On my trip to northern Wisconsin, my big goal was to visit the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore. Along the way, I figured I’d do some hiking at state parks or any other public areas. What I didn’t expect was a series of consistently great hikes throughout the region. So, whether you’re planning a trip to the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore or elsewhere in northern Wisconsin, here’s so great hikes to add to your list.
Best 8 Hikes in Northern Wisconsin
As always, this is not an exhaustive list of every hike in northern Wisconsin. Rather, this is a list of eight of my favorite hikes from the region. Northern Wisconsin has so much to offer and I can’t wait to return and find some more great trails.
This list is in no particular order.
Lost Creek Falls
During my trip to northern Wisconsin, I made it a point to visit a lot of waterfalls and Lost Creek Falls was just the next waterfall on my list. While many of my waterfall visits were a very short hike, Lost Creek Falls was a bit longer.
When you arrive at the trailhead, you’ll see a sign stating that you’ll have a 1.5 mile hike (one way) to reach the waterfall, but I think this sign is misleading. I tracked it and logged 1.2 miles (so 2.4 miles total) to reach the falls from the trailhead. It’s a steady downhill to the waterfall, meaning you’ll have that same steady up hill on the return journey. Since it was only 240 feet of elevation gain, it wasn’t bad, but it was just enough to notice that it was not flat.
Most of the trail is through the woods and a nature preserve. While hiking in Wisconsin can usually mean a monotonous trek through seemingly endless forest, there was just something different about this trail. Yes, it was another hike through the forest, but I found myself really enjoying the hike. The waterfall was nice but it wasn’t my favorite in this northern Wisconsin. Despite that, I still really enjoyed this trail and would recommend it for people visiting the area.
Trail Stats: 2.4 miles, 240 feet of elevation gain, 1 hour
Cave Overlook at Meyers Beach
Meyers Beach is part of the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore. From the main parking lot you could head out to the beach on the shores of Lake Superior. It’s also a great place to put in your kayak and explore the sea caves and the red cliffs of this region. However, this article is all about the best hikes in northern Wisconsin so let’s focus on the trail that leads from here.
The trail actually leads on for several miles, so if you reach the main turnaround point and still feel good, you could keep hiking. That said, most people hike as far as “The Bowl” so they can get a nice view of the red cliffs. I found this trail to be average for the most part, but the highlight is without a doubt the red cliffs and the views of Lake Superior. Hiking out to that made the whole trail feel worth it.
Note that Meyers Beach is within the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore. Therefore you’ll either need to pay for the $5 day use permit at one of the kiosks or bring your America the Beautiful Pass.
Trail Stats: 3.75 miles, 200 feet of elevation gain, 1 hour 30 minutes
Houghton Falls State Natural Area
The trail through Houghton Falls State Natural Area is another hike that I did to visit a waterfall. In my opinion, the waterfall was not worth it. That said, it should be noted that the water flow is seasonal so I may have just been here on a very low flow day and that’s why I just wasn’t impressed by the waterfall.
But if I wasn’t impressed at all by the waterfall, why am I including it on this list?
Sure the hike through the forest was fine, but the highlight was reaching Lake Superior. If you keep hiking beyond the waterfall, you will eventually reach Lake Superior and the red cliffs that area famous in this area. While the cliffs aren’t as spectacular as what you might see on an Apostle Islands cruise (or at the overlooks at Meyers Beach), this area was still beautiful.
I visited early in the day and had the entire viewpoint to myself. It was a calm and peaceful morning and that really helped to push this trail up into my favorites hikes in northern Wisconsin.
As a note, the parking lot for the Houghton Falls State Natural Area has automatic locking gates. You are allowed to visit between 6:00 am and 6:00 pm. At 6:00 pm, the gates will automatically lock and if you’re still behind the gates, you’re going to have a big problem. Keep an eye on the clock during your visit.
Trail Stats: 1.4 miles, 115 feet of elevation gain, 30 minutes (longer if you want to enjoy the view)
Morgan Falls & St. Peter’s Dome
When I visited northern Wisconsin, I hadn’t necessarily looked at St. Peter’s Dome. I was on a quest to find the best waterfalls in this region and Morgan Falls was one of the trails I wanted to see. However from the very same trailhead, you can reach both Morgan Falls and St. Peter’s Dome.
Morgan Falls is the second tallest waterfall in the state (behind Big Manitou Falls at Pattison State Park) while St. Peter’s Dome takes you out to a fantastic viewpoint overlooking the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest.
I’ve written an entire post about the hike to Morgan Falls and St. Peter’s Dome that has all of the details and plenty of photos. This hike is without a doubt one of my favorites (maybe my overall favorite) in northern Wisconsin.
Trail Stats: There’s several ways you can hike this trail and it all depends on what you want to see. I visited both Morgan Falls and St. Peter’s Dome and here’s what I logged.
Parking lot to Morgan Falls (one way): 0.9 miles, 30 feet of elevation gain
Morgan Falls to St. Peter’s Dome (one way): 1.4 miles, 450 feet of elevation gain
St. Peter’s Dome to Parking lot (one way): 1.9 miles, 70 feet of elevation gain (but an overall descent of nearly 500 feet)
Total: 4.2 miles, 550 feet of elevation gain, 1 hour 45 minutes (including time for photos)
Doughboy Trail at Copper Falls State Park
The Doughboy Trail at Copper Falls State Park is another one of my favorite trails in northern Wisconsin. Despite being a short trail, you’ll pass three waterfalls as you work your way along the Bad River and the Tyler Forks River. It’s a popular trail and it’s easy to see why. It’s not strenuous and offers great views for nearly the entire trail.
This trail also intersects with the much longer North Country National Scenic Trail. So if you’re also looking for a taste of that trail, the Doughboy Trail is a great option.
