Copper Falls State Park

Copper Falls State Park is a beautiful and popular state park located in northern Wisconsin near the town of Mellen. The highlight of this park is the two waterfalls (Copper Falls and Brownstone Falls) that cascade through the Bad River gorge: The popular 1.7-mile-long Doughboy's Nature Trail follows the Bad River and has viewpoints for the falls. This forested park is over 3,000 acres in size.

One of the main draws of Copper Falls State Park is its hiking trails. The park features over 17 miles of hiking trails, ranging from easy to moderately challenging. The trails wind through forests, past scenic overlooks, and along the Bad River. The park also has several miles of mountain bike trails.

In addition to hiking and biking, Copper Falls State Park offers a variety of other outdoor activities. The park has a swimming beach on Loon Lake and several picnic areas. There is a fishing dock on Loon Lake and trout can be caught on the Bad and Tyler Forks rivers. In the winter, visitors can enjoy cross-country skiing and snowshoeing in the park.

Copper Falls State Park is also a popular destination for camping. The park has over 50 campsites, including drive-in sites, walk in sites and a backpack site. There are also group camping areas and a cabin available for rent.

It is worth noting that the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) built log buildings, bridges, trails and developed several other structures for the park in the 1930s. The log building that sells concessions is one of those buildings

The park is open year-round. A fee is required to enter the park. A Wisconsin state park day use or annual permit can be purchased at the Park Office. Dogs are allowed in all areas of the park, except for in buildings, playgrounds, picnic areas and at beaches. Dogs are also prohibited on the Doughboy's Nature Trail. Dogs must when kept on a leash 8 feet long or shorter. A link to the Wisconsin DNR website for Copper Falls State Park can be found here.