Exeland Shores & Sunsets · Your Northwoods guide
Exeland, Wisconsin
Come for the fishing. Stay for the Northwoods.
First light on Windfall Lake. A cast before breakfast. A day in the woods, then everyone back together as the sun slips behind the shoreline. This is Exeland, Wisconsin—and there is far more here than a place to put your bags.
At Exeland Shores & Sunsets, excellent fishing starts on Windfall Lake. Beyond your home base, add a day on the nearby Chippewa River, a forest paddle, a Tuscobia trail ride or winter fun at Christie Mountain. Hayward adds fishing history, shops and Northwoods flavor.
01 · Windfall Lake
Excellent fishing, right at the heart of your stay
Windfall Lake is not just the view from the house. It is where a quiet morning can become the story everyone takes home.
Windfall Lake · Exeland
Excellent fishing on Windfall Lake
Thirty-seven fish. Three days. A trip we still talk about.
On one of our Windfall Lake trips, we caught 37 fish in three days: mostly largemouth bass, with northern pike, walleye, crappie and perch in the mix. The northern pike pictured here is from the fishing story we shared on our blog.
There is substance behind the enthusiasm. Wisconsin DNR’s 2025 survey documented strong largemouth bass fishing opportunities, legal-size walleye and northern pike reaching 41 inches in the survey. For a group that loves to fish, Windfall Lake deserves a place on the itinerary.
Start with a cast while the lake is quiet, then bring everyone together for breakfast. Our fishing guide shares the trip, the catches and the lake information to help you plan your own time on the water.
Exeland Shores & Sunsets
Lake days, your way
You do not have to be an angler to love it here.
A paddle for the early risers. A book for the person who would rather stay by the water. A boat outing for the anglers. You can share the same getaway without spending every hour doing the same thing.
Exeland Shores & Sunsets has 250 feet of west-facing Windfall Lake shoreline, four kayaks and a seasonal private dock. Guests bringing a boat can use the public landing. Back at the house, the lake-view hot tub and lakeside firepit make sunset a gathering worth keeping free.
02 · River & Musky Fishing
Take your fishing day to the Chippewa River
Windfall Lake keeps you close to the house. The nearby Chippewa River adds a different setting for anglers who want to explore more water.
Near Exeland · County D access
Chippewa River
More water to explore. More fishing stories to bring home.
East of Exeland, the Chippewa River runs through wooded countryside with fishing opportunities for musky, northern pike, walleye and smallmouth bass. Wisconsin DNR lists the Chippewa River—Radisson reach among its muskellunge waters.
County D Canoe Landing gives your group a nearby public access point to plan around. Ask a local guide about a river fishing outing, or use the published river maps to select landings and a route suited to your experience and the conditions.
A river day gives your fishing getaway another chapter. Return to Windfall Lake for dinner, sunset and an evening together at Exeland Shores & Sunsets.
03 · Forests & Trails
A little wilderness changes the whole day
Pick a lake loop, a riverside picnic or a day on the trail. The Northwoods give your group plenty of ways to get outside together.
Photo source: Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
Northern Wisconsin
Flambeau River State Forest
A picnic can become the day's favorite plan.
A canoe on the Flambeau River, a picnic at Connors Lake or a nature walk at Lake of the Pines: this state forest rewards the kind of day that starts with one simple plan.
Connors Lake has picnic tables, grills and a playground, with a nature trail for a little exploring afterward. Paddlers can use the official river guide to choose a stretch and landings that fit their experience. Pack lunch, choose your outing and enjoy a different side of northern Wisconsin.
Photo source: Recreation.gov / USDA Forest Service
Hayward-region forest outing
Black Lake & Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest
Give yourselves time to enjoy the whole loop.
At Black Lake Recreation Area, the shoreline and forest share the same walk. The four-mile Black Lake Trail is an easy-rated foot loop with lake views along roughly half the route, plus interpretive stops about the region’s logging and Civilian Conservation Corps history.
Make it a picnic-and-walk day, or enjoy the recreation area’s grassy beach during warm-weather visits. The Forest Service’s visitor page has the directions and seasonal information to help you choose your day.
Photo source: Travel Wisconsin
Northwestern Wisconsin trail network
Tuscobia State Trail
A proper trail day, with the whole crew along.
There is something about riding through tall Northwoods trees that makes the day feel like a getaway. Tuscobia State Trail follows a 74-mile former rail corridor between Park Falls and the Wild Rivers State Trail near Rice Lake, connecting small towns and forest scenery along the way.
Plan an ATV or UTV outing on permitted sections, or a snowmobile day when winter trails are open. Walking and off-road cycling offer another way to enjoy the corridor. The official map and activity guide make it easy to pick an access point and a route for your group.
Photo source: Christie Mountain
Blue Hills near Bruce
Christie Mountain
Ski together. Laugh on the tubing hill. Come home warm.
Christie Mountain is a family-owned ski resort in the Blue Hills near Bruce, with downhill skiing, snowboarding, equipment rentals and a terrain park. It is an inviting winter outing for guests staying in Exeland.
