Like so many communities in the Northwoods, Park Falls began as a lumber town, situated on the Ashland railroad. However, unlike many other towns, when the last big pines were cut, Park Falls continued to prosper.
Part of the reason for the peace and quiet in Park Falls, is the fact that sits smack dab in the middle of huge tracts of public land. The Chequamegon National Forest covers almost eight-hundred-and-sixty thousand acres in six different counties. Price County, home of Park Falls, holds one-hundred and forty-seven thousand of those acres. Twenty-eight thousand acres of State Forest also fall within the county, which itself owns an additional ninety-two thousand acres of public forest land. If you throw in ninety-eight lakes, forty-five streams and three major rivers for a total of eighteen-thousand acres of water, you can begin to understand why they like to say that Park Falls is “off the beaten path.” Altogether, almost a third of a million acres in the county is either woods or water.
Sue Holm, director of the Chamber of Commerce, says that most people are not aware of the abundance of well maintained ATV trails in the area. In fact, interconnecting trails offer about sixty miles for ATV enthusiasts. The trails vary in length from one mile, up to a twenty-three mile stretch. Also, beginning (or ending, depending on your perspective) in Park Falls, is the Tuscobia State Trail. This runs for seventy-four miles to Rice Lake. Sections of it are open, depending on the season, for ATVs, snowmobiles, and hikers. Although no hunting is allowed from the trail, some of it provides opportunities for fishing and canoing. A portion of the Tuscobia also doubles as part of Wisconsin’s one-thousand mile long Ice Age National Scenic Trail.
There are many non-motorized trails near Park Falls as well. Twelve different bike routes wind through Price county. Hiking trails abound in the National, State and County forests, as do trails used by hunters, cross country skiers and snowshoe enthusiasts. Among the many quiet and beautiful places to explore, Timms Hill county park, stands out – literally. Timms Hill is the highest geographic point in Wisconsin, at one-thousand, nine-hundred and fifty-one feet above sea level.
Don’t grouse about the variety of game here, though. These woods abound with whitetail deer, and even black bear. If you enjoy watching as much as shooting, you might also see raccoon, otter, coyote, or even a fisher.
The North Fork of the Flambeau offers scenic views, interspersed with rough-and-tumble stretches that will keep an intermediate canoeist well occupied. Exciting whitewater can be found all up and down the river, but one hot spot is “The Forks,” where the North and South branches of the river join.
Of course, fishing is not the only thing to do on still waters. You can canoe or kayak here too. Or sail. You can waterski, jetski, and of course, swim. There is no shortage of places to do it all, and out in Price county, chances are you’ll be doing it with some peace and quiet around you.
Once a year or so, Park Falls likes to shake things up a bit. For fifty-seven years the town has held the Flambeau-rama festival in the summer. In recent years, between twenty and thirty thousand people attend the four day event, roughly ten times the local population. There is a parade, of course, and excellent food, also of course. But even in the midst of the party, Park Falls citizens know how to stay loose and peaceful. To prove it, they hold bed races. For at least some of the participants, it is the most relaxing contest in the world, and somehow, that fits Park Falls.
If you want to head out to the woods and relax in Park Falls also, your lodging options are numerous. More than a dozen resorts dot the shores of the area lakes. Some of these are seasonal, while others offer year round lodging and outfitting. Many are owned by locals who know the area well and are proud of it. There is a Super-8, and few other motels in town. Several real estate companies broker vacation home rentals for owners when they are not present.
Speaking of vacation home owners, the Park Falls area offers opportunities to those who love that remote, Northwoods feeling. Since roughly 40% of the county is either water, or public land, this is a place that will not become overly developed. Land here, particularly lake shore property, will likely hold its value. And, as everyone knows, the time to buy is when the prices are low. So if you are looking for a place off the beaten path, a friendly, peaceful community with plenty of forest and water, perhaps Park Falls is the key to your lakeshore dreams.
