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A centerpiece of the North Country Trail, the Copper Falls State Park segment is among the most essential hikes in the state of Wisconsin. Imagine descending on hand laid stone steps into a deep and ancient river gorge between the thunder of twin waterfalls as dew drops hang from cedar leaves, the first sunbeams of a new day cutting through the dawn mist. The river gorge where the Tyler Forks meets the Bad River is a fantastical gash in the world, exposing a tumultuous and vibrant northern forest ecology rooted in some of the oldest exposed bedrock in the world.
Since its initial founding the North Country National Scenic Trail (NCT) has featured a segment at Copper Falls State Park in Ashland County Wisconsin. In recent years the trail has grown within the park itself to a full 7-miles where it connects directly to the Mellen segment in the southwest corner of the park and to the Porcupine Hill Segment in the northwest corner. These certified NCT tails form long distance backpacking footpath extending uninterrupted from the Potato River in Iron County to the St. Croix River in Douglas County.
The NCT Copper Falls Segment provides modern campgrounds with water, showers, and electricity, a more primitive remote campsite, a free dispersed camping area and countless scenic overlooks in a genuine north woods forest that majestic white tailed deer and black bears call home.
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| Along the Doughboy's Trail - Copper Falls State Park WI |
North Country Trail: Loon Lake to Highway 169 Trailhead
Distance: ~7 miles one-way (with optional side loops) | Difficulty: Moderate | Trail Type: Footpath (no bikes/horses)
Loon Lake Beach / Entrance Area
Begin at the Loon Lake Beach parking area near the southwest entrance of Copper Falls State Park. The scene is calm and pine-framed: a small swimming beach, picnic area, and reflective flat water that makes this a favorite stargazing spot on clear nights. From here the North Country Trail (NCT) glides into the woods en route to the park’s centerpiece.
Nearby amenities: potable water, flush restrooms, picnic shelter, playground, and ball field within the entrance complex.
Forest Approach to the Gorge (Loon Lake → Doughboys Trailhead)
The NCT threads a mixed hardwood and conifer forest, with maple, birch, hemlock, and white pine closing over a soft path. The grade is gentle and the mood is quiet—ravines appear and disappear between trees, hinting at the depth of the gorge ahead. In short order you reach the Picnic/Concession area, the starting point for the Doughboys Nature Trail loop.
Shared Path in the Gorge (Doughboys Overlap: Copper Falls → Brownstone Falls)
Here the NCT shares tread with the Doughboys Nature Trail, a paved and boardwalk loop that circles the confluence of the Bad River and Tyler Forks. This is the scenic heart of the park—hand-laid CCC-era stonework, narrow canyon walls, cool mist, and the thunder of the falls. Visit both overlooks:
- Copper Falls: the Bad River’s plunge through dark volcanic rock and reddish brownstone.
- Brownstone Falls: the Tyler Forks dropping into the gorge with a deep echoing rush.
Morning light often catches the mist in drifting shafts as ravens soar overhead and bridges offer dramatic views into the gorge.
Into the State Natural Area: Bad River Terraces and Tall Pines
Beyond the overlooks, crowds thin and the NCT enters the Copper Falls State Natural Area, protecting dry to dry-mesic forest on river terraces and steep slopes. Towering white pines and sugar maples shade an understory of hazelnut, fly honeysuckle, wintergreen, and ferns.
The trail parallels the Bad River: sometimes perched on a low ridge with filtered water views, other times near river level among mossy roots. Birders may see Canada warblers, ovenbirds, American redstarts, and ravens above the canopy. Deer tracks and the occasional sign of black bear add to the Northwoods character.
Camping: about 2 miles past the gorge area is a remote backpack campsite on a wooded bluff; reservations open up to 11 months in advance.
North to the Oxbows → East to the DCA
Keeping the river on your left, the NCT swings north along a string of oxbows carved by seasonal flows, then arcs east. The forest shifts to pockets of white cedar, balsam fir, and lush fern benches in cool hollows. Boardwalks span damp spots; upland knolls provide quiet rest perches beneath pine crowns.
A few miles beyond the backpack site you reach a Designated Camping Area (DCA), a free dispersed site for NCT hikers. It’s primitive and quiet, suited to experienced backpackers looking for solitude between the river corridor and the northeastern uplands.
