Straight from the county's web-page. "Gass Lake is 6 1/2 acres in size and has a maximum depth of…read more24 feet. It is a spring fed lake with no shoreline development. The access road leading to the public boat launch facility and parking area are blacktopped. Parking barriers and a gate over the entrance road have been installed. Parking space is available for 8 car/trailer units. The access is barricaded during the winter because of the steep access road. This lake is best known for large mouth bass, but panfish including bluegill, perch and crappies are also found here. Use of motors, except electric motors, are prohibited." This is part of my Manitowoc County ongoing series about area parks. I like this little park because it's basically "wild".no houses, no nuttin" I was just out here; and, yes, the entrance is really steep, and yes, it's closed off right now. We used to ride our bicycles out here in the late 50's. Still looks pretty much the same. Bring your canoe and binoculars, too

A small lake of 39 acres with a maximum depth of 59 feet. There is a steep, paved public access…read morewith tight parking for 8 cars and boat trailers. There is a launch ramp and a fishing pier...nothing else. The lake is known for pike, bass, walleye and various panfish. Only electric motors are allowed. As of present (August, 2023) the lake is covered by algae.

This park has obviously undergone some renovation. It has a nice playground for the kiddos and 3…read moredocks to fish from, one of which is a boat launch. The lake has been stocked with fish. The signs tell about the history of how the lake went from a prime fishing spot in the early 1900s to a dead lake in the 50s. The story of how it was restored to a clean, healthy lake is inspiring. I enjoy fishing here. It is a great place for a weekend picnic.

This park is a hidden little gem just west of Manitowoc. The lake used to be pretty polluted; but…read moreefforts have been made to remediate this. Now a days the lake is much cleaner. The lake is about 55 acres surrounded by 12 acres of woods and riparian habitat. This is a nice place for fishing and wildlife observation. There seems to always be yellow-rumped warblers in the wooded area. This is a quiet lake as no gasoline motors are allowed. Canoes, kayaks and paddle boards are the way to go. Efforts have been made to reduce trash fish in the lake. You can look forward to catching bass, pike, bluegills and perch. There is no size limit; and you can catch 10 fish a day. If your idea of boating is to go fast and make a lot of noise, this lake is not for you. However, if you want to quietly paddle out and catch your supper this is a fine place to do so. There are bathrooms and a rotunda for a rainy day picnic. There is a small pier for offshore fishing and a small boat ramp. If you are driving around with a canoe on your roof and a fishing pole, it would behoove you to stop here for a couple hours of quiet outdoor pleasure

July 21, 2025 it will be 29 years since I 1st met my wife. That bar, snack bar and sandy Beach were…read moreso awesome. Now only giant homes are in it's place. Makes me sad still.

If you happen to be studying a map of Waukesha County's gorgeous lake region, and your eyes settle…read moreon what clearly looks like a tooth shaped lake near the intersection of Highways K and C, you have found Moose Lake. It's 83 acres of beautiful scenery, crystal clear water fed from an underground spring, so yesterday's water temperature was 80°. The depth varies from just 4 feet to 60 feet. There is always a slight breeze in the air, which is great for keeping away the mosquitoes. I visited for two days and saw boating, swimming, fishing, and paddle board activity. Fishing here might net you a Panfish, Largemouth Bass or a Northern Pike. Most of the lakefront properties include private docks, but there is a public access dock as well. Just gorgeous!

I like this lake just because of its shape. This is an addition to my list of county parks in the…read moreManitowoc area. The county park department maintains an 8.5 acres park at Horseshoe Lake. There is a picnic area with grills and tables. Playground equipment has been developed on the hillside northwest of the parking lot. A picnic area with a grill and a small shelter and toilet are located near the parking lot on the lower level. The lake access has a pier, which is used for both launching and fishing. This 19-acre lake offers good rainbow trout fishing as well as large mouth bass, crappie, bluegill, perch and northern pike. Use of motors on this lake is prohibited. You will see fishermen with high power bass boats moving slowly, using just their electric trolling motors. The wooded area between the two arms of the lake yields an area that promises good birding. Good fishing draws attention. At any given time you will see folks wetting a hook. There are 1.2 miles miles of shoreline. The lake averages 25 feet, with 54 feet being the deepest spot. The boarding dock, and the route of travel to it, is ADA accessible. This lake is described as a seepage, "two-story" lake. If you are looking for a nice fishing spot, a place for a picnic, a place for small gathering, or a nice place to get into the woods it would behoove you to find this nice little park off of county highway XX. Bring your light rig.

