Smith Rapids Pavilion

Chequamegon-Nicolet NF — lakeside, fishing, hiking

Location: PARK FALLS, WI, WI

Price: From $25 per night

Rating: 4 out of 5 (0 reviews)

Season: May through October

Smith Rapids Pavilion is day-use picnicking area contained within Smith Rapids Campground. Both accommodate equestrians and are situated near a variety of scenic spots in the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest in northern Wisconsin. The pavilion is popular for its access to miles of horseback riding trails.At an elevation of about 1,500 feet, the pavilion provides a shaded picnic site.

Cell coverage (FCC estimate): none signal. Actual signal may vary in remote areas.

Amenities: Fire Rings, Picnic Tables, Vault Toilets, Drinking Water, Fishing, Boat Launch

Availability alerts: Set a free cancellation alert at camperwatch.org/campground/smith-rapids-pavilion to be notified when sites open up.

Small, secluded campground within Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest featuring a covered bridge spanning the Flambeau River. Popular for equestrian access to the 18.5-mile Smith River Saddle Equestrian Trail with direct trail access.

Wildlife alert: Pileated Woodpecker, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Red-eyed Vireo, Common Grackle, Northern Watersnake, Western Painted Turtle, Common Watersnake, American Red Squirrel

Insider tips for Smith Rapids Pavilion: Book early — this is a federal campground with limited availability Most campsites are secluded with minimal neighbor visibility Camping fee includes all vehicles that will fit at site with no vehicle limit

Skip Smith Rapids Pavilion if: You need hookups — no hookups available at sites. You visit outside May-October — seasonal operations only. You prefer larger campgrounds — only 1 tent site available.

Best time to visit Smith Rapids Pavilion: May-October — Campground operates seasonally May through October only.

Nearby campgrounds: Smith Rapids (PARK FALLS, WI), Twin Lakes (Wi) (PARK FALLS, WI), Sailor Lake Pavilion (PARK FALLS, WI), Sailor Lake (PARK FALLS, WI).

Cell Phone Coverage at Smith Rapids Pavilion

Cell signal at Smith Rapids Pavilion (PARK FALLS, WI): none overall signal based on FCC broadband data.

Coverage data source: FCC Broadband Data Collection (BDC). Actual signal may vary due to terrain, tree cover, and distance from towers. Camper reports are more reliable than coverage maps in remote areas.

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CamperWatch›WI›Smith Rapids Pavilion
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Chequamegon-Nicolet NF — lakeside, fishing, hikingLive availability via Recreation.gov· synced every 30 min

Smith Rapids Pavilion

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PARK FALLS, WI, WI★ 4 (0 reviews)From $25/nightFederal campground · book on Recreation.gov
On this page ↓OverviewConditionsPlan Your TripCommunity

Smith Rapids Pavilion is day-use picnicking area contained within Smith Rapids Campground. Both accommodate equestrians and are situated near a variety of scenic spots in the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest in northern Wisconsin. The pavilion is popular for its access to miles of horseback riding trails.At an elevation of about 1,500 feet, the pavilion provides a shaded picnic site.

Best for:AnglersHikersBoatersWildlife watchersFamiliesSites:Tent
LIVE · weather + fire + AQI + availability + wildlife

Verified facts

RIDB / Recreation.gov official database
Check-in2:00 PM
Check-out12:00 PM
SeasonMay through October
Stay limit14 days
Max RV15 ft
HookupsNo hookups.
ADA sites1 sites
Max/site6 people

Amenities

RIDB /facilities /campsites · owner-verified
Essentials
Fire RingsDrinking Water
Recreation
Picnic TablesFishing
Family & Pets
Vault ToiletsBoat Launch

Straight talk

CamperWatch intel · curated from camper reports

Known issues, each with the workaround. Read before you book.

Known issuesFederal campground — book early. No hookups at most sites. Seasonal operations.
Skip it if:✕ You need hookups — no hookups available at sites✕ You visit outside May-October — seasonal operations only✕ You prefer larger campgrounds — only 1 tent site available

Insider tips & when to go

CamperWatch intel · hand-curated entry

Book early

this is a federal campground with limited availability

Most campsites are secluded with minimal neighbor visibility

Camping fee includes all vehicles that will fit at site with no vehicle limit

Best: May-October

Campground operates seasonally May through October only

Things to do nearby

RIDB /activities /recareas + intel

Conditions today

Live
at campground coordinates

Cell signal

FCC BDC · quarterly dataset
T-Mobile
4G · 0%
Verizon
4G · 0%
AT&T
4G · 0%

FCC maps are theoretical — camper reports confirm signal.

