Things to Do in Park Falls WI: 16 Picks for 2026 and the Timm’s Hill Beach Closure

The swimming beach at Timm’s Hill County Park never opened this summer. Not for a weekend, not for the July heat. The county did not install sand at the Timm’s Hill County Park swimming area in 2026, and the reason is erosion: runoff pushes sand down the bank into the swimming area, and weeds move into what is left. The county forester called the whole situation embarrassing while updating the Forestry and Parks Committee on July 7, per the auto-generated meeting transcript.

That single detail matters more than any brochure photo. Park Falls is a working Northwoods town where the best days happen on the river and inside a national forest, not in a manicured park. Here is what is actually worth your time in 2026, including the things that changed this year.

Quick Answer: Park Falls is a city of 2,410 people in Price County, Wisconsin, built around the Flambeau River and wrapped by the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest. The top draws are the free St. Croix Rod factory tour, paddling and fishing the Flambeau, the 74-mile Tuscobia State Trail, the Turtle-Flambeau Flowage, and Timm’s Hill, the highest natural point in Wisconsin at 1,951.5 feet. For 2026, the Timm’s Hill beach is closed, so send swim plans to Solberg Lake County Park instead.

Where is Park Falls, Wisconsin?

Park Falls sits in north-central Wisconsin on U.S. Highway 13. The 2020 census counted 2,410 residents on roughly 3.65 square miles of land, down from 2,462 in 2010. The Flambeau River splits the city in half, and national forest land starts within a few minutes of the downtown sidewalks.

The city grew up around a pulp and paper mill and incorporated in 1912. That mill, formerly the Flambeau Paper Company, closed in early 2006 and reopened in August 2006 as Flambeau River Papers. St. Croix Rod has been the other anchor employer, building fishing rods in town for decades.

The Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest covers more than 1.5 million acres of northern Wisconsin, according to the U.S. Forest Service. There is no interstate here. That is the trade, and most people who visit decide it is a good one.

What are the best things to do in Park Falls WI?

Sixteen picks, ranked by how much locals actually use them. None of these require a resort fee.

1. Paddle the Flambeau River through downtown

The Flambeau runs right through town, which makes a canoe or kayak launch about as easy as it gets. Put in upstream and float past the downtown, or stretch the trip toward the Turtle-Flambeau Flowage. Local outfitters rent boats and run shuttles, and the river is navigable from spring through fall.

If you plan to wet a line, start with our Complete Wisconsin Fishing Regulations Guide 2026-2027: Price County Edition.

2. Take the free St. Croix Rod factory tour

St. Croix Rod builds rods at 856 4th Avenue North, and the tour costs nothing. From May 1 through September 30, tours run Monday through Friday at 10 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. During the off-season, from October 1 through April 30, they run Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at the same times.

What to know before the St. Croix tour

The tour runs about 90 minutes and involves standing and walking. It is wheelchair accessible. No open-toed shoes or sandals are allowed, protective eyewear is provided, and cameras stay off the factory floor. Call 715-997-3950 or email [email protected] to schedule a spot.

3. Fish the Turtle-Flambeau Flowage

Northeast of Park Falls, the Turtle-Flambeau Flowage covers 12,942 acres and ranks as the seventh-largest lake in Wisconsin by surface area. A dam built in 1926 flooded 16 natural lakes to create it.

The flowage holds musky, walleye, northern pike, and smallmouth bass. The surrounding Turtle-Flambeau Scenic Waters Area spans 40,000 acres, opens at 6 a.m. and closes at 11 p.m. year-round, and does not charge a vehicle admission sticker.

4. Hike or bike the Tuscobia State Trail

The Tuscobia State Trail runs 74 miles on an old rail corridor from Park Falls east to the Wild Rivers State Trail just north of Rice Lake. It passes through part of the Flambeau River State Forest and the rugged Blue Hills, and it links seven small communities across Price, Sawyer, Washburn, and Barron counties.

The trail is open year-round and does not require a state trail pass. The trailhead sits on the west side of town, which makes it an easy warm-up ride or a full-day walk.

5. Hike to the Round Lake Logging Dam

About 18 miles east of Fifield, the Round Lake Logging Dam is an earth-and-timber dam built around 1880 to float logs down the Flambeau toward sawmills near Eau Claire. It is the only known surviving logging dam in northern Wisconsin and joined the National Register of Historic Places in 1981.

