Ashland, Wisconsin, is best known for its many mural paintings that line the historical downtown district’s buildings. Within these murals, visitors learn about the people and places that tell the history of Ashland. Some come to admire the beauty of the murals, some to learn about Ashland’s past, some both.
While the primary draw to Ashland is these murals, Ashland offers so much more.
My next Lake Superior adventure took me to Ashland. Let’s look at some fabulous things to do in Ashland, WI
Is Ashland Wisconsin a great place for solo travelers?
Visiting Ashland, Wisconsin, as a solo traveler, is about as safe a destination as you can find. An example of a testament to its safety is when a new mural is being painted downtown, the artist often leave the supplies on site when not working on it. Rarely is there any graffiti drawn on the existing murals. This shows the pride in the community the locals have for their beautiful city and that solo travelers can feel secure when visiting.
Ashland is a small compact city on Lake Superior where outdoor activities are the focus. You can easily walk to shops and dining. People come here to enjoy the lake shore and the parks, swimming beaches, and the historical downtown.
I had absolutely no hesitation about being a solo traveler in Ashland, Wisconsin. The locals were friendly, and I always felt comfortable dining at any restaurant.
Let’s talk about those famous Ashland historical city murals…
The Historic City Murals Of Ashland Wisconsin
The eight-block stretch of Ashland’s main street district is listed on the National Register of Historical Places. This makes for the perfect setting for 15 out of the 21 murals Ashland is famous for. Each mural has a theme that tells the story of a person (s) and a place that carved a piece of Ashland’s historic past. It is the people, mostly the women of Ashland, that captured my attention.
Two out of the 21 murals really resonated with me. The women in these murals left me to wonder about their stories and why their legacies will live on for generations in these artful tributes.
The first of these is the Women of Ashland Mural. This mural is #10 on Ashland’s Mural Walk. To do this self-guided tour, stop in at the Ashland Chamber of Commerce and grab a pamphlet.
We can find this mural on the side (Vaughn Avenue) of Moore’s on Main.
There are 32 of Ashland’s women depicted on this mural, a nurse, mothers, teachers, businesswomen, and a beloved “Popcorn Lady”. Each one was (is) a key figure to life in Ashland. They completed this mural in 2018.
My next favorite mural was the Waitress Mural. The owner of the building at 124 West Main wanted to honor one of the woman shown (the woman on the left), Florence Dufek Larson, who had recently passed away. She had a pivotal role in helping to raise the young owner. One of the mural artists saw the photo of the three women in their uniforms at the funeral of Florence, thus becoming the model for that mural. These three ladies with their colorful uniforms from the forties reminded me of the uniform I wore as a waitress in the eighties (okay, mine may not have been as colorful at a brown color, but hey it still reminded me of those days).
Artists Kelly Meredith and Ashland resident Susan Prentice Martinsen painted the murals. About nine years ago, Meredith left to concentrate on her new gallery and shop in nearby Butternut, which left Susan Prentice Martinsen on her own. They completed the first mural in 1998 and the most recent in 2021.
As I mentioned, you can stop in the Ashland Chamber office (1716 W Lake Shore Dr.) and pick up an Ashland Mural Walk pamphlet with a map, and a bigger pamphlet called Historic Murals of Ashland, Wisconsin, with details of each mural.
Thank you to the Ashland Chamber Of Commerce for hosting my stay. As always, I feature an authentic account of my stay. All opinions are my own.
Are there other things to do in Ashland WI besides the murals?
I spent a fabulous three days exploring downtown Ashland and a bit of the area. Last summer I had stopped on a quiet Sunday, on my way home from camping at Madeline Island for a week. I needed to see the murals that put Ashland on the tourism map.
This time it was all about book research for my upcoming travel guide to Wisconsin Harbor Towns, due out next year. My first stop was the Asland Chamber of Commerce. After chatting with Mary, Chamber Director, and arming myself with print material, I headed off to my first stop. Prentice Park and its Artesian Wells.
Prentice Park
Prentice Park is on the western edge of town. The access road is across from Maslowski Beach, which I will get to next. Once the site of an Ojibwa settlement, Prentice Park is best known for its many springs, which is why the Ojibwa choose this site to call their home.
The park sits on 100 acres and is a park you must stop at. There are two things in Prentice Park that called to me. The artesian wells, and the boardwalk that leads to the highway and winds through Fish Creek Slough. The wetland is perfect for birdwatching. There are walking trails, a pavilion, a playground, and a small campground.
There is camping at Prentice Park and at Kreher Park. The campground at Prentice Park has six primitive sites for tents, and seven RV sites that have electric and water hookup (I told you it was small:)).
Unfortunately, you can only make a reservation for a monthly stay or longer. Otherwise, sites are first come first serve. When I visited the park in August at the beginning of the week, I noticed a couple of open sites, but I imagine it’s fairly hard to snag a site during the busy summer months. You can get a daily availability report by calling 715-682-7059 after 9:30am Monday-Friday.
