One of our favorite things to do in northern Wisconsin is to explore the amazing waterfalls. Nowhere has such an abundance of easily accessible Wisconsin waterfalls as Iron County. This road trip loops its way through Iron Country. Along the way, you’ll discover beautiful waterfalls set against the remote wilderness of northern Wisconsin. Continue reading to begin planning your trip to Wisconsin waterfall country today!
Top Things To Do
When to Visit
We love visiting waterfalls in the spring! The weather may be a bit chillier but, as the snow melts, the waterfalls are running at full force. Plus, you’ll get some amazing flows and you may even be able to see some cool ice formations sticking around from winter. Another benefit to spring is the leaves won’t be on the trees yet. So you’ll get full view of the falls without those pesky trees in the way.
However, we love waterfalls all year round. They are beautiful in all seasons and always provide a fun stop for a road trip.
Getting There and Around
You’ll definitely need a reliable car to do this road trip. It’s worth noting that northern Wisconsin doesn’t have the best roads. So you’ll be traveling over dirt roads and potholes. However, you have no need of 4-wheel drive in spring, summer or fall.
In winter, you’ll probably need 4-wheel drive to access some of these waterfalls. A majority of these roads are “lightly” plowed and remain snow covered and icy throughout the season. Also, if you’re visiting in winter, know that some of the roads are not plowed at all.
You’ll also need a map or GPS. There is minimal cell phone service in this area so make sure to grab yourself a paper map of Wisconsin or your satellite GPS.
Another thing to note is how remote these towns are. You’ll see lots of small towns but do not expect much. Most of these towns have a gas station and, if you’re lucky, a restaurant. You will find very few options for food and gas and they’ll be spread out. So if you see food or gas and you need it, take the opportunity and get it.
Itinerary
Northern Wisconsin is dotted with waterfalls. However, this itinerary sticks to the waterfalls of Iron County (with a little Ashland thrown in for fun). We love this road trip because there are so many waterfalls in such an easily accessible driving loop.
Morgan Falls
Start your trip at Morgan Falls. You’ll drive over unpaved roads to get to this remote waterfalls. The park has a $5 entrance fee. Once you arrive at the parking lot, you’ll complete the 1.5 mile roundtrip hike to get to the falls. You can continue your hike on to St. Peter’s Dome if you are interested. On a clear day, you’ll have views of lake superior from this height!
Copper & Brownstone Falls
Next, you’ll drive on to Copper Falls state park. This is one of our favorite Wisconsin state parks! You can complete the well marked Doughboy Trail as it loops its way around Copper Falls and Brownstone Falls. This trail has lots of stairs, there are some bits that will leave you with burning thighs. However, the trail is super well groomed and well marked. Entrance to this park is $8 for the day.
In Copper Falls state park, you’ll also find Red Granite Falls. These are more rapid like and definitely less impressive than Copper and Brownstone falls. However, if you’d like to see them, it is a 2.5 mile roundtrip hike from the parking lot to the falls.
Potato River Falls
After leaving Copper Falls state park, head on to Potato River Falls. This is one of the most impressive Wisconsin waterfalls. Once you’re in the park, you’ll find trails leading to the Upper and Lower falls. Both falls are impressive and worth seeing. However, note that both trails to the viewing areas include a lot of stairs.
Foster Falls
Next, visit Foster Falls. This is a bit of a side drive to get to these falls. However, once you are here. The falls are only a short walk from the car park. If you need to save some time, skip this stop. It’s also worth noting that the roads to get here are not plowed in the winter.
Superior Falls
Next, head north to Superior Falls. Superior Falls would be impressive. However, a nearby power dam diverts much of the water. The best time to see this is definitely in the spring. When you arrive here, you’ll take a short walk from the car park to see the top of the falls. There is a large fence up to keep you away from the dam, but the view is still nice even if photos aren’t. You can also walk down to the bottom of the falls for a less obstructed view.
Saxon Falls
Next, drive south to visit Saxon Falls. This is one of the most remote small Wisconsin waterfalls. So if you’re short on time, this is another option to skip. However, once you do get the parking area It’s just a short hike to the falls. Again, this is another impressive waterfall that doesn’t have a great viewing area. So it’s cool to see but hard to get good photos.
Peterson Falls
Your next stop will be Peterson Falls. This falls is located on the Michigan/Wisconsin boarder. Once you arrive in the parking area, you’ll take a very rugged trail for about 15 minutes to the falls. This is a very wooded area so if you’re visiting in the summer or fall when the leafs are out, you won’t get a good view of the falls. However, springtime is great here!
Gile Falls
Next, you’ll go to Gile Falls. This is a small but cool Wisconsin waterfall located just outside of Hurley. You’ll find a short trail from the parking area takes you to a viewing platform over the falls.
Lake of the Falls
The last stop on the road trip is Lake of the Falls. This is located in a nice little county park in Mercer Wisconsin. There is a nice picnic and park area here to stop and play after your long day on the road.
Now that your waterfall tour is done, you can head home!
Want to Adjust the Itinerary
If you have less time, simply explore less of the road trip. Our favorite stop along this Wisconsin waterfalls road trip is Copper Falls State Park, so we wouldn’t recommend skipping that. But you could consider traveling only a small portion of the road trip.
If you have more time, consider extending this day trip into a weekend trip. Staying overnight in Hurley will allow you to spread out your day. If you’d like to extend this trip even more, consider visiting Ashland or even Bayfield along Lake Superior.
What to Budget
This is a super budget friendly road trip! Plan on budgeting for a tank of gas and food.
You can pack a picnic, which we recommend. This will save you money and allow you to eat whenever you get hungry. If you do want to eat out, you’ll likely wind up at one of the small town bars. Your lunch will cost you an average of $12/person.
You’ll also want to budget for a Wisconsin state parks pass as you’ll need it for Copper Falls State Park. The daily rate is $8 or the yearly rate for all Wisconsin state parks is $28. You’ll also need to bring $5 in cash to visit Morgan falls. Or if you have the American the Beautiful National Parks pass, remember to bring it so as your entrance here is free.
You can complete the Wisconsin waterfalls road trip in one day. However, if you want to take your time, the Hurley area is the most convenient place to stay. It is located mid-way through the trip. You’ll find AirBnBs and hotels in the area for around $100/night.
Another great option for staying overnight would be to camp at Copper Falls state park. This location is at the beginning of the road trip. So staying here is best if you want to drive up on Friday night, camp, and then do the road trip the next day. Staying in the campsite costs $20/night. This state park books up quickly. Consider making reservations in January if you would like to camp here in the summer.
What to Pack
You’ll be doing short hikes for most of these Wisconsin waterfalls so make sure you pack some nice hiking shoes. If you’re visiting in the winter or spring, make sure you have some nice waterproof boots with a good tread. We love hiking in our winter boots in both spring and winter at these locations as you’ll find snow and water standing long into spring.
As you’ll be doing a bit of hiking, you’ll also want to make sure to pack plenty of water. If you visit in the off season (mid-fall to mid-spring), lots of the parks turn off the running water. So make sure you pack enough water for your day in case refill stations are unavailable. We love bring our hydration packs so we can take the water on the hikes with us.
We hope that this day trip gives you something fun to do! Exploring Wisconsin’s waterfalls are one of our favorite things to do in Wisconsin. We’ve been to these waterfalls throughout the year and think they are a great destination for any road trip. Leave any comments or questions you have below and we’d be happy to help you plan your own Iron County road trip.
