Prentice, WI: Things to Do, ATV Trails & Restaurants Guide

Things to Do in Prentice, WI

Ride the ATV Trails

Prentice sits on the Price County ATV trail system, with trail access points right from town. The local trails connect to over 100 miles of groomed routes across Price County, winding through county forest land and along old logging roads. The Ripsaw Saloon on Railroad Avenue even has trail access directly across the street — ride in, eat, ride out. Spring through fall, ATVs and UTVs are a common sight on Prentice streets; the village welcomes riders with parking and trail staging areas near the highway corridor.

Snowmobile Trail 189 and Beyond

When the snow flies, Prentice becomes a snowmobile hub. Trail 189 connects directly to the village, linking riders to the larger Price County snowmobile trail network. Groomed trails head north toward Park Falls, south toward Phillips, and east into the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest. The local snowmobile clubs maintain and groom these routes throughout the winter season. Parking and trail access are available at multiple points near the village center.

Hunt Public and County Forest Land

Prentice is surrounded by thousands of acres of public and county forest land open to hunting. The Price County hunting seasons follow Wisconsin statewide regulations, and the area is known for whitetail deer, black bear, ruffed grouse, and waterfowl. County forest lands within a short drive of Prentice offer walk-in access for gun and archery seasons. The Jump River corridor east of town provides additional public access points.

Explore the Historic Downtown

A walk through Prentice’s downtown along Railroad Avenue and Main Street covers ground that’s been continuously occupied since the 1880s. The Village History Walk highlights buildings and sites from the railroad and tannery era, including the former depot area and the commercial district that served two railroad lines. Pick up the walking tour and see where the Wisconsin Central and the Minneapolis, St. Paul & Ashland Railway once crossed — the reason Prentice exists at all.

Where to Eat in Prentice

Where to Stay in Prentice

History of Prentice, Wisconsin

Founding: A Railroad Junction Becomes a Town

Prentice was platted in 1881 at the intersection of two railroads: the Wisconsin Central Railroad running north-south, and the Minneapolis, St. Paul & Ashland Railway (later absorbed by the Chicago & North Western) running east-west. The village was named for a railroad official — a common practice in Wisconsin’s railroad expansion era. At this crossing, trains stopped, crews changed, and a town grew. The village was formally incorporated in 1892.

Being a railroad junction meant steady work. Roundhouse crews, track maintenance workers, depot staff, and the businesses that served them all made Prentice their home. The two rail lines made the village a shipping point for timber, agricultural products, and later, leather goods from the tannery.

The Tannery Era and the 1906 Fire

The New York Leather Company built a tannery in Prentice in the early 1890s, drawn by the railroad access and the abundant hemlock bark used in the leather-tanning process. The tannery became one of the village’s largest employers, and Prentice’s population swelled past 1,000 during the boom years.

Then came the fires. The New York Leather Company tannery fires — particularly the devastating 1906 blaze — destroyed the operation and reshaped the village’s economy. Without the tannery, Prentice’s population declined, and the community shifted toward its role as a transportation and service center rather than an industrial hub.

From Rails to Roads

As railroad importance faded through the mid-20th century, Prentice’s crossroads advantage shifted from steel rails to asphalt. US Highway 8 and Wisconsin Highway 13 replaced the rail lines as the village’s economic lifelines. Trucking, travel services, and highway commerce took over where the roundhouse and depot once stood.

The village also adapted in other ways. The Prentice Co-operative Creamery operated from 1915 to 1985, serving area dairy farmers. Multitek Inc., a wood-processing equipment manufacturer, became the village’s largest modern employer. The Prentice School District consolidated to serve the village and surrounding townships.

Prentice Today

The 2020 Census recorded 563 residents — down from a peak of over 1,000 during the tannery boom. But the village’s infrastructure tells a different story than the population number alone. Prentice has a 200-acre industrial park with rail, highway, and airport access; a municipal airport with a 3,250-foot asphalt runway; and fiber-optic internet through Norvado. The village maintains water, sewer, and natural gas service — infrastructure that many towns twice its size lack.

Read the full account in the 1930 Village Review by Wm. J. Bendixen, which documents Prentice’s growth from 1872 to 1930.

Prentice as a Trail Hub

Prentice’s location at the crossroads of Highways 8 and 13 makes it a natural base camp for trail riders heading into Price County’s backcountry. The village has embraced this role — riders are welcome on village streets (following local ordinances), and several businesses cater specifically to the ATV and snowmobile crowd.

Summer and Fall: ATV/UTV Trails

ATV/UTV The Price County ATV trail system connects directly to Prentice. Routes head north toward Park Falls and the Flambeau River, south toward Phillips and the Timms Hill area, and east into county forest land. Trail maps are available from the Price County Tourism office and at local businesses. Typical riding season runs May through October, depending on trail conditions.

Winter: Snowmobile Trails

Snowmobile Trail 189 connects through Prentice as part of the larger Price County snowmobile trail network. Groomed routes reach north, south, and east from the village. The winter season typically provides rideable snow from December through March. Local clubs groom trails regularly — check trail conditions before heading out.

Trail Parking and Amenities

Parking for trailered ATVs and snowmobiles is available at the AmeriVu Inn, along the highway corridor, and at informal staging areas near trail access points. Gas, food, and drinks are all available in town — you don’t need to drive 20 miles for fuel or a meal. The Ripsaw Saloon sits directly on a trail route, with gas and food nearby.

Getting to Prentice, Wisconsin

Prentice, Wisconsin sits at the intersection of US Highway 8 (east-west) and Wisconsin Highway 13 (north-south) in southern Price County. If you’re driving anywhere through this part of northern Wisconsin, you’re probably going through Prentice.

By Air

The Price County Airport (KPKF) in Phillips, 15 miles south, serves general aviation with a 5,100-foot runway. The Prentice Municipal Airport has a 3,250-foot asphalt runway suitable for small aircraft. The nearest commercial service is Rhinelander (RHI, 60 miles), Central Wisconsin Airport in Mosinee (CWA, 90 miles), or Minneapolis-St. Paul (MSP, 180 miles).

By Rail (Freight Only)

The Wisconsin Central Railroad (now part of Canadian National) still runs freight through Prentice on the former WC mainline. No passenger service is available — the last passenger trains ran in the mid-20th century — but the active rail line is a visible reminder of what built this town.