Explore the Scenic Side of Wisconsin at These 20 Waterfalls

Wisconsin may be America’s Dairyland, but the Badger State is full of more than just cheese curds and milk. In city downtowns, roadside parks, and even on Wisconsin’s borders with other states, residents and out-of-towners can explore dozens of waterfalls. From well-known cascades to serene hidden gems, Wisconsin’s waterfalls are true natural wonders that capture the imagination of travelers young and old.

Big Manitou Falls | Superior

Any Wisconsin waterfall journey has to start with a trip to Pattison State Park and Wisconsin’s highest waterfall. Visitors can soak in views of the Black River from 165 feet — one of the tallest waterfalls east of the Rocky Mountains. Apart from the falls, visitors can explore 1,400 acres of campground and accessible hiking trails.

Little Manitou Falls | Superior

What’s better than one waterfall? Try two waterfalls in the same park. Even though it’s a “little” waterfall, it’s still 31 feet high and is three miles upstream from its bigger counterpart. This picturesque waterfall pours in a twin stream over igneous rock, creating an awe-inspiring scene that’s perfect for Instagram photos.

Potato River Falls | Gurney

One of Wisconsin’s tallest falls is actually split into upper and lower falls that drop 40 feet and 50 feet respectively. Visitors have a few options for seeing the falls, including a trail leading to a gorge with an observation deck and another observation deck near the parking lot.

Cascade Falls | Osceola

Residents and visitors to this quaint Northwest Wisconsin town can find a scenic waterfall right in the middle of downtown. Visitors can follow a quarter-mile path from Cascade Street to the falls for scenic views of the St. Croix National Scenic Byway. If you really want to see something special, come back at night when the falls are lit with LED lights.

Morgan Falls | Marengo

In Northern Wisconsin, waterfall enthusiasts can take an easy 1.2-mile round trip to see a roughly 70-foot cascade of water that falls diagonally across a granite rock face into Morgan Creek. It’s also a scenic site in the winter, though the flow of water slows to a trickle.

Montello’s Granite Quarry | Montello

Four beautiful (albeit artificial) waterfalls can be found in a historic granite quarry in downtown Montello at Daggett Park — the granite here was once found to be the hardest in the world. Water cascading off granite slabs makes for a great site and a cool photo op at these falls just north of Madison.

Willow Falls | Hudson

Located within Willow River State Park, Willow Falls cascades nearly 100 feet over multiple drops in the middle of a lush forest. The falls, which are situated on the Willow River, are pretty easy to access and beautiful to look at as water tumbles over intricate rock formations.

Saxon Falls | Saxon

Nestled right on the Wisconsin-Michigan border, Saxon Falls isn’t to be missed as it tumbles almost 90 feet over multiple drops. Visiting the falls is recommended in the spring or after heavy rain when water levels are higher to get the full cascading effect down all three lower falls.

Long Slide Falls | Niagara

Located in the heart of Marinette County — the “waterfall capital of Wisconsin” with more than a dozen waterfalls — Long Slide may be the most beautiful of the group with a 50-foot drop where water tumbles over giant rocks into the Pemebonwon River.

Pewit’s Nest | Baraboo

Known to some as “Peewee’s Nest,” it can be found in Pewit’s Nest State Natural Area. The defining feature is a 30-40-foot gorge through which a waterfall originating from Skillet Creek plunges into.

It’s one of the best hidden gem waterfalls in Wisconsin and visitors can see it in all its majesty on a walking trail that leads to the mouth of the gorge or from a lookout area from the top.

Fonferek Falls | Green Bay

This geological gem is protected by Fonferek’s Glen and features a 30-foot cascade near Green Bay. Visitors can enjoy views of the surrounding limestone cliffs and a stone archway. Elsewhere, visitors can see a gravel quarry, agricultural fields, and former farmland that’s been restored to a natural prairie state.

Lost Creek Falls | Cornucopia

Depending on when you visit this hidden gem on the Bayfield Peninsula, you may be able to enjoy it with hardly any crowds. This waterfall falls 15 feet over a ledge and visitors who want a closer look can cross the creek and stand behind the waterfall — a cool spot where the sound and sight of water can be very peaceful.

Brownstone Falls | Mellen

One of the most scenic Badger State waterfalls cascades 40 feet at the convergence of two river branches. Surrounded by reddish cliffs and flanked by 100-foot gorge walls, it creates a beautiful sight and it can be easily accessed on a fairly level trail.

Copper Falls | Mellen

Like Brownstone Falls, Copper Falls is located within Copper Falls State Park and it’s also no less scenic. The falls can be reached via multiple trails and cascades about 30 feet from the Bad River over multiple levels. This creates a fantastic view that makes for a fun family outing no matter how you reach the falls or where you view them from.

Upson Falls | Upson

Nestled in Northern Wisconsin, Upson Falls plunges nearly 20 feet into the Potato River. It’s not as tall as some of Wisconsin’s bigger falls, but it’s wide, foamy, and almost has a storybook-like quality. Make sure to wear good hiking shoes because the trek to the falls, while short, involves a bit of an incline.

Stephens Falls | Dodgeville

This small waterfall in Governor Dodge State Park is best visited in the spring when a slow trickle of water turns into a larger cascade that slides 20 feet down a sandstone bluff into Lost Canyon. Elsewhere in the park, visitors can explore a cave, two lakes, and more in Wisconsin’s Driftless Region.

Amnicon Falls | South Range

Amnicon Falls State Park is one of the best spots in Wisconsin to see waterfalls because there are four falls and many rapids tucked into one park. All along the Amnicon River, visitors can traverse a covered bridge or a two-mile trail to see falls and rapids and enjoy a picnic lunch.

The falls in the park are Upper and Lower Amnicon Falls, Snake Pit Falls, and Now and Then Falls (named for its higher water flow in the spring). The Upper and Lower Falls are the main attractions here and occur where the Amnicon River tumbles over two 20-foot cascades.

Wequiock Falls | Green Bay

Dropping 25 feet over part of the Niagara Escarpment in Brown County, this waterfall is fed by a small creek whose flow is more consistent in the spring. Visitors can go down a set of stone stairs to the bottom of the gorge for a better, close-up view of the falls.

Interstate and Peterson Falls | Hurley

A visit to the Montreal River — which forms the border between the Badger State and Michigan’s Upper Peninsula — rewards visitors with the sight of two waterfalls — which often get confused with one another.

For the record, Interstate is the taller waterfall at 18 feet and can be found off of US-2 on a 0.3-mile trail off a trailhead. Peterson Falls is about 15 feet and can be accessed off the same trailhead a little further down the road.

Big Falls | Seymour

Situated just east of Eau Claire, the gently cascading Big Falls is fed from the Eau Claire River and reaches a height of more than 10 feet with several drops, creating a serene scene for visitors to enjoy. It’s a popular spot in the summer and visitors of all ages can be found swimming or tubing down the multiple levels of the waterfall to cool off.

Make Plans to Visit Wisconsin Waterfalls

There’s no other way to say it: Wisconsin’s waterfalls are wondrous. From hidden gems to popular summertime spots, the sound and sight of plunging water never fail to amaze.

So make plans to visit Wisconsin’s waterfalls. Depending on where you live or where you’re traveling to, chances are good you may get to see more than one, so have your camera and a sturdy pair of shoes ready. Happy exploring!