Chippewa Falls offers a variety of ways to spend your stay, including trails by the water, brewing history, and local cultural sites. The Old Abe State Trail, museums, and historic buildings each offer a different perspective on the city and its surroundings. For planning purposes, you can consider nature and culture separately, then decide which you’d like to focus on during your stay.
Trails Along the River and Creek
The Old Abe State Trail is 20 miles long, paved, and built on a former railroad corridor. Chippewa Falls is one of the communities listed along the trail. The trail follows the undeveloped banks of the Chippewa River.
At Irvine Park & Zoo, visitors can walk along scenic trails beside Duncan Creek. The park and zoo are open year-round and free to visit. The difference between the Old Abe State Trail and Irvine Park & Zoo lies in the specific natural setting and type of trail: a paved rail-trail along the Chippewa River contrasts with scenic trails beside Duncan Creek. These two outdoor options can be compared by their waterside landscapes and trail types.
Brewing History and Seasonal Selection
The original Leinenkugel's brewery was founded in Chippewa Falls in 1867. Tours of the historic brewery start at the Leinie Lodge. The Leinenkugel's Taproom offers more than 15 different Leinenkugel's beers, available seasonally. Visitors can explore the brewery’s history, start a tour at the lodge, and sample the taproom’s seasonal selection. If beer selection matters to you, check in advance which varieties will be available seasonally during your visit.
Museums and Historic Sites
The Heyde Center for the Arts is a historic building that was saved and restored; it opened its doors to the public in 2000. The Chippewa Area History Center offers a different perspective, and visitors can tour the center. Its exhibits and artifacts cover the lumber industry, agriculture, the fur trade, early inhabitants, military history, and firefighting. The center also has an extensive research library. This offers a choice between exploring the history of a restored building and the broad range of subjects covered by a history museum.
The Cray Supercomputer Collection at the Chippewa Falls Museum of Industry and Technology explores the history of technology. It is connected to Cray Research Inc., which Seymour Cray founded in his hometown of Chippewa Falls in 1972. This museum exhibit offers another way to explore the history of a company founded in Chippewa Falls.
Downtown also offers a look into the area’s history: the Bridge Street Commercial District in downtown Chippewa Falls is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. There is also a self-guided historic walking tour.
An Event as a Reason to Visit
The Northern Wisconsin State Fair is also associated with Chippewa Falls. If you’re considering the fair as a possible reason for your trip, check the event dates for your preferred travel period.
Discover more destinations: Bloomer, Lake Hallie, Boyd, Cadott, Stanley
For the broader travel overview: Chippewa County.
