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Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin is a small town about 20 minutes from my hometown, Eau Claire. It’s claim to fame is being home of the Leinenkugel Brewery.
That’s right, the Leinie Lodge is in the little town in western Wisconsin. And you betcha every time I see someone drinking it I tell them I’m from like 20 minutes where that’s from. I think that’s a law.
Anyway, there is more to Chippewa than Leinies and today I’m here to tell you about all the fun things to do in Chippewa Falls (and some nearby).
While I haven’t done everything on this list yet, I have done quite a bit, thanks to living so close forever, and for my recent trip home.
Things to do in Chippewa Falls
Whether you’re a local looking to get to know your home state or a visitor passing through, you’ll find plenty of great things to do in Chippewa Falls here.
Walk around downtown
Downtown Chippewa Falls is a pretty solid picturesque midwest downtown. It has the old buildings, cute new shops, restaurants, and the older businesses that have thrived here for years.
Take a an hour or two for a stroll through downtown. Be sure to get ice cream at Olsons, coffee at Bridge Street Brew, and shop at String Theory Studio.
Some other great places to stop include 4:30 AM Coffeehouse, Sokup’s Market, Chippewa Candy Shop, and Wild Flour Bakery.
Tour the Cook-Rutledge Mansion
If you’re a fan of history, old architecture, and possible ghosts, consider popping in for a tour of the Cook-Rutledge Mansion!
This beautiful historic home can be found up in the residential hills of Chippewa Falls.
While there isn’t much online about it being haunted, there are brief mentions of ghosts. And they run flashlight tours in the Halloween season!
I haven’t visited inside yet but would love to for a flashlight tour especially.
Eat at High Shores House
Supper clubs are one of the most Wisconsin things out there and High Shores House is one of them, right on the shores of Lake Wissota.
We used to go here all the time when I was little and obviously had to go back again while I was home, and it was delicious!
They’re closed on Monday and Tuesday but be sure to stop in for dinner and an Old Fashioned if you’re in the area while they are open. 
Hike the Bluff Rapids Trail
The Bluff Rapids Trail is Irvine Park’s newest hiking trail. In all announcements of this trail it was said to be “strenuous” and “hiking experience is required.”
I highly disagree with both of those things (more coming on that in my full post soon). This is a 0.25 mile trail along the river in Irvine Park.
You’ll not only get to enjoy the river but you may see a trickling waterfall and some springs along the way, too.
The terrain is uneven but it’s a great short hike that can be connected to the bike trails here.
Drive through Irvine Park
If you want to see Irvine Park but don’t want to hike, you can take a nice drive through to enjoy the sights.
I would say 30-60 minutes is plenty, depending on if/how much you stop.
There is a zoo here but I don’t love that part of it and tend to skip it if I’m here. It is free though, and pretty small (like, not a lot of animals, not tiny cages, they have indoor and outdoor areas).
There is also an old schoolhouse you can see tucked back in the woods. This is one of those classic must-do things in Chippewa Falls.
See art at the Heyde Center for the Arts
The Heyde Center for the Arts is a great place overlooking Chippewa Falls that has art showings throughout the year as well as theater productions!
Not only do they have art and theater, but they also have musical performances, workshops, and tons of other creative experiences.
You can find a schedule of upcoming events here to see whats happening while you’re in town. 
Even if you don’t come for a show, pop in to see the art displayed and to enjoy the view.
Walk around Riverfront Park
Riverfront Park is a newer outdoor area in Chippewa Falls. It’s not a hiking area, but it is a lovely park with paved walking trails.
We took a little stroll through here just to check it out and it was really nice. It would be a good spot for a picnic lunch if that’s your thing. 
They also have movies and music in the park! You can find the schedule here.
Bike or walk the Old Abe Trail
The Old Abe State Trail is a 20 mile paved trail that connects Lake Wissota and Burnet Island State Parks.
It’s great for walking, biking, and skating. I haven’t been on the Old Abe Trail but have enjoyed other bike trails in the area.
Enjoy a drink at the Chippewa River Distillery
Founded in 2015, the Chippewa River Distillery has made it’s place in the local community, even having Chippewa in the name of all their beverages.
They have gin, flavored whisky, schnapps, and craft whisky, as well as craft beer and the Trumie’s line of spirits which has some unexpected flavors.
Stop in for a drink or to grab a souvenir to bring home with you. This is just down the block from Riverfront Park and they are also closed Monday and Tuesday.
Visit the mothership at the Leinenkugels Brewery
Did you think I wasn’t going to include Leinies on this list even though it’s like, half of the intro?
The Leinenkugel Brewery is a must visit in Chippewa Falls, unless you’re not a beer drinker. 