The separate snowtubing park adds another reason to go: groomed chutes and a conveyor lift, with sessions to plan around your group. Choose your tickets and check the resort’s current snow report, then come back to a meal together and the lake-view hot tub.
04 · A Hayward Day
A Hayward day belongs on the list
Follow the fishing stories into town, browse a few favorite shops or book a Northwoods round of golf. Hayward makes an easy theme for a regional day out.
Photo source: Linda Aksomitis / guide2museums.com
Hayward, Wisconsin
Fresh Water Fishing Hall of Fame & Downtown Hayward
A giant musky, then a little time downtown.
The Big Musky at the Fresh Water Fishing Hall of Fame is a Hayward landmark: a four-and-a-half-story leaping muskellunge with a viewing area inside its open jaw. Inside the museum, fishing artifacts, mounted fish and antique motors tell the story of freshwater sportfishing.
Afterward, head downtown for Northwoods gifts, art, specialty shops and a sweet treat. Pair the museum’s seasonal visitor calendar with a little time to wander, and the anglers and non-anglers both have a day to enjoy.
Photo source: GolfWisconsin.com
Hayward, Wisconsin
Hayward Golf Club
A Northwoods round for the golfers in your group.
Hayward Golf Club’s public 18-hole, par-72 course trades the shoreline for tree-lined fairways and water features. Reserve a tee time for the golfers in your group, then gather at the onsite restaurant and bar afterward.
For a larger golf outing, contact the club about group arrangements. Its official course and booking pages have the details for planning your round.
05 · Local Dining
Breakfast in town. Dinner around your own table.
A cafe breakfast, a fish-fry evening or a meal to bring back: local Exeland stops help keep the days relaxed.
Exeland, Wisconsin
Potters Place Cafe & The Buckhorn Bar
Two local options for a break from cooking.
Potters Place Cafe serves home-cooked meals with dine-in and curbside pickup. The Buckhorn Bar highlights fish fry, house-smoked baby backs and prime rib on its business page. Both are local Exeland options when you would like a break from cooking.
Call Potters Place Cafe at 715-943-2321 or The Buckhorn Bar at 715-943-2781 for the current menu and group arrangements. Bring dinner back to your own table at Exeland Shores & Sunsets, or enjoy an evening in town.
Make it your own
Three ways to shape your getaway
01 · A getaway idea
The fishing getaway
Fish Windfall Lake at first light, share breakfast at the house and set aside another day for a Chippewa River outing. Keep the last evening for sunset and a fire by the water.
02 · A getaway idea
The Northwoods adventure
Choose a forest walk, picnic or permitted Tuscobia trail ride. Spend the next morning on Windfall Lake, then leave time for local dining and an evening together.
03 · A getaway idea
The winter escape
Build a day around Christie Mountain’s skiing or snowtubing. Add a snowmobile outing when trails are open, and end the day back at the lake-view hot tub.
Planning your Exeland getaway
Is Windfall Lake good for fishing?
Windfall Lake offers excellent fishing opportunities. Wisconsin DNR's 2025 survey documented strong largemouth bass fishing opportunities, legal-size walleye and large northern pike. Our own published fishing trip recorded 37 fish over three days. Check current fishing rules and enjoy the lake at your own pace.
Can we add Chippewa River fishing to our Exeland stay?
Yes. The Chippewa River is near Exeland, with a public access point at County D Canoe Landing and regional fishing opportunities that include musky. Use the river maps above or work with a local guide to plan the outing. Chippewa Flowage is a separate regional fishery near Hayward.
What can we do near Exeland in winter?
Christie Mountain in the Blue Hills near Bruce offers skiing, snowboarding and a separate snowtubing park. Tuscobia State Trail offers snowmobiling on permitted segments when the trail is open. Use the official resort and trail-condition links above to plan your day.
What is worth seeing on a Hayward day trip?
The Fresh Water Fishing Hall of Fame's Big Musky landmark pairs well with browsing locally owned downtown shops. Golfers can choose a planned round at Hayward Golf Club instead. The museum is seasonal, so check its current visitor calendar.
Where can we take a forest walk or picnic?
Connors Lake in Flambeau River State Forest has picnic facilities and a nature trail. Black Lake Recreation Area in Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest offers an easy-rated four-mile walking loop with lake views. Both are regional drive-to outings; use the official directions and current access information above.
Hosted by Carol & Andy
Come home to Exeland Shores & Sunsets
Exeland Shores & Sunsets welcomes groups of up to 12, with five bedrooms, three bathrooms and 250 feet of west-facing Windfall Lake shoreline. Four kayaks, a seasonal private dock, a lake-view hot tub and a lakeside firepit with complimentary firewood let you enjoy the setting without planning an outing every day.
You do not have to squeeze everything into one trip. Choose a couple of outings, keep a little time for the lake, and let Carol & Andy at Sacha Stays of Wisconsin help with the details.
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Call Carol & Andy: 608-957-7545 · Read our guest FAQs
Your local guide from Carol & Andy at Sacha Stays of Wisconsin · Researched November 2026. Attraction schedules and seasonal access can change; use the official links for current visitor information.