Little Manitou Falls Overlook

Little Manitou Falls carries the Black River over a ledge of ancient rock, sending it down in a broad, foaming cascade set among pines and hardwoods. It is smaller than the towering Big Manitou Falls downstream but no less scenic, and its shorter drop and easy overlook make it an inviting and approachable stop for visitors of all ages.

The Black River gets its name from its distinctive color, a deep tea-brown that can look almost black in shadow. This is not pollution but nature: the water drains northern bogs and wetlands rich in tannins, the same natural compounds that darken tea, staining the river as it flows. Against the pale foam of the falls, that dark water makes for a striking sight.

Little Manitou is one of two waterfalls that make Pattison State Park a destination. Downstream, the Black River plunges over Big Manitou Falls, the tallest waterfall in Wisconsin, a dramatic drop that draws most of the park's attention. Little Manitou, upstream, offers a gentler, quieter experience of the same river.

The park itself was named for Martin Pattison, a lumber and mining figure who bought up the land in the 1910s to keep the falls from being lost to a hydroelectric dam and then donated it to the state, preserving the waterfalls for the public. Visiting both falls in one stop gives a fuller sense of the river's character, from its calmer upper cascade to its thundering lower plunge.

The name Manitou comes from Ojibwe and related Algonquian languages, referring to a spirit or a sacred, mysterious power in the world. Applied to these falls, it reflects the reverence with which the Ojibwe, or Anishinaabe, regarded such places, where the power of moving water was felt and honored.

This region is the homeland of the Ojibwe, including bands such as the Bad River and Red Cliff whose reservations lie along nearby Lake Superior. The falls, the dark rivers, and the great lake beyond have been part of Ojibwe life, travel, and belief for centuries, and the name carried on the map today is a small echo of that enduring presence.

Pattison State Park sits just inland from Superior and the great inland sea of Lake Superior, the largest and coldest of the Great Lakes. This is the edge of Wisconsin's Northwoods, a country of dense forest, cold clear rivers, and long winters, where the pace slows and the air smells of pine and water.

The falls make a natural stop on a tour of the region, which includes the port cities of Superior and Duluth, the wild shore of the lake, and the Apostle Islands farther east. For anyone drawn to waterfalls and northern forest, Little and Big Manitou together are among the finest the state has to offer.

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.

Little Manitou Falls, in Pattison State Park near Superior in far northern Wisconsin, is a beautiful waterfall on the Black River, the smaller companion to the park's famous Big Manitou Falls just downstream. Though smaller than its towering neighbor, Little Manitou Falls is a lovely cascade dropping over rocky ledges in a forested setting, viewed from an accessible overlook and trails within Pattison State Park, offering a scenic and peaceful stop. Together with Big Manitou Falls, it makes Pattison State Park a premier waterfall destination in the region. With its scenic cascade and overlook, Little Manitou Falls offers a lovely destination in Wisconsin.

You can view the falls from the overlook, walk the trails through Pattison State Park along the Black River, photograph the scenic cascade in its forested setting, and combine your visit with nearby Big Manitou Falls, the park's beach, and camping. The lovely waterfall, the accessible overlook, and the peaceful forest setting are the draws, making it an easy and rewarding stop within the same park as the towering Big Manitou Falls. It offers a gentler counterpart to its famous neighbor. With its cascade and trails, Little Manitou Falls offers an enjoyable experience in Wisconsin.

Little Manitou Falls is viewed safely from a developed overlook and trails, but as at any waterfall, caution is important, as the rocks near the water can be slippery and there are drops along the river. Staying behind railings and on marked trails, keeping back from the edges, watching children closely, and not climbing on the wet rocks near the falls are wise. The overlook offers a good view without risk. Respecting the barriers and the river ensures a safe visit to Little Manitou Falls in Pattison State Park near Superior, Wisconsin.

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

Little Manitou Falls is in Pattison State Park near Superior in far northern Wisconsin, near Big Manitou Falls, the highest waterfall in the state, 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 Little Manitou Falls a lovely stop to combine with Big Manitou Falls, the Lake Superior shore, and the other attractions of far northern Wisconsin on a visit to the state.