Copper Falls

Worth the drive

Is it plungeworthy?

29feet tall

A segmented on Bad River.

Scale36/60

Documentation20/20

Character14/20

The details

Type: Segmented
Watercourse: Bad River
Coordinates: 46.37281, -90.63999

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About Copper Falls

Copper Falls is a 29-foot segmented in Wisconsin, on Bad River.

It's fullest after rain, and flow can drop off during dry spells — plan around recent weather.

Plungeworthy rates Copper Falls 7/10 — worth the drive. The score weighs its scale, how confidently it's mapped, and its character.

What you'll find

The Bad River folding through ancient lava-flow rock in Copper Falls State Park — CCC-built stone stairs, log shelters, and the Doughboys loop delivering both this falls and Brownstone in one 1.7-mile circuit.

Getting there

Trailhead: Doughboys Nature Trail, by the nature center, Copper Falls State Park, Mellen
Parking: Park lot (vehicle sticker)
Road: Paved off WI-13
Hike: 1.7 mi round trip (moderate — rock stairs and uneven tread)
Heads up: The half-mile accessible spur reaches the Copper Falls overlook; the full loop earns Brownstone too.

When to go

Spring for flow, fall for the color the North Woods is famous for; winter closes trail sections under ice.

Rules & fees

Fee / pass: WI vehicle admission — $13/day resident, $16 non-resident
Dogs: Banned on the entire Doughboys loop — no pet route to either falls
Camping: Park campground on site
Warnings: Gorge rails exist for the usual reasons; icy sections close in winter.

Researched from WI DNR — Copper Falls State Park · WI DNR — Copper Falls trails. Conditions change — verify before you drive. Been to Copper Falls recently? Post a conditions report below.

Where it is

Before you go

The pin marks the feature, not a trailhead or a legal route in. Some sit on private land or need a real hike, and conditions change with season and rain. Check local access, don't trespass, and never enter water — hot or cold — where it isn't safe.