Like with the trail to St. Peter’s Dome, I’ve written a whole article covering all of the details.
Trail Stats: 1.8 miles, 200 feet of elevation gain, 45 minutes
Red Granite Falls at Copper Falls State Park
Red Granite Falls is also at Copper Falls State Park, but I think the Doughboy Trail gets more attention. I’ll admit, I preferred the Doughboy Trail over the Red Granite Falls Trail, but I did still enjoy Red Granite Falls.
The trail itself feels unremarkable. I’ve said before that I think I’m just sick of the neverending trails through forests in Wisconsin. The trail to Red Granite Falls is not super special. What is special is the view of the waterfall. Technically you’ll get off trail (you’ll be able to follow the path of all of the hikers before you) and you’ll walk down to the river for nice view of the falls. And if you’re here early in the morning, you can have the entire area to yourself which is just nice and peaceful.
Trail Stats: 2.7 miles, 210 feet of elevation gain, 1 hour
Beaver Trail at Pattison State Park
Pattison State Park is home to the tallest waterfall in Wisconsin and many people will visit just to see Big Manitou Falls. It’s beautiful, but there’s more to see at this state park. There’s also Little Manitou Falls and while you could just drive between the falls, you can also hike.
Through a combination of two trails (mainly the Beaver Trail), you can hike along Interfalls Lake and along the river through the woods. Yes, I’ve talked about how I’m a bit bored with hiking through the Wisconsin woods, but I did really enjoy this hike. I was here early in the day and only passed one other person on the trail (despite several other people being at Big Manitou Falls).
If you want a not too difficult hike that nice and connects two waterfalls, look at hiking at Pattison State Park. Note that you have a choice to do this as an out and back or as a loop. I chose a loop and found the west side of the trail more difficult (but not hard) than the eastern section of trail.
Trail Stats: 4 miles (round trip), 275 feet of elevation gain, 1 hour 30 minutes
Trails through Amnicon Falls State Park
There’s one more state park in northern Wisconsin that I haven’t mentioned yet and that’s Amnicon Falls State Park. There aren’t many hiking opportunities here as there’s only 1.8 miles of trail. Technically. With a little creativity and doubling back on yourself, you can get a little bit of a longer hike.
There’s two main sections of trail. The first is the Thimbleberry Nature Trail which leads you through the forest and out to an old quarry. I really enjoyed this section of trail, much more than I expected to. The other trail takes you along the river and past several waterfalls including Amnicon Falls, Snake Pit Falls, and Now and Then Falls (though you’ll need to make a tiny detour for this last one). Everything loops together pretty easily so park once, follow the trails and see where they lead you.
Trail Stats: There’s technically only 1.8 miles of hiking trails at Amnicon Falls State Park, but they all intersect so you can make your own loop. I walked the Thimbleberry Nature Trail, looped around the quarry, and then walked along the falls. I logged 2.4 miles with 200 feet of elevation gain over an hour.
What are the Best Hikes in Northern Wisconsin?
Obviously this is a subjective question and quite honestly, I don’t think you could go wrong with any of the hikes listed here. But if I were to pick my top two, I’d choose Morgan Falls & St. Peter’s Dome and the Doughboy Trail. After that it becomes a tie between the Beaver Trail, the Cave Overlook Trail, and Houghton Falls State Natural Area.
More in the Northern Wisconsin
Beyond the parks and hiking, you’ll find a lot more in northern Wisconsin. This area is full of beautiful waterfalls (yes there’s plenty more than what’s covered not his list).
Also in the very north of Wisconsin, you’ll find the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore. You’ll find more hiking trails on the mainland, but getting out to see the rock formation of the islands is what’s really special. Either take a scenic cruise from Bayfield or hit the lake in a kayak.
Madeline Island also makes a great day trip from the mainland. Visit the main town of La Pointe or head to Big Bay State Park.
When to Visit Northern Wisconsin
When people think of Wisconsin weather, they likely think of snow and cold. That’s not an unreasonable assumption as winters here can be cold, snowy, and brutal. While you’ll find some winter activities here like cross country skiing, snowshoeing, and a few others, for most visitors, you’ll want to look to warmer weather.
By far the most popular time to visit northern Wisconsin is during the summer months. This is when you’ll have the warmest weather (a definite plus while spending time near Lake Superior) but also the highest prices. Summers in Wisconsin can also get humid, so keep that in mind.
During the fall months, the changing leaves make everything in Wisconsin a gorgeous color. Temperatures are cooler which can be both good and bad. Summer crowds have also diminished but that may mean limited availability for activities near the Apostle Islands.
Final Thoughts
Whether you choose one of these hikes (and I highly suggest any of these) or find your own hike in northern Wisconsin, you’ll be sure to find some great views along the way. Just be prepared for a lot of hiking through the forest.
Continue Your Adventure
Wisconsin Northwoods: Don’t miss my favorite hike to St. Peter’s Dome. Visit seven waterfalls in Amnicon Falls State Park. Find the largest waterfall in Wisconsin at Pattison State Park. At Copper Falls State Park, hike the Doughboy Trail for a great time. If you’re looking for more waterfalls, this list is perfect for you. Don’t miss a cruise through the Apostle Islands.
More in Wisconsin: In Door County, don’t miss the gorgeous parks and endless hiking opportunities. Further south on the shores of Lake Michigan is Kohler Andrae State Park, which is one of my favorites. About an hour north of Madison, you’ll find Wisconsin Dells and Devil’s Lake State Park.
More in the Midwest: South of Wisconsin is Illinois and the city of Chicago. Slightly east of Chicago is Indiana Dunes National Park. To the southwest of Wisconsin is Iowa with its fun Maquoketa Caves State Park.