There’s a lot to discover in the vast Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest and you don’t need to embark on a backcountry hike to experience this amazing place. All you need is a good set of wheels and a sense of adventure. Rustic Road 105 is an out-of-the-way driving route that will get your tires onto remote forest roads, across an old covered bridge, and past an amazing old logging dam. Sound like an adventure? It is, and here’s what you’ll find on this scenic Wisconsin back road.

Rustic Road 105 is located in the heart of the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest, a 1.5-million-acre forest that sprawls across Northern Wisconsin. It covers part of 11 counties and contains scores of undeveloped lakes and endless stands of timber.
Flickr / Joshua Mayer
The road is an official driving route designated by the Wisconsin Department of Transportation for its scenic attributes and significance. When you start driving the route, you’ll see the designation is well deserved.
Flickr / Doug Kerr
The route is in Price County and actually contains parts of several roads: Forest Road 148 (Smith Rapids Road), Forest Road 144 (Shady Knoll Road) and Forest Road 535.
Facebook / The Round Lake Logging Dam

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The route can be accessed by any vehicle – you don’t need all-wheel drive. But portions of the route are gravel.
Flickr / Jimmy Emerson, DVM
This scenic drive will take you across the Smith Rapids Covered Bridge. You might feel like a pioneer on this wooden bridge, but it was actually built in the 1990s.
Flickr / Jimmy Emerson, DVM
You’ll also pass near the Round Lake Logging Dam. It’s worth getting out of the car and doing the short hike to see this dam – it’s a great example of 1800s engineering and it's incredibly scenic!
Facebook / The Round Lake Logging Dam

The route is an easy and worthwhile excursion if you’re staying in Park Falls or Minocqua and it’s a very doable day trip from places like Wausau and Eau Claire. Allow more than an hour to do the drive – you’ll want to take it easy on the gravel roads and it’s good to have time to take in the sights and scenery. Interested in exploring more Wisconsin backroads? Here are some amazing drives you’ll definitely want to experience.

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Featured Addresses
Chequamegon or Smith Rapids Covered Bridge, Smith Rapids Rd, Park Falls, WI 54552, USA