Price County: Bogs, Rivers, and History

At 1,951.5 feet, Timm's Hill in southeastern Price County is Wisconsin's highest point. In Timm's Hill County Park, hiking trails include the Timm's Hill National Ice Age Trail and lead to an observation tower. From here, you can plan a trip that takes in trails and landscapes as well as rivers, seasonal activities, or local history.

Bog Landscapes and Wildlife Areas

The Kimberly Clark Wildlife Area encompasses 8,700 acres in Price County, with grassland, hardwood forests, conifer bogs, and wetlands. Three pairs of ospreys nest there, and there is also an active eagle nest. Seasonal opportunities include spring turkey hunting, summer foraging, fall ruffed grouse hunting, and winter snowshoeing.

Bass Lake Peatlands offers a different landscape: the open bog is characterized by peat mosses, low-growing black spruce, tamarack, and bog shrubs. Water is the focus at Spring Creek Wildlife Area: at full capacity, its four water impoundments cover a total of 220 acres. Along with the wetlands in the Kimberly Clark Wildlife Area, these areas offer a range of natural scenery, from bog vegetation to impounded waters.

Trails, Rivers, and Activities

The Tuscobia State Trail is a 74-mile former rail line that runs from Park Falls to the Wild Rivers State Trail north of Rice Lake. It offers year-round opportunities for ATVs, snowmobiles, horseback riding, off-road bicycling, and walking. Tuscobia Trailhead County Park has two parking lots with access to the trail.

The Flambeau River State Forest lies in Sawyer, Price, and Rusk counties and encompasses 75 miles of the North and South Forks of the Flambeau River. Within the forest, a 15-mile stretch of the South Fork offers Class I to V whitewater. There are also 14 miles of groomed trails for classic cross-country skiing and skating. The forest's 16-mile Flambeau Hills Trail system is intended for hiking, biking, horseback riding, and cross-country skiing.

The Flambeau Trail System can also be explored on wheels or horseback: the 70-mile route through the CNNF is open to ATVs, UTVs, off-road motorcycles, mountain bikes, horses, and other non-motorized traffic. Solberg Lake County Park & Campground provides ATV and UTV access to this trail system via the Solberg Trail.

At Solberg Lake in Solberg Lake County Park & Campground, you can fish, water ski, and swim. The park is on a 35-acre peninsula that extends into the lake. At Smith Lake, Smith Lake County Park & Campground provides access to two canoe-in campsites on the North Fork of the Flambeau River. They can only be reached by canoe and are free to use. At the Jump River, a short walking path follows the river to views of the Big Falls cascades.

Another scenic trail runs along the north shore of Round Lake. It passes through rolling terrain lined with hardwoods and hemlocks; the northwestern loops include bog sections. Depending on when you visit, different activities may take center stage: winter brings groomed trails and snowshoeing, while other sections stand out for their waterways, trails, and distinctive landscapes.

Local Art and History

Price County native artist Fred Smith created more than 200 folk art figures that make up Wisconsin Concrete Park. The reconstructed 1896 Round Lake Logging Dam tells the story of the Flambeau River: it directed millions of logs down the South Fork of the Flambeau River to the mills in Fifield and onward to the Chippewa and Mississippi rivers. Smith Rapids Covered Bridge was the first covered bridge built in Wisconsin in more than 100 years.

Old Town Hall Museum is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. It features exhibits on Price County's logging history from 1879 through the 1930s, as well as railroad and other historic transportation memorabilia. The adjacent one-room Greenfield School preserves the history of rural schools. Jump River Valley Museum is housed in the former Catawba Town Hall, a one-story brick building dating from 1920.

The Vietnam Veterans Commemorative Trail includes 13 markers at various parks and monuments. They represent the 13 years of service and sacrifice during the war. Travelers who want to include culture and scenery in their plans can pair these memorial sites with folk art figures, bridges, and reminders of the logging era.

Find a Hotel for Your Trip

When looking for a hotel in Price County, it helps to first decide what you want to focus on: trails and seasonal activities, waterways, or cultural sites.

Discover more destinations: Phillips, Park Falls, Eau Claire, Milwaukee, Pierce, St. Croix County, Clark County, Manitowoc County.

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