The wood parts crumbled by the 1930s, so crews rebuilt the dam then and again in 1995. A short trail leads in from a forest road. Pack a lunch, because the drive alone is worth the trip.

6. Stand on top of Wisconsin at Timm’s Hill

Timm’s Hill is the highest natural point in the state at 1,951.5 feet. It sits in Timms Hill County Park in the Town of Hill, and an observation tower opens up a wide view of the surrounding forest.

What changed at Timm’s Hill in 2026

Two things. The beach stayed closed for the season, and the fishing pier is failing. Its support poles have rusted off and the wood decking is past its useful life, the county forester told the committee in July. The pavilion roof was last shingled in 2003, which puts it about three years past its rated 20-year lifespan.

Why the beach closed

Water running down the bank carries sand into the swimming area, and weeds take over the exposed substrate. Fixing it means ditching on the far side of the bank, which the forester described as a project that has to happen eventually.

The park has one upgrade on the way: a timber sale on its county forest land is nearly set up and goes out for bid this fall.

7. Drive to Copper Falls State Park

About 30 miles northeast near Mellen, Copper Falls State Park holds the 1.7-mile Doughboy’s Nature Trail along the Bad River and views of several waterfalls. The park’s log buildings date to the 1930s Civilian Conservation Corps era.

A Wisconsin vehicle admission sticker is required. The drive from Park Falls runs through some of the emptiest country in the state.

8. Walk through the Wisconsin Concrete Park

In Phillips, roughly 20 miles south, the Wisconsin Concrete Park holds more than 200 folk-art sculptures made of concrete and dressed with glass bottles and found objects. Fred Smith, a retired lumberjack who ran the Rock Garden Tavern on the property, started building them in 1948. The site is on the National Register of Historic Places, and it takes about an hour to walk.

9. Get lost in the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest

More than 1.5 million acres of national forest sit at the edge of town. Stop at the forest district office in Park Falls for a paper map, because paper maps show land ownership and forest roads that phone apps often miss.

Cell service dies fast once you leave the highway. Download an offline map before you go, and tell someone where you are headed.

10. Camp at Big Falls County Park

Big Falls is one of Price County’s river campgrounds, set along the Flambeau with sites tucked into the pines. The county has been upgrading the property: two-vault toilets were ordered and lights went in, though the toilet delivery slipped behind the vendor’s schedule, per the July committee report.

11. Swim or launch at Solberg Lake County Park

Solberg Lake County Park just wrapped a major expansion, and the crowds showed up for it. A new pavilion hosted the Dunver family’s 27th annual reunion on June 27, with roughly 80 people using every electrical outlet and every table. The same day, every boat-trailer parking spot in the new lot was full between noon and 2 p.m., the forester reported.

The county pays a caretaker roughly $1,900 a month for the six-month season, per the committee discussion, and the job now includes cleaning across the road. Remaining work includes a second asphalt lift, parking lot striping, and landscaping around the pavilion.

12. Check out Smith Lake County Park

Smith Lake is the third of the county’s campgrounds. After a camper complaint about site conditions, the county hauled in material and smoothed the sites. The forester reported no further complaints, and the fix held.

13. Pan for gold on county forest land

In July 2026, Price County approved its first recreational gold panning request on county forest land. The rules are narrow on purpose: hand tools only, meaning a shovel, a pan, and a small crevicing tool, with a five-pound limit and no selling whatever you find. The county issued written permission after notifying the local DNR warden. See how to get a Price County gold panning permit for the details.

14. Drive the county forest roads in fall

Price County manages about 92,000 acres of county forest, according to the forester’s July update to the Forestry and Parks Committee. In early October the hardwoods turn, and the forest roads north and east of town make for a slow, quiet drive. Timber sales ran below projections in 2026 because mills were not taking wood, which kept some logging trucks off the back roads.

County forest land is open to public hunting and trapping under state rules, so wear bright colors in season.

15. Snowmobile and ice fish in winter

Winter here runs long, and locals lean into it. Price County grooms roughly 500 miles of snowmobile trails, with Park Falls as a hub. Wisconsin registration or a non-resident trail pass is required. See our guide to Price County snowmobile trails for the full map.

Ice fishing picks up on the Turtle-Flambeau and on lakes like Solberg once the ice sets. Check thickness before you walk out. The DNR recommends at least 4 inches of clear ice for a person on foot, and more for a machine.