Rolling Uplands to the Highway 169 Trailhead
The footpath climbs away from the Bad River and rolls through mixed pine and hardwood uplands, dotted with small wetlands and stream crossings. The forest opens and closes in a steady rhythm, and the tread firms up as you near the boundary. The trail ends at the Highway 169 Trailhead, a convenient access point for section-hikers and shuttles.
From here the NCT continues northeast toward the wilder country and waterfalls of Iron County, including the Wren Falls area.
Camping and Logistics Recap
- Drive-in and walk-in modern campground near the park entrance; reserve up to 11 months ahead.
- Remote backpack campsite about 2 miles beyond the gorge; reserve up to 11 months ahead.
- Designated Camping Area (free dispersed) a few miles west of the Highway 169 trailhead; primitive, no amenities.
- Park amenities include potable water, flush restrooms, picnic shelter, playground, ball fields, and a Loon Lake swimming beach.
- This is a footpath segment of the North Country Trail; expect natural surfaces with roots, rock, and short boardwalks.
Quick-Glance Section Guide
| Section | Approx. Distance | Highlights | Camping |
|---|---|---|---|
| Loon Lake → Doughboys TH | ~0.5 mi | Quiet forest warm-up; easy grades; access to amenities | Modern Campgrounds (Reservable) |
| Doughboys Overlap (Gorge) | ~1.5 mi | Copper and Brownstone Falls, CCC stonework, bridges, overlooks | — |
| Gorge → Remote Backpack Site | ~2 mi | State Natural Area, Bad River terraces, tall pines, birdlife | Remote site (reservable) |
| Remote Site → DCA | ~3 mi | Oxbows, cedars and fir, fern benches, quiet forest | DCA (free dispersed) |
| DCA → Highway 169 Trailhead | ~2 mi | Rolling uplands, mixed pine–hardwood, boundary transition | — |
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| Bad River at Devil's Gate in Copper Falls State Park |
History: Land, People, Parks and Trail
Long before the park and trails, the lands around what is now Copper Falls and the Bad River watershed were home to Indigenous peoples. The watershed of the Bad River flows into Lake Superior and has been part of the ancestral lands of the Bad River Band of the Lake Superior Tribe of Chippewa Indians.THE CREATION OF THE PARK AND CCC ERA
Copper Falls State Park was officially created in 1929 when the State of Wisconsin purchased approximately 520 acres at the falls.
In 1935 a master plan for park development was completed. Then in November 1935 the Civilian Conservation Corps Company D-692 moved into Camp Copper Falls. The CCC was part of President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal established in 1933 to provide the dignity of earned wages for unemployed young men during the Great Depression while also tackling conservation projects. At Copper Falls the camp built the combination lodge, its granite fireplaces, benches, the pump house and water lines, reforested land that had been previously clear cut for logging, established trails, built footbridges and guardrails and laid the stone pavers and steps in the river gorge still in use today— all in only 23 months until the camp closed in 1937.
After the CCC departed, development continued under the Works Progress Administration (WPA) until 1941. With a need for massive manpower and resources dedicated to victory in WWII, the depression era of public works projects came to an end. Copper Falls State Park was later listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2005.
HISTORY OF THE TRAIL: WISCONSIN ON THE NCT
The North Country National Scenic Trail was designated in 1980 by Congress as one of the National Scenic Trails and is today more than 4,600 miles in length across eight states America’s longest footpath. In Wisconsin it follows some 220 miles through the northwest corner of the state, including in Ashland County and Copper Falls.
For many years the trail existed in isolated segments—with gaps of road-walks and un-built passage. Only in recent years have the segments around Copper Falls and other parts of northern Wisconsin become more continuous and connected to adjacent public lands. The Heritage Chapter of the NCTA has been aggressively building new trail in the last decade, adding dozens of miles, footbridges, and primitive campsites extending on a route from the north end of Copper Falls State Park east to the Potato River and from there north towards Lake Superior. Keep an eye out for new trail segments expected to open every other year through 2030.
