MINOCQUA — The Little Brown Jug is surrounded by towering white pine trees, yet the low-slung building stands out.
Gregory Marach, bartender at the Little Brown Jug in Minocqua, works behind the bar of the tavern, a favorite stop of snowmobilers each winter.
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Snowmobile riders prepare for a day riding in Vilas County, one the state's prime winter destinations. Snowmobilers come from around the country to ride the county's 600 miles of trails.
Snowmobiling is big business in northern Wisconsin, where many restaurants and bars have reserved parking for snowmobiles and some gas stations, like Coontail Market in Boulder Junction, have designated fuel pumps.
Wisconsin has about 25,000 miles of snowmobile trails, including 500 miles maintained by 18 snowmobile clubs in Dane County. The Waunakee Winter Wanderers maintain 42 miles of the system, part of which is seen here in 2021 along Lavina Road in the town of Dane.
A snowmobiler rides the La Crosse River Trail.
Snowmobiles outside Beda Mobile Repair in Boulder Junction were covered with fresh snow in December 2021 as large snowstorms hit early that year. The area is a magnet for snowmobiling, thanks to 600 miles of interconnected trails in Vilas County.
Photos: Winter arrives in northern Wisconsin
Winter has arrived in northern Wisconsin
A picnic table serves as a snow gauge in the town of Presque Isle.
Winter has arrived in northern Wisconsin
With plenty of snow on the ground, snowmobiles will soon be filling up at Coontail Market in Boulder Junction.
Winter has arrived in northern Wisconsin
Marty the Musky welcomes visitors to Boulder Junction. The 18-foot-long fiberglass statue is outside the offices of the Boulder Junction Chamber of Commerce.
Winter has arrived in northern Wisconsin
This is the outside of the Boulder Junction Chamber of Commerce.
Winter has arrived in northern Wisconsin
Snowmobiles outside Beda Mobile Repair in Boulder Junction were covered with fresh snow over the weekend. The area received about 10 inches of snow, which means snowmobile trails will soon be opening in the North Woods.
Winter has arrived in northern Wisconsin
The North Woods of Wisconsin are in prime winter mode and stand in contrast to the rest of the state.
Winter has arrived in northern Wisconsin
After snow slid off the roof of his garage, Jack Klein was forced to use the bucket of his Brutus ATV to remove the blockage Saturday night.
Winter has arrived in northern Wisconsin
Doug Annis pulls a 14 inch walleye from a lake near Boulder Junction on Saturday.
Winter has arrived in northern Wisconsin
The sun dips below the tree line of a Vilas County lake on Saturday near Boulder Junction. The area is in full winter mode after a 10-inch snowfall over the weekend. Snowmobile trails will soon open and many of the lakes have enough ice for ice fishing.
Winter has arrived in northern Wisconsin
Doug Annis holds a small northern as Jason Klein manages tip up line last weekend. The Madison men were fishing in Vilas County but had to trudge through deep snow to reach their fishing spot.
Winter has arrived in northern Wisconsin
An auger is pulled from a freshly drilled hole as set up began for a day of ice fishing near Boulder Junction.
Winter has arrived in northern Wisconsin
Doug Annis of Madison uses a battery-powered auger to drill though freshly fallen snow and five to six inches of ice on a Vilas County lake last weekend.
Winter has arrived in northern Wisconsin
A snow storm moves out on Saturday but left 10 inches of snow in the Boulder Junction area.
Winter has arrived in northern Wisconsin
The winds picked up after it stopped snowing on Saturday and buried tip ups used for ice fishing on a Vilas County lake.
Winter has arrived in northern Wisconsin
Jason Klein of Madison trudges through the snow of a Vilas County lake on Saturday after the region received about 10 inches of snow. The storm made travel difficult but has set the region up for what could be a banner year for winter tourism.
Winter has arrived in northern Wisconsin
Doug Annis releases a small northern on a Vilas County Lake on Saturday. Fishing was slow but there was plenty of ice and tons of snow.
Winter has arrived in northern Wisconsin
Doug Annis of Madison brushes the snow off his truck Saturday morning as he prepares to depart for a day of ice fishing near Boulder Junction.
Winter has arrived in northern Wisconsin
This was the scene along Highway B north of Boulder Junction before a 10 inch snowfall on Friday night and Saturday morning.
Winter has arrived in northern Wisconsin
At Northern Highland Sports in downtown Boulder Junction, snow is a key ingredient to business each winter.
