Pattison State Park is home to Wisconsin’s tallest waterfall. Big Manitou Falls is over 160 feet tall and the viewpoints nearby the falls are beautiful. On the end of the state park, you’ll find Little Manitou Falls. Like the name suggests, it’s the smaller of the two waterfalls, coming in at just 30 feet tall. Yes, you could visit both falls separately, but there’s also a nice trail connecting the two falls and looping through Pattison State Park.
Whether you want to hike or just visit see the tallest waterfall in Wisconsin, Pattison State Park is worth a visit.
About Pattison State Park
Pattison State Park is located in Douglas County in northern Wisconsin. As I already mentioned, it’s home to the tallest waterfall in the state and that is what keeps it on most people’s radars. Beyond the falls, you’ll find hiking trails, camping, and a lake to relax by.
Visiting Manitou Falls
There is more to do at Pattison State Park than just visiting Manitou Falls, but this is the reason most people visit the park. So let’s about the trail itself and everything you need to know to plan a successful trip.
Where to Park
There’s two places to park for Manitou Falls. If you’re planning to hike, I don’t think it matters where you park because the trails make a big loop. Even if you just want to visit the falls without hiking, parking isn’t a huge issue.
Outside of the main park’s main entrance is a small parking lot off of East County Road B. This is just across the street from what I consider the best viewpoint for Big Manitou Falls. Even though you can access this parking lot without going through the entrance station, you still need a valid pass for your car.
The other parking lot is the main parking lot and it’s right when you pass the entrance station at Pattison State Park. This is significantly larger and where most people will park on their visit. This lot provides easier access to the viewpoints on the north side of Big Manitou Falls. To reach the viewpoints from this main lot, follow the paved path that leads under Highway 35.
Regardless of which lot you park in, there is a bridge connecting both sides of the river and both views of the falls.
For those wanting to visit Little Manitou Falls without hiking, head a bit further south on Highway 35. You’ll hit a turnout with a parking lot that provides easy access to the falls.
Big Manitou Falls
There are two viewpoints for Big Manitou Falls. For clarity’s sake, I’ll refer to them as the north viewpoint and the south viewpoint. The south viewpoint is closest to the parking lot off of East County Road B while the north viewpoint is closer to the main parking lot near the entrance station. As I already mentioned, it doesn’t matter which lot you choose to park in because a bridge connects both sides of the river.
In my opinion, the south viewpoint is better. The angle is better and you get to look at the falls straight on. That’s not to say that the northern viewpoint isn’t nice, but it can be a bit of an awkward angle to actually see the falls.
Regardless of which viewpoint you choose (I recommend visiting both), you’ll get a chance to take in Wisconsin’s tallest waterfall.
Big Manitou Overlook Trail
Nearby the southern viewpoint for Big Manitou Falls is a trail leading to the Big Manitou Overlook Trail. The trail is 0.5 miles one way and leads you down to the bottom of the Black River. Presumably from here you’d be able to get a nice view of Big Manitou Falls, but that wasn’t the case for me.
I’ll be honest I was disappointed with this detour. I hiked down to what looked like the end of the trail and I couldn’t even see the waterfall. I would imagine that if you hiked a bit further east, you’d eventually come to a view of the trail. The problem was I didn’t see a trail headed in that direction and with a busy day ahead of me, I wasn’t feeling that adventurous.
So for me, this detour was not worth it. It added one mile and about 150 feet of elevation gain and I didn’t feel like I gained anything from it (apart from extra exercise). Besides, there were other hikes I did that same day that were so much more rewarding than this trail spur.
Little Manitou Falls
Little Manitou Falls is also on the Black River and is part of Pattison State Park. While Big Manitou Falls is the largest waterfall in Wisconsin, Little Manitou Falls is significantly smaller coming in at just 30 feet tall. Still it’s a great waterfall to visit. Maybe I’m biased because I was here early in the day, but I had Little Manitou Falls to myself whereas I shared all of the viewpoints of Big Manitou Falls with other people (despite visiting Big Manitou Falls prior to Little Manitou Falls).
There is a parking lot nearby Little Manitou Falls, so if you don’t want to hike, this could be an option. I choose to use the Beaver Trail to connect Big Manitou Falls to Little Manitou Falls.
Beaver Trail
The Beaver Trail is technically a two mile trail and it’s purpose is to circle Interfalls Lake, but it also connects you to the Little Manitou Falls Trail. Overall, I found this to be an enjoyable walk during my morning visit to Pattison State Park.
I, like most people, started in the main parking lot. I had just come from the viewpoints of Big Manitou Falls and reached the parking lot by following the paved path that took me under the highway. You’ll follow a paved path toward Interfalls Lake for just a little bit before you reach a traditional trail. Walk along the lake, noticing how it eventually changes from Interfalls Lake to the Black River as you head more into the forest.