Another fine little lake in Manitowoc County. Wilke Lake is about 93 acres. It averages about 9…read morefeet with a maximum depth of 22 feet. Water quality is rated as "good". The bottom is either gravel (60%) or muck (40%) with ample vegetative cover. There is no real park here. There is a parking area for maybe 10 vehicles and a picnic area with table and grill. There is a cement block bathroom. The lake is known for copious amounts of panfish and a good population of large mouth bass. You can also catch northern pike, walleyes, and the occasional muskie. There is a launch ramp and a small fishing pier. The pier is not ADA compliant because the slope is too steep. A day permit is $5 and a seasonal one is $20. Motor boats are allowed. Operating restrictions on motorboats and water skiing are posted. Ordinance regulating littering, motorboat prohibition, noise levels, rafts, piers, ski jumps, slow-no-wake areas, slow-no-wake hours, Bottom line, this is a nice lake with clear water and full of fish. Just another good place to wet a hook in Manitowoc County.

As lakes go, this one is often overlooked. Driving for east of the lake I'd definitely more rural…read moreand very pleasant country driving. The better route north or south with a little more time added. High cliff state park a nice place to settle in nature.

Lake Winnebago is a huge lake. Not Lake Michigan huge, of course, but it feels like it as you…read morecannot see the shore on the opposite side lake! And if you are use to cruising around inland lakes, Winnebago will take the cake. Because of its vast size, the wind and consequent waves can be wicked. I recommend that if you are prone to sea-sickness and going out on the water, you need to bring favorite motion sickness medication as a precaution. Winnebago is a shallow lake, so be mindful of your boat prop position. This is a great lake for tubing, water skiing, and fishing. There are multiple parks along the banks. The boat launch located in North Fond Du Lac is awesome with 5 slots and it is easy to get your boat in and out and park for only a few dollars. There is plentiful wildlife and birds to watch. Seeing the pelicans fly over the lake is an amazing experience. Speaking for experience, I don't recommend staying on the water after sunset. It is very, very dark. And extremely difficult to find that inlet that leads to the North Fond Du Lac boat launch.... I've always had fun, memorable experiences the few times I have visited and highly recommend boating on Winnebago in the WI summer. I hope to do some fishing next summer so I can share my experiences in an updated review.

The camp hosts and rangers constantly monitor campsites. I do not see them clean or do anything…read moreelse that would be helpful. They just drive around, waiting for someone they can scold. It makes me feel unwelcome on the grounds, like a prisoner in a panopticon. Also the woods in this area are infested with buckthorn and autumn olive.

If you asked AI what an ideal state park should look like, it would describe Mauthe Lake. Full…read moredisclaimer-I have been coming here off and on for over 50 years and the nostalgia is strong. And now with a lake home only a few minutes away, while I don't need to visit, I still do at times just to take in the memories. It checks off all the boxes-water, beach, walking trails, camping, concessions, and fishing spots. The Kettle Moraine started with the purchase of land surrounding the lake and it does a great job representing. I enjoy seeing the different geological formations and landscapes (marshes, pine, deciduous). A beautiful space.

When you decide to see the James Tellen Woodland Sculpture Garden, be sure to double check your…read moremap. It's located in a residential neighborhood, south of Sheboygan, that is off the beaten path. The first thing you see is a log fence along Evergreen Road. In the trompe-l'œil sculpture, you'll find a Native American family, a momma bear climbing a tree and her two cubs playing in a tree. Park your car in the lot off Evergreen Road and walk back up to the road to take a closer look at the fence. The amount of detail that James Tellen put into his work is evident in the logs. You'll find a Native American family, a momma bear about to climb a tree, and her cubs playing on the tree top. Near the large sculpted tree (go ahead and stick your head in the large opening!) you'll find a box with an information sheet that describes the sculptures you'll be seeing as you walk the path into the woods. Where did this all come from? James Tellen worked in a Sheboygan furniture factory where he painted stripes and other details on the products. When not working, he studied painting under local artisans and later worked with other media. During the depression, production slowdowns gave him time to pursue his artwork. This log cottage and land, south of town, was a family refuge and became a place for him to pursue his artwork. During the winter, he would work on sculpting heads in the basement of his home. In Spring and Summer, he attached the heads to armatures that supported his concrete sculptures. Tellen died in 1957, leaving a legacy of 30 such sculptures at the family cottage. The Kohler Foundation acquired the sculpture garden in 1988 and in 2001, the collection was gifted to the John Michael Kohler Art Center. The Tellen environment is the first addition to the JMKAC collection that is off premises. (The JMKAC is in downtown Sheboygan.) A sculpture of a young Abraham Lincoln, splitting a log, shows Tellen's incredible dedication to detail. It is reminiscent of Clarence Shaler's "Lincoln the Dreamer" sculpture on the campus of Ripon College. Tellen tried to depict everyday people, and the young Lincoln is represented as an everyday neighbor rather than as the statesman that we all remember. The Tellen collection is open dawn to dusk daily. It is one the art environments restored by the Kohler Foundation and listed as part of Wandering Wisconsin. I have reviewed some of these sites on Yelp, too. https://www.jmkac.org/exhibitions/wandering-wisconsin.html

Nice walk through the woods. Interesting in a kitschy way. Go back to the roadhouse a half mile…read moreback down the road for some good drinks.