Hunting
Click here to view Wisconsin's current Hunting and Trapping Season dates (PDF file, requires Acrobat Reader is installed).
Hunting in the Park Falls area is sure to provide you with a rewarding experience. Our large area of public lands with low competition from other hunters offers the ideal hunting conditions.
Park Falls boasts the most habitat for Ruffed Grouse anywhere! As "The Ruffed Grouse Capital of the World" this is definitely the place for hunting. Many miles of hunting trails are seeded and mowed and are gated to prohibit motorized use. These are in the heart of the best habitat areas. This is also ideal black bear habitat.
Many acres of public lands are open to hunting for the hunter who prefers using dogs or those who prefer using bait stations. Both types of hunters have had excellent results as our abundance of good habitat contributes to a large bear population. For exceptional deer hunting conditions, Park Falls is the place, with a large deer population per square mile. Hunter usage per square mile is low due to the large amount of public lands available therefore giving you a better than average chance of bagging your trophy.
Fishing
Click here for Wisconsin's Fishing Seasons from the DNR website.
Fishing your forte? This is the place for you! The Park Falls area is an anglers paradise with unlimited opportunities to fish for Northern Pike, Bass, Musky, Walleye and many varieties of panfish. Anglers in the fall also enjoy the six-week Sturgeon season that begins in early September. With so many fishing options in Price County, anglers can try several waters during their stay.
Ice fishing is also a very popular sport in the area, especially for panfish, walleye, and northern. Contact a local bait shop for lake ice conditions.
The DNR has made every effort to ensure Wisconsin's lakes are well stocked with your favorite fish. They have stocked four lakes in the Flambeau River State Forest plus the Flambeau River with over 25,000 musky over the past 15 years, and will continue to do so. They've also stocked more than 75,000 Brook, Brown and Rainbow Trout for the past 10 years in 11 streams throughout the County. Streams the DNR stocked include Butternut, Camp Spring, Douglas Creek, Little Elk River, Murray Creek, Newman Springs, Niebauer Springs, Smith Creek, Spirit River, and Twin Lake.
Canoeing
Canoeing in the Park Falls Area is some of the best you will find. Our many lakes offer a peaceful, quiet opportunity to enjoy your canoeing, while a more challenging adventure can be found on Flambeau or Jump river.
It doesn't matter if you are a novice or expert, the canoeing and kayaking opportunities in Price County are endless. The North and South Forks of the Flambeau River provide the perfect setting for those that want a leisurely flat water paddle or even a whitewater canoe and kayak experience. The Jump River offers mostly quiet water, seclusion, and a chance to explore a little traveled water trail. Price County lakes and flowages offer paddlers an opportunity to paddle and explore developed and undeveloped landscape.
ATV / 4-Wheeling
Click here to view/download a Price County ATV trail map (.pdf format 3.12 MB)
Price County offers the ATV enthusiast four major recreation areas with additional connecting trails and town roads. Most of the trail systems have rustic rest sites available, while others allow direct access to food, lodging and services. The Flambeau Trail System, Tuscobia State Trail, and Flambeau River State Forest Trail all connect offering 160 miles of ATV trail riding. The Pine Line Rail Trail and the Flambeau Trail System are open for winter ATVing. There is parking with trail access in both downtown Park Falls and Fifield as well as several areas along the trails.
ATV riding can be a blast and it can also be damaging to public lands if not done responsibly. Land managers encourage people to help protect the great outdoors by riding responsibly and practicing outdoor ethics, like those created by Tread Lightly!.
Click here to download the current trail map (.pdf file at 1.4 MB)
- Flambeau Trail System - Open May 1 to March 14
- Tuscobia State Trail - Open April 15 to November 15
- Flambeau River State Forest Trail - Open May 15 to November 15
- Pine Line Rail Trail - open December 2 to March 31
Hiking
Click here for a list of trails & maps.
Hiking in the Park Falls area offers an excellent chance to get out there and really "commune with nature." Many miles of trails are closed to motorized use and offer an excellent chance to enjoy the peaceful serenity of our northwoods.
Experience the solitude of Price County through the miles of hiking trails, some of which are old logging roads. Numerous trails offer a short hike or a chance to enjoy a more lengthy backpacking trip from all day to several days with camping along the trails.
Snowmobiling
Snowmobiling by day or by night, trails around here are some of the nicest you can find. Wide, well groomed, and clearly marked, they link many warm and friendly places to meet. The 2006 issue of American Snowmobiler Magazine referred to Price County's trails as "Priceless!".
Opportunities include trails through the 800,000 acre Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest, the Tuscobia State Trail from Park Falls to Rice Lake, the Pine Line Trail from Prentice to Medford, including a side trip to Timm's Hill, and numerous connecting trails as well as quality food, lodging and services in area communities making Price County the perfect snowmobile destination!
Flambeau Flowage
The Turtle Flambeau Flowage is "The Crown Jewel of the North" and is Wisconsins answer to the Boundary Waters. Purchase of this vast area by the State of Wisconsin ensures that development will not mar its scenic beauty and wilderness character. Wildlife abounds. The property has the highest number of bald eagle, osprey and common loon breeding pairs in Wisconsin. In addition to the birds, deer, bear, fisher, marten, and otter, other mammals are also present. The 19,000 acres of lakes are home to many types of fish.
Camping
There are five camping areas in the Park Falls Area Ranger District. The largest are Sailor Lake with 20 units and Twin Lake with 17 units. The Chequamegon - Nicolet Forest offers some of the finest camping opportunities, with spacious campsites nestled amidst trees and streams, providing a serene environment. They offer boat ramps, swimming and Twin Lakes is also accessible to the disabled.
There is a camping area at Smith Rapids for those wishing to bring their horses. Each campsite is equipped with extra long parking spurs for trucks and horse trailers, and hitching rails to keep horses secure at camp. There is also a covered bridge at the campground that crosses the South Fork of the Flambeau River, leading riders to nearly 70 miles of trails.
Campsite fees vary, depending upon site locations and lake accessibility. Water pumps and pit toilet facilities are provided. For those that really want to get away from it all, back county camping is permitted throughout the forest. Campsites must be located at least 50 feet away from any trail or water's edge. Campers are encouraged to heed the "Leave No Trace" Camping ethic.