Rates for camping at either Prentice, or Kreher, the other city park (much larger at 33 RV sites) are:
- $35 for regular RV sites in Prentice and Kreher Park
- $40 for lakefront RV sites (Kreher Park only)
- $20 for tent sites (Prentice Park only)
I absolutely loved Prentice Park for its woodsy quiet setting while being located so close to town. You can easily access Lake Superior and Maslowski Beach and the boardwalk trail is a part of the ten plus mile trail system that circles around Ashland, which also connects to the Tri County Corridor. So if you’re feeling extra adventurous, you could hike or bike to Superior!
Access a PDF copy of the trails map
Dip your toes in the cool Lake Superior water at Maslowski Beach and Park.
This is a popular spot for beach goers, picnickers, and those wanting to fill their water jugs from the artesian well. You’ll find Maslowski Beach on the western end of Ashland. There is a pavilion, changing house, and picnic tables here. You cannot miss its location along US 2.
See the mosaic mural inside the Ed Griffiths Pedestrian Path (I call it “the secret passageway).
Do not miss
I repeat
Do not miss this community mural.
Unveiled in 2016 and a communitywide project, this painted tunnel mural with delightful mosaic animals and plants is inside the Ed Griffiths Pedestrian Path. The schools and community groups worked together to create the mosaics during open workshops. The painted landscape depicts the ecology of the area.
This somewhat “secret space” captured my heart enough to make it one of my favorite places in Ashland. One may think this is part of the Historic Murals of Ashland, but it is not. This mural celebrates nature. Everything from spiders, bears, and butterflies, a walk through this tunnel that runs under US 2 and connects the downtown area down the steps at Pearson Plaza to the Waterfront Trail, will capture your heart too. I confess I think I walked through it four times. Even Pearson Plaza is a terrific place to sit and admire Ashland. When I visited in August, the plants were lush, and the flowers were in bloom. I hope you will enjoy this obscure art space that this community created as much as I did.
See some northern Wisconsin waterfalls
Hearing the rush of water cascading over rocks never loses its luster to me. That you can hear a waterfall increasing in sound decimals the closer you get makes me giddy. Will this one be fierce, angrily rushing over the rock into a deep dark pool below, or will it brush the rock, gently trickling downward collecting in between giant boulders and moving downstream? There are some majestic waterfalls in northern Wisconsin, some right in Ashland County, and a short drive from downtown Ashland.
Morgan Falls is just a 25 minute drive from Ashland in the Chequamegon Nicolet National Forest. It’s one of the highest waterfalls in northern Wisconsin at up to 100 feet. There is ample parking with pit toilets. The walk to the falls is fairly easy and not quite a mile long. If that’s not enough of a hike for you, you can hike the trail to St. Peter’s Dome, about two miles. This trail is rugged with some steep sloping areas and exposed rocks. Once you reach the top, the climb is definitely worth it. The views are stunning.
There is a $5 daily pass cost, which you purchase at the kiosk in the park. You can also purchase a yearly pass for the national forest.
A little farther from Ashland are Copper Falls and Brownstone Falls. Copper Falls State Park is truly a classic northern Wisconsin destination. Picturesque with all the summer greenery. Meditative with the pacifying sound of the Bad River. Mix in the rustic log cabin buildings and you have an epic place to spend the day, or a weekend camping. Although I was visiting during summer, I could just image what it would be like to strap on a pair of snowshoes in the winter and admire this wonderland covered in an umbrella of white.
The 1.7 mile Doughboy Trail leading to the forty foot Copper Falls and thirty foot Brownstone Falls runs along the Bad River and Tyler Forks. There are lookouts along the way to stop and admire the scene before you. A half mile of the trail is accessible through the Disabled Access Road.
There are 17 miles of trails within Copper Falls State Park. Find all the maps for the park here.
I instantly knew I wanted to camp here in the future. What a magnificent setting to enjoy a s’more or two!
Stop at the Northern Great Lakes Visitor Center
Not just your average visitors center, the Northern Great Lakes Visitors Center is a destination. Nearly a mile of trail surrounding the center meanders through woods, wetlands, and prairie. This gives the visitor an overview of the natural landscape of the area.
Inside you find an information desk, a gift shop, and several displays telling stories about the history of the northern Great Lakes. Take the steps or elevator up to a magnificent lookout. On your way up to the lookout, check out one of the 21 Historical Ashland Murals. This mural depicts a timeline of the settlers of the region. This is a wonderful educational experience for all ages.
The center is open every day from 9 am to 5 pm.
Northern Great Lakes Visitor Center
29270 County Hwy G
Ashland, WI 54806
With 21 murals, fabulous parks, 11 miles of trail including the Waterfront Trail, nearby waterfalls, and a secret passageway under a highway, there are plenty of things to do in Ashland WI. It’s a safe Wisconsin destination for solo female travelers like myself, retirees, and anyone that loves experiencing great outdoor activities.
Plan your Ashland Wisconsin escape now.
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This post is a part of the research I have been doing for my upcoming guide to Wisconsin Harbor Towns. I will share restaurants in Ashland WI, drink, lodging, and so much more. Subscribe to this blog to keep up-to-date info.
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