After about one mile, you’ll arrive at the CCC bridge where there is a junction. The Beaver Trail turns and heads back toward Big Manitou Falls, but there is a trail to the left that will take you to Little Manitou Falls. From this junction, it’s another half mile to Little Manitou Falls. So in total, it’s about 1.5 miles from Big Manitou Falls to Little Manitou Falls with about 150 feet of elevation gain.
When you’re done at Little Manitou Falls, retrace your steps back to the CCC bridge. You could retrace your steps and head back the way you came, but you could finish the Beaver Trail. I found the western side of the Beaver Trail to have a bit more hills and elevation than the eastern side (I started on the east and came back on the western side of the loop). It was not bad, but just enough to notice a slight difference in the two halves of the trail.
Overall, I really liked this trail (much more than the Big Manitou Falls Overlook Trail) and think its a great addition to a visit to Pattison State Park.
Looping Everything Together
I logged 5 miles and 425 feet of elevation over the course of an 1 hour and 45 minutes. I started at the small parking lot off East County Road B, visited the southern viewpoint, hiked the Big Manitou Falls Overlook Trail, and returned to the top of the falls. After viewing Big Manitou Falls from the northern side, I crossed under the bridge and jumped on the Beaver Trail to Little Manitou Falls before returning back to my car. This time includes plenty of stops for photos, both at the main Manitou Falls viewpoints and along the trail.
Now, earlier I said that the detour to Big Manitou Overlook wasn’t worth it. If you skip this, you’ll get your mileage down to just 4 miles and your elevation gain to about 275 feet. The choice is yours, but I’d skip the Big Manitou Overlook.
More at Pattison State Park
There are a handful of other trails at Pattison State Park. Most notably there is the Overlook Trail (1.2 miles), Riverview Trail (1.9 miles), and Oak Ridge Trail (0.8 miles). Note that to reach the Riverview Trail and the Oak Ridge Trail, you have to hike the Overlook Trail. I did not find these trails to be well marked at the park. I had originally planned to hike them, just to see what they were like, but ultimately ended up skipping them at the last minute (both because I was struggling to find the trailhead and because I had so much else planned that day).
How Long Do You Need at Pattison State Park
Honestly, you don’t need much time here. If you just want to see the main views at Pattison State Park, you’d only need 15 to 30 minutes.
If you plan to hike between the two falls, I’d suggest giving yourself a minimum of two hours. There are of course other trails in the park, but I’d suggest taking advantage of one of the other great attractions in northern Wisconsin. Many visitors will stop by both Pattison State Park and Amnicon Falls State Park in one day.
Entrance Fees for Pattison State Park
A one day entrance ticket costs $13 for vehicles with Wisconsin license plates. For out-of-state plates, a one day pass costs $16.
If you plan to visit multiple state parks in Wisconsin, an annual pass can be a great value. For residents of Wisconsin, an annual pass is $28, while out of state visitors will pay $38. If you plan to visit at least three state parks in one year, the annual pass is worth it.
Just a note that the annual passes are incredibly sticky. Do not peal the sticker until you are ready to place it. You will not be able to move it once it sticks to your windshield. I don’t know what the Wisconsin DNR puts on their stickers, but wow are they strong.
When to Visit Pattison State Park
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.
More in Northern Wisconsin
Pattison State Park is close to two other state parks in the region. Amnicon Falls State Park is nearby and is home to a series of waterfalls. It’s very easy to visit both Pattison and Amnicon Falls State Park in one day. Slightly further afield is Copper Falls State Park which is home to even more waterfalls. The Doughboy Trail at Copper Falls is one of my favorite trails in this part of the state and takes you past three of the waterfalls. And even outside of our state parks, you’ll find a lot of waterfalls.
Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest has more hiking trails, including my favorite which takes you to Morgan Falls (the second tallest waterfall in the state) and the St. Peter’s Dome viewpoint.
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.
Final Thoughts
Big Manitou Falls is beautiful and I think that waterfall alone is a good reason to visit Pattison State Park. That said, if you’re looking for a little more activity, the trail between Big Manitou Falls and Little Manitou Falls is lovely and great way to spend an hour or two.
Continue Your Adventure
Wisconsin Northwoods: Swing through the best waterfalls of Northern Wisconsin. For state parks, you can visit Amnicon Falls State Park. At Copper Falls State Park, hike the Doughboy Trail for a great time. For more hiking, check out my list of the best hikes in northern Wisconsin, including one of my favorites to St. Peter’s Dome. One popular activity is a cruise through the Apostle Islands, but you could also day trip to Madeline Island. Learn more about this region with my three day itinerary.
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.