Hayward WI

Al_4_State

Moderator
Staff member
SuperFanatic
SuperFanatic T2
Mar 27, 2006
32,408
28,699
113
40
Driftless Region
Visit site
Wife and I are headed up there this weekend to do some mountain biking. Have only been through briefly, never really spent any time there, and was wondering if anyone here had some must-stops, restaurant/bar recs, etc. It seems to me that whole area is full of middle of nowhere dives that are fun to drink at and have really good food. Figured there would be some posters who are familiar with the area and could give some more complete info/thoughts.
 

Al_4_State

Moderator
Staff member
SuperFanatic
SuperFanatic T2
Mar 27, 2006
32,408
28,699
113
40
Driftless Region
Visit site
3 places we like to stop when we head into town:
1) Tremblay's Sweet Shop
2) Angler's Bar and Grill - atmosphere and decent food
3) West Dairy - ice cream
Thanks! Angler's was one of the spots we're considering for supper on Friday. At least stopping for a drink. Looks like my kind of place.
 

KnappShack

Well-Known Member
May 26, 2008
23,822
32,144
113
Parts Unknown
Aggressive flies and mosquitoes are what stick in my mind.

Went for a run and I've never been under attack that badly in my life.

They had a decent BBQ place too.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 95CLONE

madguy30

Well-Known Member
SuperFanatic
SuperFanatic T2
Nov 15, 2011
57,213
55,111
113
Aggressive flies and mosquitoes are what stick in my mind.

Went for a run and I've never been under attack that badly in my life.

They had a decent BBQ place too.

The midwest in general is a biting bug nightmare this time of year and the current mix of fast growing grass and rain doesn't help.

Eastern Iowa this past weekend was pretty lousy with gnats.

But yeah, get out of the wind in the north woods right now and YOU are the BBQ.
 

ackatch

Well-Known Member
SuperFanatic
SuperFanatic T2
Jul 22, 2021
873
1,511
93
Waukee
Haven't been that far, but depending how you get there, if you end up going through Grantsburg, there is a nice micro-brewery in their "downtown" that I enjoy (my wife is from Grantsburg).

If you drive through Spooner, my cousins in-laws own "Jerseys Sports Bar" that he says he's never had a bad time at.
 

Cloneon

Well-Known Member
Oct 29, 2015
2,992
3,116
113
West Virginia
My most formative years were spent at Kroehler YMCA camp up there when I was a kid. Long time ago, but everlasting memories.
 

do4CY

Well-Known Member
Aug 30, 2020
508
688
93
We went out last summer and the only place in Hayward that we ate at was Coop's pizza, it was good.

We took our utv's out and a lot of those trails are close by or intersect the bike trails. They looked like they could be a lot of fun.
 
  • Like
Reactions: demoncore1031

FarminCy

Well-Known Member
Nov 14, 2009
4,677
2,988
113
Nowhere and Everywhere
The midwest in general is a biting bug nightmare this time of year and the current mix of fast growing grass and rain doesn't help.

Eastern Iowa this past weekend was pretty lousy with gnats.

But yeah, get out of the wind in the north woods right now and YOU are the BBQ.
Correct on this time of year, it’s normally brutal. Years of going to families cabins in northern Minnesota has shifted me to more August up there with kids. Mosquitoes and duck mites(swimmers itch) are much less than the peak time of mid May to end of June but the fishing is worse.

Took a biking/fishing trip to north shore and boundary waters this time of year last year and my advice is apply bug spray early and often and if possible bike in long sleeves and a hood under helmet or pull it up when stopped. When I was moving on bike it wasn’t bad, but the second I stopped to fish a small stream they were all over me. Great time of year to be up there but the bugs will be bad. A head net ended up being my most prized possession on that trip.

Can’t help much on establishments as have only been up to Cable area once not specifically Hayward.
 

Al_4_State

Moderator
Staff member
SuperFanatic
SuperFanatic T2
Mar 27, 2006
32,408
28,699
113
40
Driftless Region
Visit site
We went out last summer and the only place in Hayward that we ate at was Coop's pizza, it was good.

We took our utv's out and a lot of those trails are close by or intersect the bike trails. They looked like they could be a lot of fun.
They have a great reputation in the mountain biking world.

My wife mentioned Coop's. Looks solid.
 

madguy30

Well-Known Member
SuperFanatic
SuperFanatic T2
Nov 15, 2011
57,213
55,111
113
Correct on this time of year, it’s normally brutal. Years of going to families cabins in northern Minnesota has shifted me to more August up there with kids. Mosquitoes and duck mites(swimmers itch) are much less than the peak time of mid May to end of June but the fishing is worse.

Took a biking/fishing trip to north shore and boundary waters this time of year last year and my advice is apply bug spray early and often and if possible bike in long sleeves and a hood under helmet or pull it up when stopped. When I was moving on bike it wasn’t bad, but the second I stopped to fish a small stream they were all over me. Great time of year to be up there but the bugs will be bad. A head net ended up being my most prized possession on that trip.

Can’t help much on establishments as have only been up to Cable area once not specifically Hayward.

Yep I'd say mid-July-August is the best for summer.

I went up and paddled into a spot two weekends ago and my only real requirement was having my site be in the wind. Lucked out with an island and a nice spot on top for my tent.
 
  • Like
Reactions: FlexCy

madguy30

Well-Known Member
SuperFanatic
SuperFanatic T2
Nov 15, 2011
57,213
55,111
113
I actually don't think I've been to or through Hayward but was in the Clam Lake area once. There's a few elk in that area and the forests looked pretty cool.
 

StPaulCyclone

Well-Known Member
SuperFanatic
SuperFanatic T2
Oct 9, 2008
2,534
2,453
113
Duh!
They have a great reputation in the mountain biking world.

My wife mentioned Coop's. Looks solid.
Consider Crosby, MN in the future too. Great little town and lots if biking and som kayaking. Another option is the North Shore of Lake Superior, starting your trip in Duluth.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Al_4_State

byebye

Well-Known Member
Jul 4, 2021
641
845
93
Hope you have fun in Hayward! - spent a long, lazy weekend up there a couple summers ago - wifey & I spent most of our time floating on the lake (we had a lakeside cabin right in town) - monster cookie ice cream at the sundae shop on Main was the culinary hightlight for me
 

Al_4_State

Moderator
Staff member
SuperFanatic
SuperFanatic T2
Mar 27, 2006
32,408
28,699
113
40
Driftless Region
Visit site
Consider Crosby, MN in the future too. Great little town and lots if biking and som kayaking. Another option is the North Shore of Lake Superior, starting your trip in Duluth.
I've been and will go back. Cuyuna trails are amazing. Went riding there with a couple buddies a year ago. My uncle lives about 20 minutes away so it's a place we get to for other reasons. Planning a winter fat bike trip there.
 
  • Like
Reactions: NWICY

Yaz

Well-Known Member
SuperFanatic
SuperFanatic T2
Jun 29, 2018
1,620
2,584
113
Consider Crosby, MN in the future too. Great little town and lots if biking and som kayaking. Another option is the North Shore of Lake Superior, starting your trip in Duluth.
Headed to North Shore on Lake Superior this summer camping in our teardrop. Taking our bikes too.
 
  • Like
Reactions: madguy30

byebye

Well-Known Member
Jul 4, 2021
641
845
93
Wifey just reminded me of the Lynn's - we mostly cooked (grilled) all of our meals rather than eating out - this place has literally like 100 different flavors of brats

 

Latest posts

Help Support Us

Become a patron