U.S. Forest Service · Chequamegon-Nicolet NF · Park Falls, WI

Smith Rapids

Smith Rapids Campground is located on the South Fork of the Flambeau River. It is an ideal location for hiking, river fishing and canoeing.

More like this: reservable in Wisconsin · big rigs in Wisconsin

Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
SMITH RAPIDSSMITH RAPIDSSMITH RAPIDS CAMPSITESMITH RAPIDS
Photos courtesy of USFS · Recreation.gov

Site mix

Standard, no hookups5
Tent-only3
Host/management11
Most sites here open on Recreation.gov six months ahead, at 10 a.m. Eastern. Sold out is not final: cancellations come back into the pool, most of them two to three days out. How to catch one

Site guide

Will my RV fit

The longest site here provides 75 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter.

Have the trailer VIN? It carries the trailer length.

8 sites. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.

SiteTypeEntryFits, ftSurfaceShadePeople / vehiclesFires
002Tent onlyBack-inGravelFull8 / 4Yes
003Tent onlyBack-inGravelFull8 / 4Yes
004Tent onlyBack-inGravelFull8 / 4Yes
005StandardBack-in40GravelPartial8 / 4Yes
006StandardBack-in75GravelPartial8 / 4Yes
007StandardBack-in75GravelPartial8 / 4Yes
008StandardBack-in65GravelPartial8 / 4Yes
009StandardBack-in65GravelPartial8 / 4Yes

Per-site records as published by the managing agency on Recreation.gov. Blank cells mean the agency listed nothing for that site. Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 2:00 PM.

Amenities & rules

HookupsNone
Max vehicle length75 ft
EquipmentRVs & trailers, Tents
CampfiresAllowed, subject to restrictions

The campground offers single-family sites for tent and RV camping. Several of the sites have extra long parking spurs. Tables and campfire rings are provided, as are vault toilets and drinking water.

Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.

Season & status

StatusClosed for the season. Forest Service sites close for the season; check the official page for the reopening date.
SeasonMay 2 to October 31
ForestChequamegon-Nicolet NF
BookingThere are no reservable sites at this campground. All sites are available on a first-come-first, first-serve basis.
Fees$15 per night for camping. $7.50 with the use of an Interagency Pass (access or senior). Day use is $5 per day for non-campers.
RulesCampsite Capacity A maximum of eight people and four vehicles are allowed at each campsite, to include cars, trucks, wheeled camping units, and trailers. Pets and Animals Pets must be crated, caged, or on a leash less than 6’ in length while in developed recreation areas.

Chequamegon-Nicolet NF recreation page ↗

Weather by month

NOAA climate normals →
Weather by month near Smith Rapids10°20°30°40°50°60°70°January: 1.21 inches of precipitationFebruary: 1.05 inches of precipitationMarch: 1.76 inches of precipitationApril: 2.97 inches of precipitationMay: 3.73 inches of precipitationJune: 4.36 inches of precipitationJuly: 4.14 inches of precipitationAugust: 3.82 inches of precipitationSeptember: 3.91 inches of precipitationOctober: 3.52 inches of precipitationNovember: 1.99 inches of precipitationDecember: 1.53 inches of precipitationJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJanuary: 11.2°F averageFebruary: 14.8°F averageMarch: 26.7°F averageApril: 39.8°F averageMay: 53.9°F averageJune: 62.9°F averageJuly: 66.9°F averageAugust: 65.1°F averageSeptember: 56.9°F averageOctober: 43.7°F averageNovember: 29.9°F averageDecember: 17.6°F average0 in1 in2 in3 in4 in5 inTemp °FInches
The line is the average temperature and the bars are average precipitation at Park Falls Dnr HQ, 13 miles from the campground at 1,525 feet, station USC00476398 in the NOAA monthly climate normals for 1991 to 2020. Precipitation totals about 34 inches a year. The shaded span is the published season, May 2 to October 31.

Getting there

From Fifield, travel east on State Highway 70 for a little more than 12 miles and turn left (north) onto Forest Service Road 148. Continue for 2 miles to the campground.

Nearest townPark Falls, Wisconsin
Coordinates45.9106° N, 90.1739° W · Directions ↗

Fire nearby

  • Wildfire
    Bog

    18 mi from the campground · 94 acres

  • Wildfire
    Ritchie

    29 mi from the campground · 13 acres

  • Wildfire
    Redhouse

    33 mi from the campground · 22 acres

  • Wildfire
    Black River

    37 mi from the campground · 300 acres

Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge. Call the managing office before you drive.

