This Easy, Family-Friendly Northern Wisconsin Hike Ends At A Stunning Waterfall
If you're looking for an easy hike with a beautiful payoff that's good for kids, families, or anyone not looking for a strenuous outing, this one is for you!
Somehow, in all of the hiking I've done around the Northland, I've never actually done this Northern Wisconsin hike until yesterday. I'll admit, I am ashamed that it has taken me this long to check it out, but after my first visit, I know I'll be back!
While Minnesota's North Shore gets all of the attention when it comes to waterfall hikes (and there are some spectacular ones), I keep telling people not to sleep on Wisconsin's waterfall hikes. Twin Falls, Lost Creek Falls, and Superior Falls are among my favorites that I've visited before, but now I am adding the 70-foot-high Morgan Falls to that list. It also happens to be the easiest to get to of that bunch.75, if that's what you're looking for.
If you've never been to Morgan Falls, here's everything you need to know about visiting this hidden gem.
Where is Morgan Falls?
Morgan Falls is located just under 20 miles south of Ashland, Wisconsin, in the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest.
The trailhead for the hike to this waterfall is in the St. Peter's Dome Recreation Area, located on Ashland Bayfield Road.
READ MORE: Minnesota Or Wisconsin: Who Has The Tallest, Most, And Best Waterfalls?
The parking area includes quite a bit of parking, well-maintained vault toilets, and a pay station for day-use fees. That is one thing to be aware of...there is a $5 day pass you'll need to buy. It's well worth it, though.
There is a pay station at the trailhead, and it does accept credit cards. Either a day pass or an annual $30 US Forest Service recreation area pass works to cover the cost of admission.
What's the hike to Morgan Falls like?
The hike is about three-quarters of a mile one direction, making for a roughly 1.5-mile hike out and back to the parking lot.
The trail is pretty wide (probably about 6 feet wide or so for the most part), and it is pretty flat. There is a slight, gradual elevation gain, so it is not strenuous. Aside from a couple of well-built wooden bridges over streams and a boardwalk, the trail's surface is well-maintained gravel.
When it comes to kids' safety, there aren't any steep cliffs or deep water to worry about on this hike. The bridges have siderails as well.
The hike winds through the woods, splitting off at one point to head toward the waterfall. Also connected to this trail is the more strenuous and difficult hike to St. Peter's Dome, but there is good signage, so you won't accidentally end up on a hike you didn't mean to go on.
What's the waterfall like at the end of the hike?
While I was there, I heard pretty much everyone say "wow" or "whoa" as they came around the final corner of the trail to reveal the waterfall cavern.
The 70-foot waterfall cascades down the side of a rock wall, made up of a series of smaller waterfalls following a unique track along the side of the rock wall.
The amount of water at this waterfall, while it varies throughout the year, is certainly less than some of the big, roaring falls in the region. That said, the unique carved path of the falls and the surroundings have a magical feel to them.
That rock wall the water spills down also circles around the landing point of the final waterfall to the left, with much of the rock surface in this cavern covered by moss, with trees growing out of the rocks
While the water level varies throughout the year, the water in the pool at the bottom of the waterfall was no more than a few feet deep during my visit, which happened to be a day after some rain.
The whole space is peaceful and looks like something out of a movie.
When are the best times to visit Morgan Falls?
Springtime is the best time of year to visit any waterfall in the Northland. Melting snow brings waterfalls to life, which tends to make this the time of year when waterfalls are at their most active, with the most water rushing down.
That said, I would say fall is also an incredible time of year to visit Morgan Falls. The whole area around Morgan Falls has a lot of deciduous trees that offer a lot of color. As you can see in the photo above, these falling leaves add a nice pop of color to the dark rocks and green moss. The whole trail to the falls is lined with colorful trees, so fall stands out as a great time of year to visit.
Many waterfalls on Minnesota's North Shore tend to be lined with pine trees and bushes that don't offer as much color variety as you'll find around the Morgan Falls area. Yet another reason Northern Wisconsin's waterfalls are worth a visit!
While spring and fall are probably the most visually stunning times of year to visit Morgan Falls, the trip is worth it any time of year.
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Gallery Credit: Nick Cooper