Wildlife nearby

iNaturalist · research-grade · 8 km
Alert: Pileated Woodpecker, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Red-eyed Vireo, Common Grackle, Northern Watersnake, Western Painted Turtle, Common Watersnake, American Red Squirrel

Location

Leaflet · OpenStreetMap tiles
Open in OpenStreetMap ↗
715-762-2461· Chequamegon-Nicolet NF
Getting there →

From the intersection of Highways 13 and Highway 70 in Fifield, drive about 12 miles east on Highway 70 to Forest Service Road 148. Turn left (north) and continue just over a mile on Forest Service Road 148, to the Smith Rapids Campground entrance.

Campground entrance

Google Maps API

Community

#community · posts, photos & Q&A · AI-moderated (Claude Vision)

Pro tips

  • Book on recreation.gov exactly 6 months ahead at 10am ET — Chequamegon-Nicolet NF fills fast in peak season.
  • Check current road conditions at Chequamegon-Nicolet NF before arrival — seasonal closures common.

Frequently asked questions

RIDB facts + intel · FAQPage schema, speakable
How much does Smith Rapids Pavilion cost per night?+
Smith Rapids Pavilion costs $25 per night. Hookup options: No hookups.
What season is Smith Rapids Pavilion open?+
Smith Rapids Pavilion is open May through October. Check-in is 2:00 PM, check-out is 12:00 PM.
Does Smith Rapids Pavilion have hookups?+
No hookups.
What is the maximum RV length at Smith Rapids Pavilion?+
Smith Rapids Pavilion can accommodate RVs up to 15 feet.
How do I make reservations at Smith Rapids Pavilion?+
Smith Rapids Pavilion is a federal campground — book 6 months ahead at Recreation.gov. Set a free CamperWatch cancellation alert to be notified the moment a site opens.
What is the cell service like at Smith Rapids Pavilion?+
According to FCC coverage maps, cell signal at Smith Rapids Pavilion is rated none. FCC maps show theoretical coverage — actual signal in remote or heavily forested areas may be weaker.
What season is Smith Rapids Pavilion open, and what are check-in times?+
Smith Rapids Pavilion is open May through October. Check-in is 2:00 PM, check-out is 12:00 PM.
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●Data sources on this page
Recreation.gov — Live site availability — updated every 30 min
recreation.gov · RIDB API
National Weather Service — Live hourly forecast + active alerts
api.weather.gov · open-meteo.com
Google Air Quality API — Live AQI at exact campground coordinates
airquality.googleapis.com
iNaturalist — Research-grade wildlife within 8km
api.inaturalist.org
Google Pollen API — Today’s tree, grass & weed pollen forecast
pollen.googleapis.com
FCC Broadband Map — Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile 4G/5G coverage data
broadbandmap.fcc.gov · quarterly
Sunrise-Sunset.org — Sunrise, sunset & golden hour for today
api.sunrise-sunset.org
Google Street View — Campground entrance & access road imagery
maps.googleapis.com
RIDB — ADA sites, hookups, toilets, pets, campfire rules, bear boxes, max RV, activities, contact, directions
ridb.recreation.gov · /facilities /campsites /activities /links /recareas

CamperWatch never fabricates data. Where data is unavailable, it is not shown.

$25 /night★ 4 (0)
SeasonMay through October
Check-in2:00 PM
Check-out12:00 PM
Reserve on Recreation.gov ↗
Dates full? Get an availability alert
FAQ
How much does Smith Rapids Pavilion cost per night?+
What season is Smith Rapids Pavilion open?+
Does Smith Rapids Pavilion have hookups?+
All 7 questions →

Nearby Campgrounds

Smith Rapids

PARK FALLS, WI

From $12/night

Twin Lakes (Wi)

PARK FALLS, WI

From $15/night

Sailor Lake Pavilion

PARK FALLS, WI

From $25/night

Sailor Lake

PARK FALLS, WI

From $15/night

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