You can do a brewery tour, if you enjoy that sort of thing, and do a tasting at the lodge, too. You can also learn a bit about the history of the brewery at the lodge, too.
You don’t need to do a tour to do a tasting. I’ve done both and it’s a fun way to spend a morning or afternoon in Chippewa.
Do a wine tasting at Autumn Harvest Winery
I visited the Autumn Harvest Winery in college sometime and it was a lot of fun.
They are only open seasonally (May to October) so if you’re visiting in the winter you’ll have to skip this one.
Stop in to the tasting room, grab a bottle or two to bring home, and, if you’re here in the fall, visit the orchard for all your apple treats.
They have 15 varieties of wine, all produced here, with a wide range for all tastes.
If you are visiting in the fall, be sure to try the Champagne Apple! This is the only place in the world you can get it.
Hit the trails at Lake Wissota State Park
Lake Wissota State Park is just a short drive from downtown Chippewa Falls and one of the best places to hike in the area.
There are seven miles of trails in the park for both hiking and biking, in addition to nine miles of horse/bike trails, but you can canoe/kayak on the lake if you prefer that.
You’ll also find 18 miles of trails just for hiking so there are plenty of trails to choose from.
This is a great place to spend the afternoon before relaxing for dinner over at High Shores House.
Hike Joas Park Nature Preserve
There are three different trails in the Joas Park Nature Preserve. I think this is fairly new and it was a little hard to find but we managed.
This isn’t well marked from the road. This is the only sign. We didn’t get to hike here this time because we weren’t prepared for walking in the tall grass (ticks).
Once you park you’ll have a 0.5 mile walk to the 52 acre preserve. I have no idea how long any of the trails are or what you’ll find back there but will definitely update this once I go.
If you do decide to go, this review is what helped us find it. We drove past it the first time. Parking is extremely minimal. Be sure you don’t block and roads or driveways.
Do a tasting at River Bend Winery and Distillery
It’s your lucky day wine drinkers. Chippewa has a second winery you can visit for a tasting: River Bend Winery! 
I believe this is also open seasonally (April to October) but they’re website has hours for November and December and shows and event in February, so I’m not entirely sure. 
In addition to wine, they actually also have spirits (bourbon whisky, vodka, gin, and Wisconsin whisky) available.
They have twelve wines and three flights to choose from for tastings. You can also enjoy a craft cocktail if that’s more your speed.
Hit the Kemper Woods Trails
Another new hiking area in Chippewa is the Kemper Woods Trails! We didn’t have time to hike here either but I want to go back very much.
There are 2.7ish miles of maintained trails in the 80 acre preserve perfect for hiking in the summer and snowshoeing in the winter!
This is a short drive from downtown Chippewa Falls but looks like a beautiful off the beaten path hiking area.
Eat at the haunted Sheeley House Saloon
Finally, we have the historic Sheeley House Saloon. This is just across from the river, Riverfront Park, and the Chippewa River Distillery. It’s also near the Cook-Rutledge Mansion.
Built all the way back in 1864, the building was originally a livery on the first floor, living quarters on the second, and rented rooms for travelers on the third.
In 1905 it was bought by the Sheeleys (James and Kate) and the first floor was converted into a saloon.
There are believed to be seven spirits of various residents still in the Sheeley House today and if you’re lucky, you may get to experience one while you’re there.
You can read about the full history here.
The menu is always changing so you’ll want to check their Facebook page for that if you want to see it.
Final thoughts on things to do in Chippewa Falls
While Chippewa Falls may not seem like the most enticing place to visit at first glance, this charming small midwest town has a lot to offer.
Whether you’re into art, hiking, hauntings, history, or drink tasting, Chippewa really has it all. 
It’s definitely worth visiting if you’re passing through or for a day or weekend trip from the surrounding area.
Travel Services I Recommend:
AllTrails – This is my favorite hike tracking app.
America the Beautiful – The national park pass is essential.
Booking.com – This is great for finding and booking hotels.
Get Your Guide – I recommend Get Your Guide for booking tours.
National Park Obsessed – This is the best national park planner.
Skyscanner – Skyscanner is great for finding and booking flights.
Enterprise – This is my rental car recommendation.
See all my resources here.
Other posts you may like
Have you been to Chippewa Falls? What is your favorite thing to do in Chippewa Falls? Do you want to go?
We had Leinies yesterday!
Yay Leinies!
And we visit (what some might consider) a lot of breweries. This was our list as of 2019 ( https://daringdayhikes.home.blog/2019/07/02/time-for-a-beer/ ), and it’s grown a bit since then. Tucson is a good town for microbrews.
That’s a fun way to see new areas, for sure!