Smith Rapids Covered Bridge

The Smith Rapids Covered Bridge spans the South Fork of the Flambeau River near Fifield, about 10 miles south of Park Falls. It's a handsome structure in a beautiful setting — a dark wooden tunnel over fast-moving water, surrounded by forest. The bridge is open to traffic and you can also walk across it; the river below is clear and cold, popular with canoeists.

The surrounding area is part of the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest. A short trail leads from the bridge along the river bank, and there is a small picnic area. It makes a good stop on any drive south from Park Falls toward Medford or Phillips.

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Built in 1991, Smith Rapids is one of the few covered timber bridges built in the United States in the 20th century — and it was built using traditional 19th-century timber truss construction methods. The decision to use this design was deliberate: the county wanted a bridge that evoked the era when the Northwoods logging industry was at its peak, when covered bridges spanned every significant river crossing in the region.

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