Waterfalls in Wisconsin

Where the waterfalls are in Wisconsin

Wisconsin's best waterfalls are in the far north, near Lake Superior, where rivers drop over ancient volcanic rock. Iron County around Hurley has many, and Pattison State Park has the state's tallest.

Well-known waterfalls in Wisconsin

Big Manitou Falls

The tallest waterfall in Wisconsin at about 165 feet, in Pattison State Park near Superior. Falls near Big Manitou Falls.

Amnicon Falls

Several falls around an island in Amnicon Falls State Park, crossed by a covered bridge. Falls near Amnicon Falls.

Copper Falls

A fall on the Bad River in Copper Falls State Park, near Brownstone Falls. Falls near Copper Falls.

When to go

Spring snowmelt, April and May. Many freeze in winter. See the best time to see waterfalls for how flow changes by region.

Wisconsin by the numbers

The map shows 82 named falls in Wisconsin. 50 of them are in the USGS Geographic Names Information System, the federal register of official place names, and 32 more are named falls mapped only in OpenStreetMap. 7 have a height recorded by OpenStreetMap mappers, which is what the height filter above uses. MarinetteCounty has the most, with 13.

Tallest recorded waterfalls in Wisconsin

Heights as recorded in OpenStreetMap, converted to feet. Guidebooks may list different figures, usually because they count every tier of a fall or only the biggest drop. Why heights differ.

Counties with the most waterfalls

From the USGS record, which gives each fall's county.

Every named waterfall in Wisconsin

Alphabetical within each county. Tap a name to centre the map above on it.

Ashland County (3)

Brownstone Falls, Copper Falls, Morgan Falls

Douglas County (4)

Amnicon Falls, Big Manitou Falls, Little Manitou Falls, Shale Falls

Eau Claire County (2)

Big Falls, Hamilton Falls

Florence County (1)

Breakwater Falls

Iron County (2)

Potato River Falls, Spring Camp Falls

Jackson County (2)

Ni-ho-kha-wa-ne-ey-ja, Polly Falls

Lincoln County (1)

Grandfather Falls

Manitowoc County (1)

Cato Falls

Marinette County (13)

Big Quinnesec Falls (historical), Bull Falls, Daves Falls, Eighteenfoot Falls, Eightfoot Falls, Horseshoe Falls, Little Quinnesec Falls, Long Slide Falls, Quiver Falls, Smalley Falls, Strong Falls, Sturgeon Falls (historical), Twelvefoot Falls

Menominee County (9)

Beartrap Falls, Big Eddy Falls, Big Smoky Falls, Ducknest Falls, Evergreen Falls, Peavey Falls, Rainbow Falls, Sullivan Falls, Wayka Falls

Sauk County (1)

Skillet Falls

Sawyer County (3)

Bellile Falls, Little Falls, Pipestone Falls

Shawano County (3)

Freeman Falls, Gilmer Falls, Little Bull Falls

St. Croix County (1)

Apple River Falls

Waupaca County (1)

Little Falls

Wood County (1)

Little Bull Falls

County not recorded (34)

Bull Falls, Buttermilk Falls, Cascade Aerator, Cascade Falls, Cascades, Cedar Falls, Eighteen Foot Falls, Emergancy Spillway, Foster Falls, Griers Falls, Jennings Falls (11 ft), LaSalle Falls (22 ft), Lost Creek Falls, Lower Amnicon Falls, Lower Potato River Falls, Morrisan falls (3 ft), Now and Then Falls, Red Granite Falls, Silverbrook Falls (16 ft), Siskiwit Falls, Snake Pit Falls, Spillway, Sprit Falls, Stephens Falls (30 ft), Tennyson Falls (13 ft), Tripp Falls, Upper Amnicon Falls, Upper Potato River Falls, Upson Falls, Veteran's Falls, Washburn Falls (7 ft), Wequiock Falls, Willow Falls, Wren Falls

Before you go

The map shows where falls are, not whether they are open or safe to reach. Check the land manager, usually a state park or national forest, for closures, fees and permits, and stay on the trail near the water. Our waterfall safety guide covers the hazards, and waterfall hikes near me explains how to pick a trail.

Waterfalls near cities close to Wisconsin

Every named fall within driving range of the city, nearest first: waterfalls near Minneapolis, waterfalls near Duluth, waterfalls near Marquette.

Waterfalls in nearby states: Minnesota, Michigan, Illinois, Indiana. Or see waterfalls in every state.