15 Beautiful Waterfalls In Wisconsin

Are you thinking about exploring beautiful waterfalls in Wisconsin? Then take a look at this list full of the best waterfalls in Wisconsin.

Wisconsin is a state in the Midwest that gets a lot of snow during the winter months.

This means that in the Spring and Summer as the snow begins to melt, the rivers fill up and create some awesome Wisconsin waterfalls.

I’m from the Midwest and I love to visit Wisconsin in the Spring and Summer for this very reason!

It is a beautiful time of year to visit and explore Wisconsin State Parks with waterfalls and enjoy the great outdoors.

If you’re planning a trip to Wisconsin to spend a romantic weekend getaway admiring WI falls, then you’ll love this list.

So, lets take a look at 15 beautiful waterfalls in Wisconsin.

15 Beautiful Waterfalls In Wisconsin

Cascade Falls For An Urban Waterfall

The Cascade Falls are located in downtown Osceola Wisconsin.

You’ll be able to spend your day in the cute town of Osceola while also getting to experience a beautiful Wisconsin waterfall.

The falls are located off of Cascade Street, one of the main streets in the town.

There is a small parking area and a set of wooden stairs that lead you closer to the falls.

You can get pretty close to the falls making it a great opportunity for pictures.

If you don’t want to get too close to the falls, don’t worry.

There are plenty of places in town where you can view the falls at a distance.

This includes walkways on the main street and even a local Pub and Grill.

You can enjoy a delicious meal while you admire the Cascade Falls or get super close, it’s up to you.

No matter how you view the falls, you’re guaranteed to enjoy this urban waterfall which makes it such a cool Midwest weekend getaway!

Morgan Falls For Beginner Hikers

Morgan Falls is a beautiful waterfall in Wisconsin that is easy for beginner hikers to reach.

From the parking lot of the trail head it is a 1.2 mile round trip hike.

The hike itself is fairly easy and is actually a great option for families.

Families with young kids will find this hike fairly manageable, which makes it a fun activity.

The waterfall itself is a thin waterfall that drops about 80-100 feet into a tributary.

Morgan Falls is a super unique Wisconsin waterfall that is easily worth the short hike to visit it.

Amnicon Falls State Park

Amnicon Falls State Park is the perfect place to see a bunch of falls in WI in one trip.

The state park is the perfect place to spend the day exploring the great outdoors.

There are a series of hikes you can take to view the many falls that are in one of the Wiscon state parks with waterfalls, the Amnicon Falls State Park.

Pack a picnic and spend the day hiking and exploring.

There are a few different trails you can hike to see the different waterfalls.

All of them are fairly easy hikes and most have covered foot bridges that you can get good looks of the falls from.

If you want to get even closer to the falls, you can hike the rocky river side. If not, just take the trails that are alongside the river.

Amnicon Falls State Park is perfect for beginner hikers of those looking to spend the day admiring waterfalls in Wisconsin.

Big Manitou Falls For The Highest Fall In Wisconsin

Big Manitou Falls is the highest waterfall in Wisconsin, dropping 165 feet into the Black River.

Another Wisconsin state park with waterfalls, you can visit the Big Manitou Falls in Pattinson State Park.

It is the fourth highest waterfall east of the Rocky Mountains.

Native American nations nearby believed that the Great Spirit lived in the waterfall called ‘Gitchee Manitou’, which is how the waterfall got its name.

There is also another, smaller, waterfall at Pattinson State Park called Twin Little Manitou Falls.

If you’re looking to experience an epic waterfall and a beautiful state park, then Big Manitou Falls and Pattinson State Park are perfect for you.

Copper Falls State Park

Copper Falls State Park is one of the most picturesque state parks in Wisconsin with waterfalls.

There are hiking and biking trails, areas for picnicking, and of course, waterfalls.

Copper Falls State Park has over 17 miles of hiking trails, and most of them offer views of the Copper Falls.

The most popular trail is the Doughboys Nature Trail, which is 1.7 miles long.

The Doughboys Nature Trail is the best trail to walk if you want to see the Copper and Brownstone Falls and Cascades.

There is about a half mile of the trail that is ADA accessible and offers views of the falls.

The Doughboy Nature Trail is also a part of the North Country Scenic Trail, one of the best National Parks that winds through the Midwest.

Copper Falls State Park is a great place to spend the day hiking and getting to see multiple beautiful Wisconsin waterfalls.

Willow Falls For Beautiful Views

In the Willow River State Park you can hike and admire the Willow Falls.

The State Park is 2,800 acres of hiking trails, Prairie remnants, a nature center, and the historic Willow Falls and Willow River Gorge.

There are 13 miles of hiking trails and they vary in difficulty.