Field Notes | Geology and Ecology Along the Trail
WHY THE WATERFALLS?The steep gorge at Copper Falls exists because of the unusual mix of very old rock and very young water. More than a billion years ago, the ground here cracked open as part of a failed continental rift, and lava spilled out in long, thick flows that hardened into dense black basalt. Later, rivers deposited layers of reddish sandstone—what we now call brownstone—on top of those ancient lava beds. When the last glaciers melted about 10,000 years ago, huge floods of meltwater from the retreating ice poured through this landscape. The Bad River and Tyler Forks cut deep into the stacked basalt and sandstone, exposing the dark lava and red stone that give Copper and Brownstone Falls their color contrast.
The gorge is still changing, though we don’t notice it from year to year. Every spring flood carries away bits of rock and sediment, slowly widening the canyon and carving new shapes into its walls. The falls themselves will keep migrating upstream as the rushing water undercuts their edges, and one day the two waterfalls may merge into a single, broader cascade. What we see now is only a brief moment in the river’s long effort to wear down a billion years of stone.
Key fact: The oldest known rock on Earth is the Acasta Gneiss. It was discovered in the Northwest Territories of Canada, roughly 1,200 miles northwest of Copper Falls State Park. That means the Acasta Gneiss, at about 4.03 billion years old, formed only about half a billion years after the Earth itself first solidified—making it one of the oldest surviving pieces of our planet’s original crust.
Photo:
Wikimedia Commons
Photo:
Wikimedia Commons
Photo:
Wikimedia Commons
FLORA AND FOREST COMMUNITIES
About halfway along the Copper Falls segment, the trail enters the Copper Falls State Natural Area, where the woods grow deeper, quieter, and more diverse. This protected stretch follows the Bad River valley downstream from the waterfalls, preserving forest communities that have largely returned to their natural state after early 20th-century logging. The area is part of Wisconsin’s State Natural Areas Program, created to protect the best remaining examples of the state’s native ecosystems—places that show what the Northwoods once looked like before widespread cutting and replanting.
As you hike north from the gorge, the forest shifts with the lay of the land. On the uplands—the slightly higher, drier ground above the river—you’ll see stands of red oak, aspen, paper birch, and red pine. These are mostly second-growth trees, descendants of the first generation that grew back after the logging era, now reaching maturity after nearly a century of regrowth. Closer to the river, the terrain drops into cooler terraces and ravines, where you’ll find white pine, sugar maple, hemlock, white ash, and white cedar. Here the air stays moist, and some of the larger pines and maples may be more than 150 years old—living proof that natural recovery can still yield a mature forest given enough time and protection.
The understory along this stretch is rich and varied: beaked hazelnut, fly honeysuckle, wintergreen, partridgeberry, and velvet-leaf blueberry line the path beneath the taller trees, mixed with ferns and mosses that thrive in the filtered light. This combination of upland and river-valley habitats makes the Copper Falls Natural Area a rare window into the ecological resilience of northern Wisconsin—an evolving forest that feels ancient, yet continues to quietly rebuild itself year by year.
Photo:
Wikimedia Commons
Photo:
Wikimedia Commons
Photo:
Wikimedia Commons
ENCOUNTERING WILDLIFE
Hikers along the Copper Falls segment of the North Country Trail are walking through a forest that still supports nearly the full range of Wisconsin’s native wildlife. Black bears, gray wolves, and white-tailed deer all roam this landscape, though sightings of the larger carnivores are uncommon. The thick forests and remote valleys of Ashland and Iron Counties offer ideal habitat, and in fact, Ashland County now has one of the highest densities of black bears in the entire state. Their abundance is a direct result of the same forest regrowth that makes this region so scenic—after widespread logging a century ago, the return of mature mixed hardwood and pine forests has helped both bear and wolf populations rebound from the brink of local extinction.
While bears and wolves generally avoid people, hikers should travel with awareness and respect for these animals’ home territory. Black bears are occasionally seen along the Bad River corridor, especially in spring and early summer when they’re searching for food. Gray wolves roam far larger territories and are rarely spotted, though tracks or distant howls sometimes give them away. Basic precautions are simple: store food securely, make noise while hiking, keep pets leashed, and never leave food or scraps behind. For backpackers venturing into quieter stretches of trail, carrying bear spray is a reasonable safety measure—just check regulations and know how to use it responsibly.
