Blue Lake — Attraction in Town of Hazelhurst

This is a lovely little spot in the Wisconsin Northwoods. It is near Minoqua, and is one of many little lakes in the area. It is a popular place, and fills with tourists in the summer.

I am only giving it 3 stars for one reason: the bugs. Especially the mosquitos, which are horrific in their numbers. Some years are worse than others, but most years they are a significant annoyance. In bad years you really cannot be outside without getting swarmed, even during the day. At night: YIKES, and perhaps ZOINKS, are all I can say. When the mosquitos are in those numbers, no amount of bug spray helps either. Some appliances are helpful, but nothing keeps them away altogether.

Many people seem to not be bothered in the least by mosquitos in any number, but sadly they love my spicy Indian blood, so for me, it is not enjoyable to be up at Blue Lake in the summer. Do not let that keep you from going though. If you are not bothered by the mozzies, it is a beautiful place.

I like to go in late September or early October. After a couple of frosty nights, the bugs are completely gone. So are most of the tourists! The weather is often fair during the day at that time of year, but the nights can be very cool, even frosty. The fall colors are usually out, and this makes for spectacular polychromatic vistas. Definitely the best time of year for The Northwoods IMHO.

One final note on summer at Blue Lake: out on the lake there are few mosquitos, however, the hungry horseflies are there...

This lake is composed of two long lakes we call Little and Big Blue Lake. The water is mainly spring fed, therefore, cold and clear, and deep quickly. There are some private sand bottom beaches, but keep those life jackets on the little ones, due to the steep dropouts. The sunrises and sunsets are beautiful, just like most lakes in the area. The lake is accessed via Blue Lake Road, which many years ago was called...

Beautiful. By the lake and...