Copper Falls

About Copper Falls

Copper Falls State Park is in Ashland County, about two miles northeast of Mellen, per the Wisconsin DNR. This page covers Copper Falls and Brownstone Falls.

Copper Falls is on the Bad River. 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 its height.

Travel Wisconsin says "the falls drop 30 feet into the Tyler Forks River." Treat that as a rough guide, not an official measurement.

Travel Wisconsin also gives "60 to 100 feet," but that figure describes the gorge walls, not the falls.

Geology of the falls

The DNR says lava flows built up rock layers as much as 60,000 feet thick. Over the last 200 million years, the Bad River and Tyler Forks have cut through that rock.

Glaciers later left boulders and red clay, per the DNR. It says old Lake Superior beach lines can still be found in the park.

Park history

"Copper Falls State Park was created in 1929," the DNR history page says. Much of it was developed by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) and the Works Progress Administration (WPA).

The DNR says Tyler Forks is named for John Tyler, a ship captain and surveyor.

About our map pin

Our map pin is the USGS GNIS place-name point for Copper Falls (feature ID 1579041), in Ashland County. These points mark where a named feature sits on federal maps.

Brownstone Falls has its own GNIS point (feature ID 1562276) at 46.376347, -90.641024. By our math, that is roughly a quarter mile north of the Copper Falls point.

For more falls in the region, see Amnicon Falls, Big Manitou Falls and Willow Falls.

Getting there and parking

The Wisconsin DNR lists the park at 36764 Copper Falls Road, Mellen, WI 54546. It puts the park about two miles northeast of Mellen.

The DNR says the Doughboys Nature Trail starts near the concession building. The DNR pages we read give no other parking details.

Fees

"A vehicle admission sticker is required," the DNR says. Its rates took effect Aug 19, 2025.

• Wisconsin plates: $13 a day or $28 for 12 months.
• Wisconsin seniors 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 lists $15.50 a year for an extra household vehicle with Wisconsin plates, or $32.50 out of state. It says the sticker must be attached to the inside driver's side of the windshield.

Hours

The DNR says the park is open year-round from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m.

Contact

The DNR lists the park phone as 715-274-5123. Its call center is 1-888-936-7463, from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Map and nearby falls

Copper Falls State Park trails: the Doughboys loop and Red Granite Falls

The Doughboys Nature Trail is the main way to see the falls. The DNR calls it a 1.7-mile loop from near the concession building, along the Bad River and Tyler Forks.

It has overlooks of Copper Falls, Brownstone Falls and the Tyler Forks cascades, per the DNR. The loop includes rock stairs, and the DNR gives no difficulty rating.

Accessible section

About 0.5 mile of the Doughboys trail is universally accessible, per the DNR. It has a crushed granite surface and an overlook of Copper Falls.

This section also reaches the historic CCC bridge over the Tyler Forks cascades. "Please call the property for conditions and usability," the DNR adds.

Other trails

The DNR says the North Country Trail runs more than 4 miles through the park. The CCC 692 Trail is a 1-mile spur to an observation tower.

Dogs

"Pets are not allowed on the Doughboys Nature trail," the DNR says. The DNR adds that no trail lets you see Copper and Brownstone Falls with a pet.

The 2.5-mile Red Granite Falls Trail is the waterfall trail open to leashed pets, per the DNR. Statewide rules require a physical leash no longer than 8 feet.

The DNR lists a pet area next to the main picnic area, with Bad River water access. Pets are not allowed in buildings or on beaches, except pet swim areas.

For another waterfall in the region, see Bond Falls in Michigan's Upper Peninsula.

When to visit

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

Winter

Two DNR pages disagree about winter on the Doughboys trail. The hiking page says a portion closes in winter, as ice and snow make the rock stairs very slippery.

The winter page says the Doughboys trail is "not maintained during winter but is open." Call the park at 715-274-5123 to confirm before a winter visit.

The DNR lists snowshoeing on the Doughboys and Red Granite Falls trails, with snowshoe rentals at the office. It says groomed ski trails are closed to hikers and pets.

The Red Granite Falls Trail is the only trail open to pets in winter, per the DNR.

Status checks

On Nov 13, 2026, the DNR conditions page showed no notices. An earlier version of the DNR conditions page, seen in search results, listed an Oct 12 to 16, 2026 closure on part of the Doughboys trail.

That closure was for Tyler Forks Bridge repairs, and its dates have passed. Check the conditions page or call the park before you go.

Safety and swimming

Photos

Copper Falls FAQ

Nearby waterfalls

• 
  Amnicon Falls62 mi straight-line, by our mathOpen
• 
  Gooseberry Falls66 mi straight-line, by our mathOpen
• 
  Big Manitou Falls71 mi straight-line, by our mathOpen

  165FT
• 
  Bond Falls72 mi straight-line, by our mathSeasonal

  50FT
• 
  High Falls73 mi straight-line, by our mathPartly open

  63FT

All waterfalls in Wisconsin

City guides: Waterfalls near Duluth, MN