. The comfortable summers result in only one day per year on average with temperatures exceeding 90 °F (32.2 °C).

Airports

Eagle River Union Airport
Eagle River is served by the Eagle River Union Airport (KEGV) – http://erairport.com, which serves as a landing spot for seasonal home owners. Located just northwest of Eagle River. The nearest commercial airport is located 30 miles south in Rhinelander, WI. Rhinelander – Oneida County Airport (RHI) – https://www.flyrhinelander.com/

Sports & Recreation

World Snowmobile Headquarters
Common recreational activities include boating, camping, fishing, swimming, hunting, golfing, ice fishing, and snowmobiling. Bald eagles can be viewed here, the source of the name “Eagle” River.

Eagle River is known as the “Snowmobile Capital of the World” because of the World Championship Snowmobile Derby held for over 50 years at an ice oval on the north side of the city. There are over 500 miles of groomed snowmobile trails in the county. The World Snowmobile Headquarters and International Snowmobile Hall of Fame are located in Eagle River. https://www.ishof.com/

The Wisconsin Hockey Hall of Fame – http://www.wihockeyhalloffame.com/ is in Eagle River Stadium in Eagle River. The stadium is home to the Eagle River Falcons in the GLHL. Eagle River has been the host of the Labatt Blue USA hockey pond hockey championship games. Both of these have earned Eagle River the nickname “The Hockey Capital of Wisconsin”.

A public golf course / Eagle River Golf Course is located on 457 East McKinley Street, Eagle River, WI. https://www.eaglerivergolfcourse.com/

Check out our Attractions & Recommendations section for additional info and things to do in Eagle River Wisconsin.