Wisconsin Highway 52
State Trunk Highway 52 is a state highway in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. It runs east–west in central and northeastern Wisconsin from Wabeno to Wausau. It is one of four state highways that also serve Antigo.
Route description
Running from west to east, WIS 52 begins at an interchange with U.S. Highway 51 freeway, which serves as Wausau's western bypass. It then enters Wausau as Bridge Street, crossing the Wisconsin River into downtown.In downtown Wausau, WIS 52 runs on one-way streets in a loop around the central business district; the eastbound lanes join Business US 51 northbound, run around the Wausau Center shopping mall, and then back north via 6th Street. Meanwhile, the westbound lanes run along southbound Business US 51 past Athletic Park, home of the Northwoods League Wausau Woodchucks baseball team, and also past the Dudley Tower, the tallest commercial building in Wisconsin outside of the Milwaukee area.
Northeast of Wausau, WIS 52 runs past Hogerty, with access to the Dells of the Eau Claire River Park, a popular recreational park and campground known for its rock formations and waterfalls; the Ice Age Trail also runs through the park.
Just past Marathon County, WIS 52 meets up with US 45 and joins it for the drive north to Antigo, the Langlade County seat. WIS 47 and WIS 64 also intersect WIS 52 along this stretch. From Antigo, WIS 52 zigzags northeast past Lily, where it has a junction with WIS 55 along the Wolf River. The road then enters the Nicolet National Forest and into Forest County before ending at WIS 32 just northwest of Wabeno.
History
In 2013, WIS 52 was extended because of the new interchange.In 2025, Wis 52 was rerouted along Bridge Street instead of Stewart Avenue.