The 828 acre Amnicon Falls State Park features three or four waterfalls, depending on the amount of rainwater draining into the Amnicon River. Each of the falls drops between 10 and 15 feet.
The park is located 14 miles southeast of downtown Superior, Wisconsin just north of US route 2 on Douglas County Highway U. Besides the waterfalls, the park includes a swimming area below the falls, a primitive campground, a picnic area, and pit toilets. After entering the park, we turned right on the picnic road to follow the river to the falls. A one lane bridge spans a side channel of the river that flows over the ephemeral Now and Then Falls. Further downstream, the river flows around an island with Upper Falls and Lower Falls on one branch and Snake Pit Falls on the other branch.
Views of the lower drop of Snake Pit Falls from the trail were obscured by vegetation. Venturing off-trail might provide a view of the lower drop, but the sloping terrain and sheer cliff about 20 feet down to the river was enough to deter me from further exploration.
The river acquires its rust color by flowing over iron-bearing rock upstream. A covered bridge provides pedestrian access to the island from the picnic area. The bridge design was created by Charles M Horton in the late 1890s. The bridge was originally built at another location and was moved to the site in 1930. The cover was added by the CCC in 1939 and replaced in 1941 and 1971. We visited this gem of a park in early August 2017.
Amnicon River
View upstream toward campground road bridge
While most of the river flows to the right of this rock, a small portion forms this chute on the left side
Upstream view of cascades
Amnicon River from the picnic road
View upstream
View downstream
Rapids
Picnic tables and riverside bench
Upper Falls from the Horton covered bridge
A closer view of Upper Falls
Lower Falls and the Horton covered bridge
View downstream of Lower Falls
Trail on the island from the covered bridge
Right branch of the Amnicon River above Upper Falls from the trail
Left branch of the Amnicon River above Snake Pit Falls
An unnamed drop above Snake Pit Falls
Upper drop of Snake Pit Falls
Now and Then Falls
A closer view the trickle of water at Now and Then Falls
Entry to Wisconsin State Parks requires an entrance fee. Vehicles with Wisconsin plates may enter for $8 per day or $28 per calendar year. Out-of-state vehicles are assessed a fee of $11 per day or $38 per calendar year.
The Black River drops 30 feet at Little Manitou Falls in Pattison State Park in Wisconsin. The main part of the park is located about 13 miles south of downtown Superior on Wisconsin route 35. The twin falls are over a mile upstream of Big Manitou Falls in the same park. Little Manitou Falls can be accessed by hiking from the shelter near the park office. The hike includes one mile of the Beaver Trail around Interfalls Lake to the CCC bridge and another ½ mile up the Little Manitou Falls Trail to the falls. An easier option is to drive to within a few dozen yards of the falls. From the park office, turn left or south onto Wisconsin route 35 and drive one mile. Turn left again at the brown park sign denoting the falls and continue 0.1 mile to a parking area on the right. Walk across the road to the trailhead and down the stairs. The falls are audible from the road and will soon be visible on the right. The short walk of less than 100 yards is part of the multiple state North Country National Scenic Trail. We visited in early August 2017.
North Country Trail sign
View from the trail
A closer look from the trail
Side trail down to the riverbank
Large plunge pool from the riverbank
A closer view from the riverbank
View downstream
Entry to Wisconsin State Parks requires an entrance fee. Vehicles with Wisconsin plates may enter for $8 per day or $28 per calendar year. Out-of-state vehicles are assessed a fee of $11 per day or $38 per calendar year.
Pattison State Park is located on state route 35 about 13 miles south of downtown Superior, Wisconsin. The 1436 acre park includes picnic areas, a swimming beach, campground, and several miles of trails. It also features 165' high Big Manitou Falls, the highest waterfall in Wisconsin. The waterfall is on the Black River as it flows north to the Nemadji River and then into Lake Superior.
Martin Pattison thwarted a plan to dam the Black River and submerge Big Manitou Falls by secretly buying a total of 660 acres along the river in 1917. The following year, he donated the land to the state for preservation. The state created the park in 1920, but it wasn't developed until the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) established a camp at the park in 1935. The CCC developed the trails, the road underpass, the swimming beach, and most of the other facilities in the park.
The Black River passes over iron-bearing rock on its way to the falls. Enough iron leaches out of the rock and into the river to cause the water to have a dark reddish tint. We visited in early August 2017.
Park office
A small part of the picnic area
Shelter can be reserved for group functions
More of the picnic area
Paved path toward Big Manitou Falls
Benches for viewing Interfalls Lake
Tunnel entrance
Tunnel under WI 35
Looking back at the tunnel
Black River at the brink of the falls
Last drop above the main falls
Pavement ends and stairs begin
First viewing site
Partial view from the first site
Gravel and timber step path to second viewing site
Approaching the second viewing site
View downstream
Iron deposits on the rock face of opposite wall of the gorge
Big Manitou Falls
Base of the falls
Closer view of the base of the falls
View down the gorge
Back at the tunnel, turn right...
...to view the pedestrian bridge over the Black River
Arch bridge over the river
Spillway maintains level of Interfalls Lake
Bridge from the other side of the river
Last drop above the falls from the opposite side
Top of the falls
Obstructed view of the falls from the opposite side
Entry to Wisconsin State Parks requires an entrance fee. Vehicles with Wisconsin plates may enter for $8 per day or $28 per calendar year. Out-of-state vehicles are assessed a fee of $11 per day or $38 per calendar year.
