The Squirrel River is a river in

Oneida County, Wisconsin Oneida County is a county in the state of Wisconsin, United States. At the 2020 census, the population was 37,845. Its county seat is Rhinelander. History Oneida County was formed in 1887 from sections of Lincoln County. It was named after ...

, which arises in Squirrel Lake and empties into the

Tomahawk River The Tomahawk River is a river in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. It is the largest tributary of the Wisconsin River in terms of flow. It begins at Tomahawk Lake in southern Vilas County, flows through Oneida County, and terminates at Lake Mohawks ...

a few miles upstream from the

Willow Reservoir The Willow Reservoir or Willow Flowage is an artificial lake in Oneida County, Wisconsin formed by a dam on the Tomahawk River. The dam and reservoir level are controlled by the Wisconsin Valley Improvement Company as part of regulating the overal ...

. The Squirrel River was an important part of a trade and travel route for Indians and non-Indians in the fur trade era. Using canoes in the summer and dog sleds in the winter, travelers would use the river, Squirrel Lake, and a short land portage to travel between Lac du Flambeau and the Tomahawk River. The Tomahawk River, connecting with the

Wisconsin River The Wisconsin River is a tributary of the Mississippi River in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. At approximately 430 miles (692 km) long, it is the state's longest river. The river's name, first recorded in 1673 by Jacques Marquette as "Meskousi ...

, formed one long north-south route. The Squirrel River travels through the Squirrel River Pines State Natural Area, a 363-acre stand of mostly large red pines (Pinus resinosa). The recreation area is managed by the

Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR) is a government agency of the U.S. state of Wisconsin charged with conserving and managing Wisconsin's natural resources. The Wisconsin Natural Resources Board has the authority to set policy ...

References

External links

Rivers of Wisconsin Rivers of Oneida County, Wisconsin {{Wisconsin-river-stub