There are a surprising amount of waterfalls in Wisconsin for you to explore. Many of which are accessible by a short jaunt from a parking lot.
But sometimes you want to put in a little work and be rewarded with a breathtaking waterfall.
That’s where this list of waterfall hikes in Wisconsin comes into play. Whether you are looking for hikes in one of our amazing Wisconsin State Parks or looking for a hike near your house, this list is just what you need.
Here are eleven hiking trails in Wisconsin with waterfalls to satisfy your need for a little waterfall bliss while you enjoy the great outdoors of Wisconsin.
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Lost Creek Falls
Location: Cornucopia, Wisconsin
Distance: 2.2 miles (round trip)
Difficulty: Moderate
Type of Trail: Out-and-back
The hike to Lost Creek Falls takes you across several boardwalks and through a beautiful forest. The trail is mostly flat with some roots and rocks. And it can be muddy after some rain, so make sure to bring the right shoes.
Lost Creek Falls, while only 15ft, is one of the most scenic waterfalls in Wisconsin. And it’s one of the few waterfalls that you can walk behind. This waterfall is a gem worth the moderate effort of getting there.
Doughboys Nature Trail
Location: Copper Falls State Park
Distance: 1.7 miles
Difficulty: Moderate
Type of Trial: Loop
The Doughboys Nature Trail in Copper Falls State Park is a gorgeous hike with beautiful views of three of the park’s waterfalls. The trail is easy to moderate, with some steep stairs. But don’t worry; there are plenty of places to rest along the way. This is a great trail that takes you through the heart of the state park. Copper Falls State Park is among the few Wisconsin State Parks with Waterfalls.
Note: Dogs are not allowed on the Doughboys Nature Trail.
Red Granite Falls Trail
Location: Copper Falls State Park
Distance: 2.5 miles
Difficulty: East
Type of Trial: Loop
This is another delightful waterfall hike in Copper Falls State Park. While Red Granite Falls may not be as spectacular as the others in the park, here you can get up close and personal to Red Granite Falls. With no barriers, you can take a stroll off the trail and head down to get a close-up view of the falls.
This is the only dog-friendly trail in Copper Falls State Park, so it’s perfect if you have your cute pouch along.
Morgan Falls
Location: Marengo, Wisconsin
Distance: 1.1 miles (round trip) or 3.8 miles (round trip) if heading all the way to St. Peter’s Dome
Difficulty: Moderate
Type of Trial: Out-and-back
Located in the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest, it is a short hike to Morgan Falls.
But if you are feeling like you want to get a bit more energy out, you can continue on to St. Peter’s Dome. On a clear day at St Peter’s Dome, you can see all the way to Lake Superior and the Bayfield Peninsula.
This hike is great any time of year. But it’s extra special during the fall when the fall colors are in full bloom.
There are roots and rocks to contend with on this hike, so bring hiking poles or a walking stick if you need a bit more stability.
Potato River Falls
Location: Saxon, Wisconsin
Distance: 0.8 miles
Difficulty: Moderate
Type of Trial: Out-and-back
Although short, this little jaunt will get the heart pumping as you make your way out and back to three viewing platforms.
Potato Falls is an impressive waterfall with upper and lower falls sections. To see both sections, quite a few stairs will bring you up and down to the three viewing platforms.
If you want to hike a bit more, the trail to the Lower Falls viewpoint continues past the platform and down to the bank of the river.
Willow Falls
Location: Willow Falls State Park
Distance: 2.0 miles (round trip)
Difficulty: Moderate
Type of Trial: Out-and-back
This hike starts at campsite 200 and slowly goes down to the falls below. This is an easy hike on the way down along a well-maintained and wide path.
These falls are absolutely stunning and worth the tough trek back up the hill you just came down.
Silverbrook Trail
Location: Interstate State Park
Distance: 2.4 miles
Difficulty: Easy
Type of Trial: Out-and-back
The trail to Silverbrook Falls is perfect for wildlife viewing due to its remote location. You will pass the remains of an old copper mine and the Silverbrook Mansion on your way to view the falls.
Silverbrook Falls is not the most amazing falls in the state, but it’s worth a jaunt if you happen to be in the area and are looking to log a few miles.
Piers Gorge Trail
Location: Norway, Michigan
Distance: 1.5 miles (one way)
Difficulty: Easy
Type of Trial: Out-and-back
Piers Gorge Trail is located just over the Wisconsin border in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. (I know, not Wisconsin, but pretty darn close 🙂)
This hike is high above the Menominee River and includes 4 “piers”. These piers are outcroppings of rock over the river and provide amazing views of the river below.
Viewing the rapids and falls below was one of our favorite hikes on our Northeast Wisconsin Waterfall Road Trip.
This hike is fairly easy but can be considered moderate in some parts due to rocks and exposed roots. One of the great parts of the is hike is that you can turn around at any point. With that said, we recommend that you at least make it to the third pier to view the largest drop along this stretch of the river called Mishicot Falls.
Related Posts:
Explore 15 Waterfalls on this Wisconsin Waterfall Road Trip
Best Hiking Trails to Explore Door County
Wisconsin State Parks with Waterfalls
LaSalle Falls Trail
Location: Florence, WI
Distance: 1.9 miles (round trip)
Difficulty: Moderate
Type of Trial: Out-and-back
The LaSalle Falls trail is located off an unpaved road in Florence, Wisconsin. You will likely see many ATVs while traveling down the road to the trailhead. And while the trail is located in a rugged part of the state, plenty of signs help you reach the trailhead.
This hike takes you through a lush forest that provides lots of shade for your hike. Once at the falls, you can climb around on the rocks to get a better view of the falls. LaSalle Falls is a 22-foot falls that thunders through the gorge. We loved finding a spot on the rocks to sit and take in the power of these falls.
Parfrey’s Glen Trail
Location: Merrimac, Wisconsin
Distance: 1.7 miles (round trip)
Difficulty: Easy
Type of Trial: Out-and-back
Parfrey’s Glen has one of the few waterfalls in southern Wisconsin. The waterfall is located in a beautiful natural area and requires some hiking on an unkept path to reach the falls.
Several floods have washed out parts of the trail throughout the years, and due to the risk of continued flooding, the trail is no longer maintained.
With that said, hiking the unkept path is part of the adventure in Parfrey’s Glen. When you reach the breathtaking gorge, the trail that leads to a small waterfall becomes a scramble over rocks and streams.
Stephen Falls
Location: Governor Dodge State Park, Dodgeville, WI
Distance: 0.3 miles
Difficulty: Moderate
Type of Trail: Loop
Technically, I wouldn’t consider this 0.3 miles a hike since it’s so short. But Governor Dodge State Park has a vast network of hiking trails you can use to make the trek to Stephen Falls a decent hike.
You can find a wonderful 7.8-mile hike detailed on Alltrails.com..
You Got This!
Wisconsin is full of amazing outdoor adventures, including these beautiful waterfall hikes.
I recommend the two books below if you love waterfalls and hiking in Wisconsin. We keep these in our car so when we have the urge for an adventure; we have all the information we need at our fingertips.
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You can also use our Wisconsin Waterfall Map and Wisconsin Campground Map to help you plan your next Wisconsin adventure.