CALLS FROM THE CANOPY
Up to 200 bird species either nest in or migrate through Copper Falls State Park each year, making this one of the richest birding areas along the North Country Trail in Wisconsin. The variety of terrain—ranging from dry upland hardwoods to the cool, shaded gorge of the Bad River—creates overlapping habitats that attract both northern conifer specialists and more temperate forest birds. As the trail winds through these transitions, hikers experience an ever-changing mix of movement and sound from the forest above.
Along the gorge rim, many of the park’s tallest trees rise from the valley floor below, placing hikers eye-level with the forest canopy. This unique vantage point gives rare glimpses of birds usually seen from far beneath: Blackburnian and Northern Parula warblers flitting among hemlock tips, Red-eyed vireos pacing the treetops, and ravens cruising the air currents above the gorge. Occasional sightings of turkey vultures circling high overhead add to the sense of wild scale. If you love getting eyelevel with these canopy dwellers then make a short but strenuous side trip up to the top of the park and its observation tower where you can get a real birds eye view.
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Camping Overview (Copper Falls NCT Segment)
Main Campground (Reservable, Drive-In + Walk-In)
Near Loon Lake with showers, potable water, flush toilets, and some electric sites. Best option for hikers wanting comfort and easy trail access.
Remote Backpack Campsite (Reservable, ~2 miles past the Gorge)
Backcountry-style site on a bluff near the Bad River. Quiet and scenic, but must be reserved up to 11 months in advance. No services.
Designated Camping Area (DCA) – Free / Shared / Primitive (~2 miles west of Hwy 169)
Available to NCT hikers only. Not first-come-first-served, it is a shared overnight space for anyone arriving on foot. No water, no toilets, no amenities.
If busy, continue east to the Porcupine Hill primitive campsite on the next NCT segment.
Backcountry Notes:
Dispersed camping and boondocking are not allowed anywhere in Copper Falls State Park. Dispersed/boondock camping means setting up outside designated campsites along the trail, in pull-offs, or “just finding a spot.” Because the entire segment of this trail lies within state park boundaries, camping is only allowed in marked, designated sites.
Practice Leave No Trace: pack out all trash, minimize fire impacts, respect quiet, and protect vegetation. Store food securely with a bear hang, cannister, or ursack, this is black bear country.
Lodging Near Copper Falls (For Non-Campers)
For travelers who prefer a real bed and a hot shower after a day on the trail, the closest city with lodging is about 25 minutes north in Ashland, you’ll find several comfortable hotels overlooking Lake Superior, including The AmericInn by Wyndham Ashland, which has pool access and a shoreline walking path, and the Best Western The Hotel Chequamegon, a historic lakeside hotel with large porches and sunset views over the bay. Travelers who enjoy boutique hospitality often choose Second Wind Country Inn on the south side of Ashland, a farm-style bed-and-breakfast with quiet rooms, friendly hosts, and country views.
If you prefer camping in RV resorts there are several independent campgrounds in the region. Northern Lure Campground and Cabins (just east of Mellen) offers tent sites, RV sites, and rustic cabin camping right near the Bad River and forested ATV/hiking territory. On the lakefront in Ashland, Kreher Park Campground provides tent and RV camping with easy access to Lake Superior.