Supplies & services

Outdoor gearOutdoor gear ↗23.1 mi
Dump stationDump station ↗27.3 mi

Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.

Explore

Video

Video of Smith Rapids Campground - CLOSED 2021, WI from Art S.

  • 0.1 mi
    Flambeau ATV Smith Rapids Spur
    1 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 3 more
  • 1.7 mi
    Flambeau ATV 121 ↗
    13.1 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 3 more
  • 2.1 mi
    Riley Creek Hwt
    2 mi trail · hiking
  • 2.2 mi
    Price County Snowmobile-120 ↗
    11.2 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 5 more
  • 2.4 mi
    Flambeau ATV 111 ↗
    20.7 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 3 more
  • 2.5 mi
    Newman Springs D Loop
    0.6 mi trail · hiking

Trail and trailhead records are the Forest Service's. Distances are straight-line to the nearer trail end. Trail conditions are not tracked here.

On the National Register nearby

On Register Atlas →

Natural features

At an elevation of about 1,500 feet, the campground provides shady, wooded sites. Smith Rapids is located on the South Fork of the Flambeau River, with a scenic view of Smith Rapids Covered Bridge. Constructed in 1991, the bridge is the only glue-laminated town lattice covered bridge in Wisconsin.

Recreation

The fast-flowing South Fork of the Flambeau River is popular among canoeists. A carry-down boat ramp is available at the campground. The river has walleye, smallmouth bass, redhorse, musky and northern pike. The campground is also in close proximity to the 70-mile Flambeau Trail System, open to off-road vehicles, hiking and mountain biking. The trail is highlighted by rolling terrain, tree-lined corridors, a wooden bridge and vistas overlooking various bogs and lakes. It is a popular snowmobiling location during winter months. Off-road vehicles are not permitted to operate in Smith Rapids Campground.

Nearby

Park Falls, Wisconsin is approximately 17 miles from the campground and is a full service community.

Guidebooks for Wisconsin

We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.

  • Best Tent Camping: Wisconsin
    Kevin Revolinski and Johnny Molloy, 2018
    Find at Bookshop.org
  • Best Hikes Madison, Wisconsin
    Johnny Molloy, 2018
    Find at Bookshop.org
  • Rail-trails Michigan & Wisconsin
    Rails-to-Trails Conservancy, 2017
    Find at Bookshop.org

Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.

Reference

Questions people ask

Do I need a reservation at Smith Rapids?

Sites at Smith Rapids are reservable on Recreation.gov. There are no reservable sites at this campground. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.

Source: Recreation.gov

How much does it cost to camp at Smith Rapids?

$15 per night for camping. $7.50 with the use of an Interagency Pass (access or senior). Day use is $5 per day for non-campers.

Source: Recreation.gov

What time is check-in at Smith Rapids?

Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 2:00 PM.

Source: Recreation.gov

Is Smith Rapids open right now?

Closed for the season as of Oct 16, 2026. Season May 2 to October 31.

Source: Forest Service status

How many sites does Smith Rapids have?

19 sites, including 5 standard sites without power and 3 tent-only sites.

Source: Recreation.gov

Will my RV fit at Smith Rapids?

The longest site here provides 75 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter. The sidebar tool checks a trailer or motorhome length against every site.

Source: Will my RV fit

Can I have a campfire at Smith Rapids?

Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions. As of 2026-10-16, there are 4 active fires within 50 miles, so check current restrictions before you light one. Campsite Capacity A maximum of eight people and four vehicles are allowed at each campsite, to include cars, trucks, wheeled camping units, and trailers.

Source: Fire nearby

What is there to do at Smith Rapids?

The fast-flowing South Fork of the Flambeau River is popular among canoeists. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.

Source: Recreation

What is the nearest town to Smith Rapids?

Park Falls, Wisconsin. Park Falls, Wisconsin is approximately 17 miles from the campground and is a full service community.

Source: Getting there

What if Smith Rapids is full?

The nearest public campgrounds are Twin Lakes (5.8 mi, partly first-come), Sailor Lake (6.8 mi, partly first-come), and Emily Lake Recreation Area (8.7 mi, first-come).

Source: Campgrounds nearby