Several of the trails either end or come near enough to the Willow Falls for you to get a good view.

But the most popular trail is the Willow Falls Trail.

It is 1 mile long and extends from the campgrounds to the Willow Falls.

You’ll walk along the Little Falls Lake and Willow River before coming to the Willow Falls themselves.

It is a beautiful trail full of woodlands, wildflowers, and views of the river and falls.

You can’t go wrong visiting one of Wisconsin’s most popular waterfalls.

Long Slide Falls

To admire Long Slide Falls you’ll need to go to the Long Slide Falls County Park in Pembine Wisconsin.

This county park is a popular spot, so be prepared to encounter some crowds on beautiful days.

This is partially because getting to see the Long Slide Falls is pretty easy.

From the parking lot, it is just a 0.4 mile fairly easy hike to the falls themselves.

It is a perfect waterfall hike for beginner hikers and families with young children.

While there, consider hiking to the smaller Smalley Falls nearby.

If you visit the Long Slide Falls County Park you can visit two waterfalls in one trip.

Lost Creek Falls

Lost Creek Falls is a smaller natural woodland waterfall in the woods outside of Cornucopia Wisconsin.

It is not located at a designated park but is a very popular hiking destination.

The trail is a bit of a local secret and is found off of Klemik Road, which is actually a well maintained dirt road.

Towards the end of the dirt road you’ll find a yellow gated trail that is the trail head to the Lost Creek Falls.

The trail itself is fairly moderate and may be best for those who have a little more experience hiking.

It is 2.2 miles and you walk to the falls and then come back out the same way.

At the end of the trail you’ll come upon the beautifully scenic Lost Creek Falls, surrounded by lush woods and even wild berries.

The Lost Creek Falls are one of the best waterfalls in Wisconsin because the hike to get there is half the adventure.

Montello Granite Quarry Waterfalls

The Montello Granite Quarry Waterfalls are a bit more unique.

They are actually in the middle of downtown Montello Wisconsin and you don’t have to hike to see them.

These best falls in Wisconsin actually used to be a part of a granite quarry.

After the granite quarry was no longer in use, the city decided to repurpose the space and made the remaining granite cliffs into a waterfall.

You can get the best view of the falls at the Dogget Memorial Park.

There you’ll find the falls and the lake they cascade into protected by an iron gate.

This is as you close you can get to the falls, but there are several places in the park where you can view the falls at different angles.

If you want to leisurely enjoy a unique set of Wisconsin falls, then the Montello Granite Quarry Waterfalls are perfect for you.

Saxon Falls

If you are looking for a little adventure with your WI falls viewing, consider checking out the Saxon Falls.

Saxon Falls is one of the tallest waterfalls on the border of Wisconsin and Michigan.

The easiest way to see the falls is from the Wisconsin side.

While it is only a 0.5 mile hike, it is a very steep hike over rocky terrain.

So I suggest that more skilled hikers attempt to view this waterfall in Wisconsin.

If you are comfortable trekking over steep rocky terrain, then you’ll enjoy the Saxon Falls.

These WI falls themselves total a 90 foot drop over several stepped drops that makes for a really beautiful cascading fall.

From the waterfall, the Montreal River flows into a deep gorge that is also very pretty.

Saxon Falls is the perfect Wisconsin waterfall for experienced hikers looking for a little adventure.

Peterson Falls

Just a few miles away from Saxon Falls is the easier to reach Peterson Falls.

Like Saxon Falls, it is located on the border of Michigan and Wisconsin and is a part of the Montreal River.

Peterson Falls is most easily visited from Wisconsin.

To get to Peterson Falls, you’ll need to look out for the Peterson Falls sign that leads you down a gravel road.

At the small turn around, park, and you’ll find the trail head.

The trail follows the river and is only about a 10 minute easy hike to view the falls.

Peterson Falls is about 25 feet high and falls down several steps of rocks before joining the Montreal River again.

If you are looking to experience falls in Wisconsin and don’t want a difficult hike, Peterson Falls is a great choice.

Stephen’s Falls

Stephen’s Falls are on the smaller side but they are worth the trip.

You can find them tucked away at Governor Dodge State Park.

The hike to the falls is pretty simple and about 0.5 miles long.

You’ll find a well maintained trail with some wooden bridges and even stone steps.

There are some parts of the trail that are at an incline, but generally this is a pretty easy hike.

The falls themselves are very picturesque.

Stephen’s Falls drop about 20 feet over a very large rounded boulder.

You’ll find the falls surrounded by lush greenery and rocks covered in moss.

It is a beautiful and peaceful place to hike to.

Stephen’s Falls is a wonderful hike for all skill levels that brings you to a truly beautiful 20 foot waterfall.

Potato River Falls

Potato River Falls is easily one of the most impressive falls in Wisconsin.