Travelers looking for cabin-style lodging have many privately-owned options scattered around the Penokee foothills and small kettle lakes. Three of the closest cabins that receive consistently positive guest reviews include:
Overview: North Country National Scenic Trail - Copper Falls Segment
COUNTY: Ashland
COMMUNITIES: Mellen
TOTAL MILES: 7 Linear -
DIFFICULTY: Easy-Moderate
POINTS OF INTEREST: Brownstone Falls, Copper Falls, Loon Lake, Bad River, Tyler Forks River, Copper Falls State Park, Copper Falls State Natural Area
NEXT NCT SEGMENT EASTBOUND
PORCUPINE HILL SEGMENT
NEXT NCT SEGMENT WESTBOUND
MELLEN SEGMENT
DOUGHBOY'S TRAIL
TOTAL MILES: 1.7 Loop
DIFFICULTY: Easy
CCC 692 TRAIL
TOTAL MILES: 1 Mile linear (makes a loop with Doughboy's Trail
DIFFICULTY: Moderate
Directions and Trail Map
Address for your GPS: 36764 Copper Falls Rd, Mellen, WI 54546
| coordinates: 46.371717, -90.643002 |
| From Milwaukee | 5.5 Hours |
| From Madison | 4.5 Hours |
| From Green Bay | 4 Hours |
| From Wausau | 2.5 Hours |
| From Minneapolis | 3.5 Hours |
| From Chicago | 6.5 Hours |
| From / To | Mellen (WI) | Park Entrance | Picnic / Doughboys TH | Copper Falls | Brownstone Falls | Remote Campsite | DCA (Dispersed) | Hwy 169 TH | Wren Falls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mellen (WI) | — | 2.0 | 2.3 | 2.8 | 3.1 | 5.1 | 8.3 | 10.6 | 15.6 |
| Park Entrance | 2.0 | — | 0.3 | 0.8 | 1.1 | 3.1 | 6.3 | 8.6 | 13.6 |
| Picnic / Doughboys TH | 2.3 | 0.3 | — | 0.5 | 0.8 | 2.8 | 6.0 | 8.3 | 13.3 |
| Copper Falls | 2.8 | 0.8 | 0.5 | — | 0.3 | 2.3 | 5.5 | 7.8 | 12.8 |
| Brownstone Falls | 3.1 | 1.1 | 0.8 | 0.3 | — | 2.0 | 5.2 | 7.5 | 12.5 |
| Remote Campsite | 5.1 | 3.1 | 2.8 | 2.3 | 2.0 | — | 3.2 | 5.5 | 10.5 |
| DCA (Dispersed) | 8.3 | 6.3 | 6.0 | 5.5 | 5.2 | 3.2 | — | 2.3 | 7.3 |
| Hwy 169 Trailhead | 10.6 | 8.6 | 8.3 | 7.8 | 7.5 | 5.5 | 2.3 | — | 5.0 |
| Wren Falls | 15.6 | 13.6 | 13.3 | 12.8 | 12.5 | 10.5 | 7.3 | 5.0 | — |
The header row always displays white text on a dark background for visibility in light or dark mode.
Photos
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| Brownstone Falls at Copper Falls State Park |
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| Hiker's North Campsite on the North Country National Trail - Copper Falls Segment |
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| Observation Deck on the CCC Trail at Copper Falls State Park |
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| Rest spot on the Doughboy's Trail in Copper Falls State Park |
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| Copper Falls at Copper Falls State Park WI |
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| Boardwalk to Brownstone Falls and Tyler Forks on the Doughboy's Trail - Copper Falls State Park |
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| Boardwalk to Brownstone Falls and Tyler Forks on the Doughboy's Trail - Copper Falls State Park |
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| Bad River downriver of Devil's Gate at Copper Falls State Park |
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| Start of the Doughboy's Trail at Copper Falls State Park |
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| Bad River downriver of Devil's Gate at Copper Falls State Park |
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| View from the North Country National Trail - Copper Falls North Extension |
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| CCC Trail at Copper Falls State Park |
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| North Country and Doughboy's Trail at Copper Falls State Park |
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| Tyler Forks of the Bad River at Copper Falls State Park |
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| Tyler Forks Joining the Bad River above Brownstone Falls |
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| View from the Backpacker's North Campsite on the North Country National Trail - Copper Falls |
Links
Further Exploration
North Country Trail
North Country Trail Association official map and updates
Heritage Chapter of the NCTA for local trail news
National Park Service page for the North Country National Scenic Trail
Copper Falls State Park
Wisconsin DNR park information and camping reservations
Friends of Copper Falls State Park group news and events
Geology and Natural History
Wisconsin Geological and Natural History Survey overview of the Penokee Range and volcanic bedrock
USGS geologic map of the Ashland County region
Wisconsin DNR Natural Areas Program profile for Copper Falls State Natural Area
Cultural and Historical Context
Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa history and environmental stewardship
Wisconsin Historical Society article on Civilian Conservation Corps work in state parks
National Archives overview of CCC and New Deal conservation programs