Getting Oriented
The Flambeau Motorized Trail System runs through the Medford-Park Falls Ranger District of the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest, in Price County in far northern Wisconsin. The network covers more than 70 miles and effectively spans the length and width of the Park Falls unit of the forest. Rolling terrain, tree-lined corridors, wooden bridges, and stretches overlooking bogs and lakes define the riding here, a landscape shaped by the glacial lakes that dot this part of the state.
Trail Overview
Two named access points anchor the system. Sailor Lake Campground, about 11 miles southeast of Fifield off Forest Road 139, connects directly to the trail from the campground, so riders can head out without a separate drive to a trailhead. Round Lake Recreation Area, about 20 miles east of Fifield off Highway 70, provides a second trailhead at its boat-landing parking lot. Blockhouse Recreation Area and Wintergreen Recreation Area serve as additional access points, and Smith Rapids Campground reaches the trail by a short hike rather than a direct connection.
ATVs and UTVs up to 65 inches wide, dirt bikes, horseback riders, and mountain bikes share the same designated trail. Current Wisconsin ATV/UTV registration decals are required, and riding off the marked trail isn't allowed. The trail is open to wheeled vehicles from May 1 through March 14 each year, then reopens for snowmobile use in winter when snow conditions allow.
Points of Interest
- Smith Rapids Covered Bridge: a glue-laminated town lattice bridge built in 1991, reached by a short hike from Smith Rapids Campground.
- Round Lake's logging dam trail: a half-mile interpretive path crossing a historic dam built for 1800s timber operations, with displays on the era's logging history.
- Round Lake chain lakes: Round Lake's boat landing reaches a connected chain that includes Pike, Amik, and Turner lakes.
Where to Camp
Sailor Lake Campground has 25 sites, including one double site and three walk-in tent sites, with RV sites accommodating rigs up to 45 feet. Each site has a parking spur, fire grill, picnic table, and tent pad, with potable water and vault toilets on-site. Single sites run $15 a night ($7.50 with an Interagency Pass); the double site is $30. Sites 1 through 12 and 24 through 25 take reservations through Recreation.gov or 1-877-444-6777. Smith Rapids Campground is a smaller, rustic option near its namesake covered bridge, a short hike from the main trail rather than a direct trail connection. Round Lake Recreation Area allows dispersed camping within its 3,600-acre semi-primitive area, without a developed campground.
Tips for a Safe and Enjoyable Trip
- ATVs and UTVs must be 65 inches wide or narrower; current Wisconsin registration decals are required, and cross-country travel off the designated trail is prohibited.
- A $5 day-use recreation fee applies at most trailheads; campers at Sailor Lake or Round Lake are exempt.
- Wooden bridges and low, bog-adjacent ground can be slick or wet; slow down on the bridges and expect some sections to be impassable in summer.
- Fuel and services are scarce on the trail itself. Fifield and Park Falls are the nearest towns for gas and supplies.
- The trail closes temporarily in places during wet periods for resource protection, so check current conditions with the Medford-Park Falls Ranger District before heading out.
Fuel and Water
Few fuel or service opportunities exist along the trail itself, and the Forest Service advises riders to carry fuel and tools. Fifield, about 11 miles from the Sailor Lake trailhead, has the closest gas and supplies; Park Falls, seat of the ranger district, is a larger stop with more services. Potable water is available at Sailor Lake Campground; Round Lake Recreation Area has a vault toilet but no potable water.
Nearby
Smith Rapids Covered Bridge, a 1991 glue-laminated town lattice bridge near Smith Rapids Campground, sits a short hike off the main trail. Round Lake Recreation Area holds a half-mile interpretive trail across a historic 1800s logging dam, plus a boat landing reaching Round Lake's connected chain of lakes: Pike, Amik, and Turner. The South Fork of the Flambeau River runs near Round Lake and offers fishing and paddling apart from the motorized trail.
