Wisconsin's Adventure Takes Anyone Off The Beaten Path Part I

The clearing of the pines near the falls gave the area an open spot that looked like a park. The community of Muskellunge Falls renamed their town to Park Falls.Today Park Falls is a community surrounded by history of logging and outdoor recreational resorts.Many new stores, a local newspaper and Sherry's Pulp and Paper Mill became the main businesses' in the small town of Park Falls. Sherry';s Pulp and Paper Mill during the 1890's was renamed to Flambeau Paper Company . The town became to prosper from the many products made from the lumber industry. In the twenty-first century there are still fine wood products made from the local paper mill and hardwood manufacturing facility.

Although there are still plenty of saw mills in business and other wood product manufacturing facilities. The tourist that comes to visit will find plenty to keep them occupied. The distance from Chicago and the suburbs is approximately 6 ½ hours to reach the destination of Wisconsin’s Northwood’s. Of course, if you travel to the area during the winter months it might just take you a little longer to reach the Northwood’s. The area offers a wide chose for recreation in the outdoors or for those that like a slower pace of relaxing there are plenty of secluded cabins and resorts to stay in during the visit. The towns of Park Falls, Fifield, Pike Lake area, and Turtle Flambeau Flowage have a lot of attractions to visit but we will begin with the simpler way to relax and enjoy the outdoors.

The Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest will offer the ATVing enthusiast a network of trails that they can enjoy at any time of the year. Flambeaus Trails cover over 70 miles in the national forest. If you are interested in other outdoor activities and recreation the area offers an awarding experience for hunters. As you drive into the small town a welcoming sign with a large bird called a ruffed grouse is in the middle. Park Falls is noted for being the Ruffed Grouse capital of the world. Hunters in the fall hunt ruffed grouse but it is an ideal place for hunting white-tailed deer, turkey, water fowl and black bear. Please remember hunters to check with the conservation department for the hunting license needed and when the hunting season of ruffed grouse, white-tailed deer, pheasant, turkey, water fowl, small game, or black bear. You can go to the DNR Wisconsin government website for a complete list of regulations.The Wisconsin hunting organization also provides hunting safety classes for youth and adult. The 2011 Wisconsin fall hunting and trapping season begins in September.There are plenty of taxidermist that can mount the animal as a trophy to take home. The Northwood’s during any season can be enjoyed by everyone and at any age.

There is more to do for those individuals that like adventure and challenging outdoor activities. The name Flambeau was given by the early French trappers and explores meaning “flaming torch”. The French trappers noticed an Indian tribe along the side of the river holding lighted torches. The Flambeau River is known as one of the nation’s finest canoeing rivers that offer a combination of class 1 and class 2 rapids. The Park Falls chamber office has information about renting of canoes or kayaks. There are a number of outfitters that provide river trips through the Flambeau River State Forest. The rapids offer a perfect mix for the novice to the intermediate whitewater that stretches from the beautiful Turtle Flambeau Flowage to Beaver Dam. The wild ride travels through a hundred miles of Flambeau State Forest where nature has been preserved and undeveloped by man.

The department of Natural Resources in Wisconsin has many designated and protected wilderness areas for everyone to enjoy countless opportunities for fishing, hunting, kayaking, canoeing, bird watching, snowmobiling, ATVing and hiking. Whatever season you may enjoy a must see while visiting is the Turtle-Flambeau Flowage where nature is at its full majestic glory.

You might get the chance to see a common loon breeding, a ruffed grouse, osprey,or martens. Small mammals like beaver, otter, and mink making their home along the 212 miles of winding shoreline. The Turtle-Flambeau Flowage encompasses around 19,000 acres of water wonderland and owned by the department of natural resources. Who knows you might get the chance to watch the majestic bald eagle as it swoops down to the river to get a mid-day snack. In 1926 a dam was constructed to create a reservoir to provide the area with a diversity of forests and plenty of wetlands.

Bird watching takes a special type of individual that not only respects the diversity of birds and other wildlife habitats. Those individuals who are just learning about bird watching should remember that timing is everything. It 's best to use a semi-decent pair of binoculars to view any type of wild life. The property includes an area for bird watchers to use and tag a variety of rare species of birds is called The Little Turtle Waterfowl Management. The next step of bird watching is to view the birds early morning while they are looking for food along the river edge or early evening. Most birds migrate to the Northwood's of Wisconsin to find breeding habitat including some of the rarer species like the purple martin or snowy owl. If you enjoy observing any type of wild life, take time to use all your senses and be patient because mother nature will put on a show that you won't forget .

The national and state forest best is during the fall season when the brilliant reds, gold and shades of orange paints the landscape. There is so much to do for the outdoor enthusiastic and adventurous individual that I will to have a part 2. Part 2 will have a list of the large variety of resorts, camping, cabins, RV's and other lodging facilities. There will be a list of places even the lumber jack that is hungry can find satisfying. Along with attractions or places of history to visit along the way.