Waterfalls in Wisconsin

Overview of waterfalls in Wisconsin

Big Manitou Falls in Pattison State Park is the tallest. The DNR says it is 165 feet high and calls it the highest waterfall in Wisconsin.

Copper Falls near Mellen shares a 1.7-mile loop with Brownstone Falls. Willow Falls near Hudson is the closest to Minneapolis. Amnicon Falls has three main falls and a covered bridge.

Big Manitou and Amnicon are both near Superior. By our math, the two falls are about 12 miles apart in a straight line, so one trip can cover both.

All four were open, as far as we can tell, from our checks of Nov 11 to Nov 13, 2026. Read the notes below on the Amnicon campground and the 2027 Pattison dam work.

Wisconsin waterfalls at a glance

Heights and trails come from each falls page and its official source.

Big Manitou and Little Manitou Falls (Pattison State Park)

Big Manitou Falls is on the Black River in Pattison State Park, south of Superior. The Wisconsin DNR says it is 165 feet high. It also ranks it the fourth highest waterfall east of the Rocky Mountains.

The Big Manitou Falls Overlooks trail is 0.5 mile long, per the DNR. It starts at the main picnic area and passes through a pedestrian tunnel under Highway 35. You get views from both sides of the river.

The DNR says Little Manitou Falls, in the same park, is 31 feet high. It says both falls offer accessible overlooks. By our math, the two falls are about 1 mile apart in a straight line.

The park is open year-round from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m., per the DNR. Its phone is 715-399-3111.

Copper Falls and Brownstone Falls (Copper Falls State Park)

Copper Falls is on the Bad River, about two miles northeast of Mellen in Ashland County. The DNR geology page calls it a 29-foot falls. Brownstone Falls drops into the Tyler Forks River, per Travel Wisconsin.

No DNR page we read gives a height for Brownstone Falls. Travel Wisconsin says it drops 30 feet, so treat that as a rough guide.

The Doughboys Nature Trail is a 1.7-mile loop with overlooks of both falls and the Tyler Forks cascades, per the DNR. It includes rock stairs. About 0.5 mile is universally accessible, with a Copper Falls overlook.

The DNR says pets are not allowed on the Doughboys Nature Trail. The park phone is 715-274-5123.

Willow Falls (Willow River State Park)

Willow Falls is on the Willow River in Willow River State Park, near Hudson in St. Croix County. By our math, it sits about 29 miles in a straight line from downtown Minneapolis.

Neither the DNR nor Travel Wisconsin gives a height for the falls. A DNR water record says the Willow Falls dam was removed in the spring of 1992.

The shortest route is the 0.4-mile Willow Falls Hill trail from the Willow Falls parking lot on County Road A. The DNR says it "goes up and down a very steep hill." The 1.2-mile Pioneer trail leads to an overlook above the falls.

The DNR's two accessible routes do not reach the falls. The park phone is 715-386-5931.

Amnicon Falls (Amnicon Falls State Park)

Amnicon Falls State Park is about 7 miles east of the Superior city limits, per the DNR. It describes a series of waterfalls and rapids along the Amnicon River.

A 0.25-mile island trail gives views of the three main falls: Upper, Lower and Snake Pit. Another 0.5 mile of trail runs up and down the river. The DNR calls both walks relatively flat and easy.

No DNR page we read gives a height for any of the falls. A 2013 Travel Wisconsin article gives Snake Pit Falls a 25-foot drop, so treat it as a rough guide.

A 55-foot covered bridge spans the river at the Lower Falls, per the DNR. The DNR says swimming and wading are permitted with caution, but diving and jumping are banned.

Wisconsin state park fees and dog rules

"A vehicle admission sticker is required," the Wisconsin DNR says, at all four parks. The rates below took effect Aug 19, 2025.

• Wisconsin plates: $13 a day or $28 for 12 months.
• Wisconsin residents 65 and older: $3 a day or $13 for 12 months.
• Out-of-state plates: $16 a day or $50 for 12 months.

The DNR says the sticker must be attached to the inside driver's side of the windshield. At Amnicon, it lists a $5 surcharge if you use the park before you pay.

Dogs: Wisconsin state park rules say pets must be on a physical leash no longer than 8 feet at all times. Pets are not allowed in buildings, or on beaches and picnic areas unless they are designated for pets.

Copper Falls has the one big exception. The DNR says pets are not allowed on the Doughboys Nature Trail, so you cannot see Copper or Brownstone Falls with a pet. Leashed pets can use the 2.5-mile Red Granite Falls Trail instead.

Are Wisconsin waterfalls open? As far as we can tell (checked Nov 11 to Nov 13, 2026)

Big Manitou Falls: open, as far as we can tell (Nov 13, 2026). The DNR listed no trail or overlook closures. Notices updated Aug 7, 2026 say Black River dam work begins in early 2027 and may affect falls flow.

Copper Falls: open, as far as we can tell (Nov 13, 2026). The DNR conditions page showed no notices that day.

Willow Falls: open, as far as we can tell (Nov 13, 2026). The DNR conditions page says hiking trails are open. It still lists notices with past dates, and says the park is closed to all hunting until Nov 15, so call 715-386-5931 before you go.

Amnicon Falls: open, as far as we can tell (Nov 11, 2026). The DNR says the campground is closed through May 27, 2027 for road maintenance. The road to the falls and covered bridge, and all trails, remain open.

When to see Wisconsin waterfalls, including winter

No official source we read names a best month for any of the four falls. The DNR says each park is open year-round, from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m.

At Pattison, a DNR notice warns that "waterfall flow on Big Manitou Falls may be affected" by the 2027 dam work. If you plan a 2027 trip, call the park to ask about flow.

Winter: two DNR pages disagree about the Doughboys trail at Copper Falls. One says a portion closes in winter, as the rock stairs get very slippery. The other says it is not maintained but is open.

At Pattison, the DNR lists classic ski trails when snow permits, and says the blue loop passes near Little Manitou Falls. It says nothing about whether the overlooks are cleared in winter.

Willow River lists snowshoeing, hiking and groomed ski trails in winter, per the DNR. Amnicon allows snowshoeing and winter hiking, but its snowshoe trail does not reach the river. Our waterfall safety guide has more general tips.

Wisconsin waterfalls FAQ