Big Manitou Falls

The Black River flows out of the bogs and forests of northwest Wisconsin, gathering the dark, tannin-stained water that gives it its name and color. As it nears Lake Superior it crosses a band of hard, ancient volcanic rock, part of the vast basaltic formations that ring the Superior basin, laid down more than a billion years ago when this region was pulled apart by an enormous rift in the continent.

Where the river meets that resistant rock, it has cut a deep, narrow gorge, and Big Manitou Falls is the point where it drops most dramatically off a lip of that hard stone. The height and force of the falls come from this meeting of a steep river and durable rock, and the gorge below carries the river on toward the great lake. Upstream, the smaller Little Manitou Falls marks another step down through the same tough bedrock.

This is the homeland of the Ojibwe, also known as the Anishinaabe, whose communities in this part of Wisconsin include the Bad River and Red Cliff bands near the Lake Superior shore. For the Ojibwe, waterfalls and powerful places in the land carry spiritual meaning, and the word Manitou, meaning spirit or sacred power, appears across the region's lakes, rivers, and falls.

The Black River and its falls were part of a landscape the Ojibwe knew intimately, traveled, fished, and held sacred, and Ojibwe people remain present and rooted in this country today. The name that survives on the map is a reminder of that older and continuing relationship with the land, and a visit is a good moment to honor the falls as more than just a scenic stop.

Big Manitou Falls lies within Pattison State Park, named for a mining man who bought and preserved this stretch of the Black River in the early twentieth century so its falls would not be dammed for power. His gift, later expanded by the state and improved by Depression-era work crews, kept the falls wild and public. Today a short, well-built trail leads from the parking area to overlooks that face the plunge.

The main viewpoints put you close to the top of the falls, where you can watch the dark water slide over the lip and drop into the mist of the gorge. Longer trails wander along the river and connect to the upstream Little Manitou Falls, so a visit can be a quick look or a longer walk through the woods. The North Country National Scenic Trail also passes through the park, tying it into one of the country's great long-distance footpaths.

The forests around the falls are classic Northwoods, a mix of pine, birch, aspen, and maple that shelters white-tailed deer, black bear, beaver along the quieter water, and a chorus of warblers and thrushes in the warm months. Bald eagles and ospreys hunt the river, and in the deep cold, the tracks of fox, coyote, and snowshoe hare mark the snow.

The falls change dramatically with the seasons. Spring snowmelt and rain send the Black River roaring at its fullest, while high summer can slow the flow to a gentler curtain. Autumn brings brilliant Northwoods color to the gorge, and winter, though it can ice the trails, transforms the falls into a striking scene of frozen spray and dark, still water. Each season offers a different face of the state's tallest cascade.

The closest Boutel™ stays, so you can turn this stop into an overnight. Each is a place we chose through independent editorial review, never a paid placement.

Big Manitou Falls, in Pattison State Park near Superior in far northern Wisconsin, is the highest waterfall in the state and one of the tallest in the region, a spectacular cascade plunging over a dramatic gorge on the Black River. The powerful falls drop more than one hundred and sixty feet through a rugged, forested gorge, viewed from overlooks and trails within Pattison State Park, offering an awe-inspiring sight, especially when the river runs high. A crown jewel of northern Wisconsin's waterfalls, it draws visitors to its thundering beauty. With its towering cascade and gorge, Big Manitou Falls offers a breathtaking destination in Wisconsin.

You can view the spectacular falls from the overlooks and walk the trails through Pattison State Park along the Black River gorge, take in the thundering cascade and rugged scenery, photograph the falls, and explore the park's other features, including nearby Little Manitou Falls, a beach, and camping. The towering waterfall, the dramatic gorge, the overlooks, and the park trails are the draws, offering an awe-inspiring natural experience, especially when the river runs high. It is the highest waterfall in the state. With its cascade and trails, Big Manitou Falls offers a rewarding experience in Wisconsin.

Big Manitou Falls is viewed safely from developed overlooks and trails, but caution is essential, as the gorge is deep with steep, dangerous drops, and the rocks near the water and edges can be slippery. Staying behind railings and on marked trails, keeping well back from the gorge edges, watching children closely, and never climbing on the rocks near the falls or the river are critical, as falls here can be deadly. Respecting the barriers and the powerful water ensures a safe visit to Big Manitou Falls in Pattison State Park, Wisconsin.

Late spring is often the most dramatic time, when snowmelt and spring rains swell the Black River and the falls thunder at their fullest, while summer offers pleasant weather and full park access, and fall brings beautiful color to the gorge, a favorite season. The falls can run lower in dry late summer. A state park sticker is required. For the most powerful falls aim for spring high water, or visit in fall for stunning color, at Big Manitou Falls in Pattison State Park near Superior, Wisconsin.

Big Manitou Falls is in Pattison State Park near Superior in far northern Wisconsin, near Little Manitou Falls within the same park, within reach of the city of Superior, Lake Superior, the Apostle Islands region and Bayfield to the east, and Copper Falls State Park. That makes Big Manitou Falls a breathtaking stop to combine with Little Manitou Falls, the Lake Superior shore, and the other attractions of far northern Wisconsin on a visit to the state.