Discover Ashland County: Waterfalls, Trails and Lake Superior

Nature Experiences Between Waterfalls, Forest and Lake

Ashland County offers a remarkable mix of water, forest and trails for a variety of vacation days. St. Peter’s Dome Natural Area is home to Morgan Falls, an 80-foot waterfall. St. Peter’s Dome was designated a State Natural Area in 2007 and features a scenic gorge with a stream, surrounded by a large contiguous stand of second-growth northern hardwood forest. The trail to Morgan Falls is a 1.2-mile round-trip hike with a gravel surface and relatively gentle inclines. In 2019, it was reconstructed to improve accessibility for people with disabilities.

Along Lake Superior, Big Bay State Park features sandstone cliffs along a 4-mile stretch of shoreline. The 1.5-mile Boardwalk Trail leads through the landscape on a flat, well-marked and low-barrier boardwalk. Informational signs and views of Lake Superior make it a route where movement and orientation go hand in hand. The park is also part of the Lake Superior Water Trail. At Big Bay Town Park, camping, hiking, swimming, biking, kayaking and canoeing, birdwatching, and snowshoeing are available along a 2.5-mile sandy beach.

Trails for Different Day Plans

Those looking for a shorter nature outing will find the 1.7-mile Doughboy’s Nature Trail at Copper Falls State Park. It follows the Bad River and passes waterfalls and viewpoints. Copper Falls State Park itself features ancient lava flows, deep gorges and scenic waterfalls amid a Northwoods forest. In the Ashland County Forest, there are six walking-only Hunter Walking Trails with a total of approximately 20 miles of trail and 11 acres of wildlife areas.

The Northern Great Lakes Visitor Center also combines nature observation with clear orientation for an outing. The 180-acre grounds include a 2/3-mile loop trail over a boardwalk through cedar and tamarack wetlands. There is also a five-story observation tower and a wildlife-viewing platform. The David R. Obey Northern Great Lakes Visitor Center is located on County Highway G, directly off US Highway 2, two miles west of Ashland, Wisconsin. This location may play a role when planning a vacation rental if you would like to combine outings with information about the landscape and wildlife.

Culture, Islands and Water Activities

Ashland County is not just a destination for hiking. The Ashland Mural Walk includes more than twenty murals in Ashland’s historic downtown district, which covers eight city blocks. The murals depict people and events from the city’s past. The Follow the Mural Brick Road route runs from Butternut in southern Ashland County to Madeline Island in northern Ashland County, offering another cultural perspective on the region.

In Chequamegon Bay, you can fish for species including smallmouth bass and walleye. The inland lakes and streams also offer opportunities to fish for musky, northern pike, bass, panfish and trout. On Madeline Island, the Madeline Island Wilderness Preserve encompasses more than 2,900 acres of forests, wetlands and trails that provide habitat for plants and wildlife. The Capser Trail is within walking distance of the ferry landing on Madeline Island.

When choosing a vacation rental or vacation home, it is therefore worthwhile to first decide on your preferred vacation rhythm: short distances to a single nature experience, varied days with water activities, or a combination of landscape and local history.

Discover More Destinations

For further searches, you can also include La Pointe. Find more destinations in the same broader search area under Chippewa County, Vernon County, Burnett, Crawford County, Winnebago, Rusk County and Manitowoc County.

To the broader travel overview: Wisconsin.