Wild Wisconsin Waterfalls

Eight waterfalls in one day!

Sometimes it's good to know a local! Since our daughter Ashley moved to Milwaukee almost six years ago, she has done a lot of exploring and was able to give us some recommendations for sightseeing on our way home. 

Brownstone Falls
The name comes from the rock around it. 

Her first selection for us was Copper Falls State Park. When we arrived at the park, we were informed that there are actually three waterfalls within the park boundaries. The first walking loop took us past Copper Falls, which I must admit, I found to be a bit underwhelming. Brownstone Falls, farther down the trail, was much more satisfying. We continued our walk and came to a stairway down the side of the gorge. Then we crossed a bridge and, naturally, climbed back up a stairway on the other side. We were now above Brownstone Falls. The rapids above the falls were nearly as pretty as the falls themselves, albeit less dramatic. 

The river above Brownstone Falls

Copper Falls from the "better" viewpoint.

We crossed another bridge over the river and started back toward the car. Just before the end of the trail, we came to the other side of Copper Falls. I think this was the side that Ashley saw, because I found the view much more picturesque. 

After finishing the first loop, we decided that since we were there, we would also do the more ambitious 2.5 mile hike to Red Granite Falls. (Top photo) We quickly gathered that this was the less-traveled part of the park - just the way we like it! There were also no fences and no signs saying that we had to stay on the trail. We very much enjoyed sitting on the rocks along the riverbank watching the falls. Eventually, Dan pointed out the time and the remaining plans for the day, so we finished the loop and set off for our next destination. 

Upper Amnicon Falls

Amnicon Falls was the second of Ashley's recommendations for us. We figured that this one wouldn't take long, because she told us that it was literally right off the parking lot. But again, there was more to the story. Just like the last park, Amnicon also features three waterfalls, as well as a historic bridge between the upper and lower falls. The walking trail follows the bank of the river along an island in the center of the river. Yes, we could have driven right to the falls, but we would have missed so much on the other side of the island. The river on that side was equally pretty and formed the third falls, Snakepit Falls. (I didn't spend a lot of time speculating on the origin of the name!) 

Horton Bridge and Lower Amnicon Falls

Our trifecta of waterfall destinations was completed at Pattison State Park. The rangers at both Copper Falls and Amnicon directed us to this park. Big Manitou Falls (left) drops 165 feet and is Wisconsin's highest waterfall. But I was more taken with Little Manitou Falls. I can't really say why. Perhaps it was, once again, fewer people or maybe it was just the time of day. Whatever the reason, this waterfall seemed to me to be the perfect closer for our day, and even for the whole trip. 

Little Manitou Falls

 Congratulations! You made it to the end of our trip! 

I hope that you enjoyed "traveling" with us, 

and that I have encouraged you to 

"Go play outside!" 

**Bonus Pictures**

We found more color in Wisconsin than we did in Michigan.
Some sunshine would have helped, though.

The underwhelming first view of Copper Falls.
Pretty, but not what I was expecting.

The river above Brownstone Falls.
The copper color in the water comes from tannin, a natural
dye resulting from tamarack and cedar trees decaying in northern bogs. 

Upper Amnicon Falls

The "other side" of the river

Yes, I did this on purpose. 

The closer

Do We Really Have to Go Home?

There comes a time in most every vacation when you have to turn around and head for home. That time came for us, but we were determined to make vacation last as long as possible. We deliberately left ourselves three days to drive home so that we could do some things along the way. 

After one last breakfast with Dad and Mom, we turned north and crossed the Mighty Mackinac Bridge. Once across, we stopped at the visitor center for an up-to-date map of Michigan. I also picked up a brochure for Pictured Rocks Boat Cruises. As we merged back onto the interstate, I tentatively pointed out to Dan that we had never done the boat tour, and that there were times that fit our agenda. To my great delight, he merely remarked, "so call them." 

With our spots on the boat secured, I turned my attention back to the scenery. While there was definitely was more color in the trees in the Upper Peninsula than there had been south of the bridge, I still hadn't really found "the spot." Within a couple of hours, we reached the southern shore of Lake Superior. At last, I got my "stop-the-car!" moment when I spotted several brightly colored trees reflected in a quiet stream. 

Our next stop was when we saw a sign for Sable Falls. (Top of page) We'd never been to that waterfall, so we stopped to investigate. It was just a short walk and some stairs to the overlook, and it was well worth the stop. 

Our arrival in Munising was perfectly timed for our cruise. We walked in, bought our tickets, got in line, and got on the boat. We made a point of asking one of the crewmen where we should be for the best photo opportunities. I'm so glad that we asked, because it was not the spot that we thought it would be. Obviously, not too many other people thought so either, because for most of the first half of the trip, we had it all to ourselves. We have visited Pictured Rocks National Lake Shore many times, but it was so very different viewed from the water as opposed to from the bluffs above. 

Spray Falls

Lover's Leap

East Channel Lighthouse

Once our boat returned to shore, we really needed to put some miles behind us. Wouldn't you know... the best autumn color of the day was right at twilight. Oh well, we still had one more day. 

***Congratulations! You have reached the end of the second-to-last post! Watch for the last one, though, because I really do think it may be the best of all!***

Bonus Pics

The other side of the road from my "Stop-the-car!"