16. Cool off at the splash pad and riverfront parks

Park Falls has a splash pad downtown, near where the city holds its tree lighting. Tourist Park along the Flambeau has a free swimming area with sand access and no lifeguard, plus picnic tables and river views. The current is gentle through that stretch, though you swim at your own risk.

What is free in Park Falls?

The St. Croix Rod factory tour costs nothing. So does walking or biking the Tuscobia State Trail, and so does a day inside the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest. The Turtle-Flambeau Scenic Waters Area does not charge a vehicle sticker, and Tourist Park’s river access is free.

The gold panning permission is a paperwork step rather than a fee-heavy program, since the state allows it for recreational use only. Bring your own pan.

What is open and closed in Park Falls in 2026?

Closed or behind schedule

The Timm’s Hill beach stayed closed for the season, and the Timm’s Hill fishing pier needs replacement. The Cranberry Creek Dam remains unfinished eight years after it washed out.

New or upgraded

Solberg Lake County Park gained a new pavilion and boat landing. Big Falls County Park has new lighting and toilets on the way. The county approved its first gold panning permission.

Cranberry Creek Dam, still stalled after eight years

The dam washed out in 2018. The county landed a maximum municipal dam grant of about $51,500 with a 50 percent local match, then watched costs climb. The structure went from roughly $8,000 to $24,000, and engineering went from roughly $4,000 to $16,000 after two outlet-pipe designs were required, one at 46 inches and one at 42. That leaves about $10,000 for an installation the county expects to cost $20,000 or more, and an $18,000 culvert bought last year is still sitting unused.

What happens next on the dam

The DNR grant administrator is holding final approval until the county sorts out its share of the project. Once that approval lands, the county has 90 days to bid the work. County leaders discussed using the highway department crew to keep some of the money local.

For the full picture, read our report on the Price County parks maintenance backlog.

What is there to do in Park Falls WI in winter?

Snowmobiling and ice fishing headline the season. The Tuscobia State Trail turns into a groomed corridor, and cross-country skiing and snowshoeing happen on forest trails around town. Trails usually open once the ground freezes and a snow base holds, which is typically mid-December.

Evening plans are easy, too. If you want the local drinking guide for the next town over, see Bars in Phillips, WI: The Real Northwoods Drinking Guide at Borrachos.

Frequently asked questions about visiting Park Falls WI

What is there to do in Park Falls WI for free?

The free St. Croix Rod factory tour, walking or biking the Tuscobia State Trail, a day in the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest, the Wisconsin Concrete Park in Phillips, and river access at Tourist Park all cost nothing. The Turtle-Flambeau Scenic Waters Area does not require a vehicle sticker either.

Is the Timm’s Hill beach open in 2026?

No. Price County did not install the beach for the 2026 season because of erosion washing sand into the swimming area. The county forester said fixing it requires ditching on the far side of the bank, per the July 7 committee meeting.

Is there an airport near Park Falls?

Yes. The Park Falls Municipal Airport sits two miles northeast of the city and handles about 6,750 operations a year, with roughly 97 percent general aviation. It has a 3,200-foot asphalt runway with approved GPS approaches. There is no commercial service and no interstate nearby, so most visitors arrive by car on U.S. Highway 13.

Can you pan for gold in Price County?

Yes, on county forest land with written permission from the county. The 2026 permission allowed hand tools only, a five-pound limit, and no commercial sale of anything found. Contact the Price County Forestry Department to ask about current rules.

Where can I fish near Park Falls?

The Flambeau River runs through downtown, and the Turtle-Flambeau Flowage sits northeast of town. Both produce walleye and musky, and the flowage also holds northern pike along with smallmouth bass. A Wisconsin fishing license is required, and a musky stamp if you target musky.

Last updated: September 2026

See also: our complete Price County fishing guide

See also: our ATV trail guide for Price County

See also: our guide to free camping in Wisconsin

Sources

• Price County WI, Government — Forestry & Parks / Buildings & Grounds Committee Meeting 07/07/2026
• Wisconsin DNR — Tuscobia State Trail
• Wisconsin DNR — Turtle-Flambeau Scenic Waters Area
• Wisconsin DNR — Copper Falls State Park
• USDA Forest Service — Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest
• St. Croix Rod — Factory Tour
• City of Park Falls — Common Council Agendas, July 2026
• U.S. Census Bureau — QuickFacts: Park Falls city, Wisconsin