Marathon County

Marathon County, Wisconsin

Located in Northcentral Wisconsin, Marathon County is home to Greater Wausau and some of the state’s most diverse year-round outdoor recreation. Known as Wisconsin’s Basecamp, the area combines forests, rivers, trails and dramatic landscapes with the restaurants, lodging, arts and amenities of the Wausau area.

Explore more than 30,000 acres of Marathon County Forest, including the popular Nine Mile County Forest Recreation Area, along with Rib Mountain State Park, the Dells of the Eau Claire County Park and miles of hiking, mountain biking, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing trails. Rib Mountain rises above the Wisconsin River Valley and offers hiking, scenic overlooks and skiing and snowboarding at Granite Peak during the winter.

Marathon County is also a destination built for exploring on two wheels and in every season. The county offers approximately 880 miles of snowmobile trails, while the growing Wisconsin Gravel network connects Marathon County with neighboring communities through more than 900 miles of interlocking gravel routes.

For paddlers, anglers and water enthusiasts, the Wisconsin River runs through the heart of the region. The 108-mile Great Pinery Heritage Waterway follows the Wisconsin River and its tributaries through Northcentral Wisconsin, with a 20.8-mile section recognized in 2025 as a National Recreation Trail. Marathon County is also crossed by roughly 35 miles of the Ice Age National Scenic Trail, giving visitors the opportunity to experience two nationally recognized trail systems from one basecamp.

Whether you come to hike, bike, paddle, ski, snowmobile, fish, camp or simply explore, Marathon County offers four seasons of outdoor adventure with Greater Wausau at the center of it all.

Grab a map, choose your adventure and make Marathon County your basecamp.

Plan your adventure today at VisitWausau.com.