Sable Falls

The water really was this pretty green color along some of the shoreline,
and so very clear! 

Chapel Rock
If you look carefully, you will see tree roots from the tree on Chapel Rock
reaching across to the main shore. It was once supported by rock,
but that support fell away and left the exposed roots. 

Tunneling to the Beach

Even before we left for Michigan, I told Dan that I wanted to use one of our "free" days to drive the Tunnel of Trees. (M-119 out of Harbor Springs. It's a thing -- just google it) We made our way down back roads (some deliberately, some not so much) from Levering to Harbor Springs to the "mouth" of the tunnel. The narrow, twisting road follows the lake shore, giving the occasional tantalizing glimpse of the blue water through the trees. There wasn't much color yet, but it was still a very pretty drive. 

Scattered along the road are various nature conservancies. My brother Ben recommended one in particular, the Elmer Johnston Nature Conservancy. It did not disappoint! The one and a half mile walking trail took us up a gentle hill to an open meadow where we could see out over the lake. The sky was a beautiful, soft blue with just a couple of small clouds, and we could see Beaver Island on the horizon. The trail then paralleled the tree line, where we spooked a deer. I only heard it, but Dan caught a glimpse of a white tail moving away from us. We followed for a moment, but we didn't see it again. (That was actually our only "wildlife encounter" of the whole trip, except for the ubiquitous deer along the road in the dark.) Now the trail beckoned us into the shady, quiet forest. We could hear woodpeckers working away on the trees, as well as the calls of some other birds. Once we even heard a turkey gobble. 

Back on the road, we made our way into Good Hart and stopped at the General Store. Ben told me I had to try their fresh lemon bars. Unfortunately, they were fresh out! So I settled for cookies and the seemingly obligatory dose of Vietnam-era politics. (We were on the same side, so I guess it was okay.) 

There was one more stop that we had to make for old time's sake before going home for supper: Sturgeon Bay. Upon our arrival, I was immediately struck by the distinct lack of beach. I remember it as such a wide, sandy stretch, but this time the water very nearly came all the way to the vegetation between the water and the road. (Such are water cycles in the Great Lakes.) But there was still room enough for a quick hand-in-hand stroll and a few pictures. Just like the good ol' days. 

Thanks for sticking with me! Just two more trip posts to go!

In my humble opinion, they are the best from 

a photography standpoint. 

Goin' to Grandma's

I have so many wonderful memories of time spent at Grandma's farm: pancake breakfasts (talk about "farm-to-table"!), baby kitties and chicks, and making sugar cookies. Her sugar cookies were legendary! I now have her cookie cutters, but I can't make her cookies -- the recipe was only recorded in her head. (We'll just leave the not-so-wonderful memories like the terrifying watchdogs and the plethora of snakes for another post, okay?)


I think that I have only been back to the farm once since Grandma passed away, so it was a special treat indeed when my brother talked my aunt into letting us into the house. As soon as she finally got the stubborn door to yield, she and I said in unison, "It still smells like Grandma's house." My cousin now owns the property, and is in the process of remodeling. It was fun to see what he has done, and to remember how it used to be. 

After touring the house, we returned outside. While some things had changed - the two big pine trees had fallen victim to storms, for instance - most everything was just as it was when we were kids. It was such a sweet afternoon reconnecting with my childhood, my brother, and, in a sense, even with my grandma. 

The chicken coop
If Grandma knew that we were coming,
she usually waited to feed the chickens and gather the eggs
so that we could help. 

I was afraid of the cows, but once they were secure in their stalls,
I would join Grandma in the barn.
I loved to watch her milk the cows and occasionally squirt a kitty!

Next post: Tunneling to the Beach 

Stay tuned! 

Just a Girl in the Woods

From the time I was just a young child, I have loved the woods. My sister and I spent many a summer day climbing trees and building trails and forts in the woods behind our house. Furthermore, the whole family enjoyed a trip to Wildwood looking for deer and picking apples, berries, nuts, or mushrooms. (Wildwood is still a favorite spot when I make a trip back to Michigan.)

Nowadays, I find my sanity out in the mountains near my home in Montana. But the forests of Montana are different than the woods of Michigan, and in the fall, I still miss those Michigan trees! 



I recently had a chance to channel that little girl in me while visiting Willow River State Park near Hudson, Wisconsin. This was a beautiful 5.5 mile walk through the woods, highlighted by a waterfall. Unfortunately, the overcast skies muted the autumn leaves, but I still reveled in the reds and oranges that are conspicuously missing in the Montana mountain forests. It was also a treat to spot birds that I have not seen in a long time, like blue jays and nuthatches. (Yes, we do have woodpeckers in Montana, but not in the proliferation that we found throughout Wisconsin and Michigan.) 

After a couple of hours, we had to return to the twenty-first century, the Subaru, and the interstate. But for just a little while, I was just a little girl, happily playing in the woods.

Willow Falls

I don't think I want to eat these...

The meaning of "playing"
might be a little different these days. 

Those woodpeckers have been busy!

There weren't many flowers left. 

Sumac

Stay tuned for the next episode in the Midwest Wanderings Series!