The falls themselves are located outside of Gurney Wisconsin in a county park.

Potato River Falls cascade down into the Potato River at about 50 feet and spans the whole river basin.

The trail to view the falls is fairly easy at 0.8 miles and isn’t super busy.

It is a great trail for all skill levels as it is not too difficult.

Because it is not a state park, many more experienced hikers also enjoy hiking along the rocky edge of the river for a better look at the falls.

There is also a slightly more difficult hike that leads you to a lookout spot for the ‘Upper Falls’.

But the easiest hike is to the ‘Lower Falls’ and there is an observation deck.

Potato River Falls is a beautiful Wisconsin waterfall that is definitely worth a visit.

Eighteen Foot Falls

The Eighteen Foot Falls are not located on any park grounds and are considered ‘wild falls’.

There are no railings or fences surrounding the waterfall and the hike itself is definitely on the moderate side.

The hike to the falls is only about 10 minutes, but it is over pretty rough and steep terrain.

The trail itself isn’t as maintained as hikers may be used to if they frequent State and County Parks.

Because Eighteen Foot Falls is a ‘wild’ waterfall, it is full of untouched beauty.

Coming upon the falls, you can admire it the way people who have stumbled upon it have admired it for centuries.

Eighteen Foot Falls is a beautiful seemingly untouched waterfall in Wisconsin that is a wonderful visit for more experienced hikers.

Dave’s Falls

Dave’s Falls is a small but picturesque waterfall on the Pike River in Wisconsin.

You can find Dave’s Falls at the Dave’s Falls County Park.

There, you’ll park and have easy access to the trail head.

The trail itself is only about 0.6 miles long and is perfect for hikers of all skill levels.

The lower falls of Dave’s Falls form a chute that is very interesting to view.

Higher up the falls, at the Upper Falls portion, the falls form a wider rock slide fall.

If you like a little more adventure when viewing waterfalls, there are no fences surrounding the falls.

So you can climb on the nearby rocks to try and get a better view, but do so with caution.

Dave’s Falls is a great waterfall in Wisconsin for hikers of all skill levels to enjoy.

Packing List For Visiting Wisconsin

If you will be traveling, either by plane or by car to Wisconsin, here are some tips on how to pack lightly.

A concealed travel pouch may be one of the most important items you bring along when visiting the waterfalls in Wisconsin.  

It is always important to protect your personal information. Identity thieves are everywhere.

This unisex RFID blocking concealed travel pouch is lightweight and comes in several colors. It has lots of organization to give you peace of mind. You can place it under your hiking clothes next to your body to carry your ID safely.

f you have a pouch already that does not come with the RFID protection, as I do, these RFID sleeves are the perfect solution.

his configuration comes with enough credit card sleeves that the entire family would be protected. They are slim too, so they will easily fit into your pouch or wallet. 

If you are planning on taking a lot of pictures with your phone you will definitely want to consider an external charging battery. This Anker high-speed phone charging battery is the exact one I carry with me on all of my trips.

It can be used on a variety of phones, not just an iPhone like I have. And wow is it fast!

I like that it holds its charging capabilities for several uses so I do not have to worry about it while out and about, and if I forget to recharge it at night, it will still be good to go the next day.

My daughter gifted me with this FugeTek selfie stick and tripod setup for my birthday. I absolutely love it! It is made of lightweight aluminum and so easy to use.

It has Bluetooth connectivity and is a breeze to use for taking selfies with all those nature shots while visiting WI waterfalls.

Hydration is so important when hiking. You want to remain hydrated throughout your day to support your immune system which in turn will be stronger to fight off any germs you will encounter during your travels. 

You will want to bring your own refillable water bottle with you. 

I never leave home on a trip without my Bobble filtration bottle. The 18.5-ounce size is perfect for hiking and it fits nicely in the pocket of a backpack.

When filled with water, it is not too heavy to carry. And the charcoal filter ensures fresh clean water whenever you fill the Bobble.

You can find filter replacements here. 

Perhaps you are traveling a long distance and packing space is a premium in your suitcase, or in your car.

Then this set of collapsible silicone foldable water bottles would work well for you. Would not take up much space at all. 

You will want a backpack or daypack with you to store snacks, your water bottle, phone, extra clothes, etc.. when visiting Wisconsin state parks with waterfalls. No matter the time of day or evening.

This foldable water-resistant backpack would be great

It is very affordable and is available in many color options for you to choose from. The fact that it folds down into a zippered pouch will make it easy to pack!

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Have you been to any of these beautiful waterfalls in Wisconsin?

If so, which one was your favorite? I’d love to hear why in the comments!

If you haven’t been to any of these beautiful falls, which one do you plan to visit first?