Copper Falls State Park

We are nearing the end of our last two weeks at the lake for the 2011 season. If I counted right, we will have been here for a total of 114 days—almost 1/3 of the year! During these final two weeks, we have done a little fishing and put another batch of fish fillets in the freezer. However, it has been pretty cool out on the lake. Our dock and boat lift have been pulled up onto the shore, and the deck furniture has been stored and covered. We have had the boat winterized, and it is now stored away in the garage. After one final use last evening, our hot tub is being winterized this morning. We have really enjoyed that nice 102º water on these cold nights, even though the trip to/from through 30º to 40º air can be challenging. We will probably be back for some cross-country skiing in January and/or February to start off the 2012 season.

Yesterday, we decided to expand our knowledge of the area by traveling north to Copper Falls State Park. Click here for access to the Wisconsin DNR's park information page. We had heard of this and another park through friends, and a hike in the woods on a sunny fall afternoon seemed like a good way to get out and about. The park is about 45 miles from us—about an hour's drive, and what a beautiful area it proved to be. Wisconsin changes quite a bit as we drive north towards Lake Superior. While it is relatively flat in the area near us, there it is quite hilly, with deep valleys and more rock. I'm eager to go back next summer when family members come to visit. A picnic and some hiking and sight-seeing will be something that I think everyone will enjoy. I'm pretty sure the grandkids will like it.

Kathie posed for me on a foot bridge that provides one of the entrances to a hiking trail that loops around the falls and gorges that are the park's main attractions. The park is geologically interesting, as it is evidently formed from large basalt deposits from ancient lava flows and subsequent ruptures that created the gorges. (If Rob and his family come for a visit next summer, he can explain all of this to me. It will be a test to see how much of his geology major has been retained.) The Bad River flows through these very deep gorges now, and there are two impressive falls along the way.

This is Copper Falls, which drops only about 12 feet today. Evidently, it dropped about 30 feet in the 1900s, but erosion and other impacts have changed that.

A bit further downstream, a second river flows into the Bad River. Well, actually, it falls into the Bad River at Brownstone Falls, which you can see here. Note the tannins, which color the water. The gorge was so deep along here, and the falls created so much mist, that we felt like we were in a rain forest. The trees were covered with droplets of water and were very, very green. I know the area would be especially pretty when the deciduous trees still have their leaves.

The park benefitted from the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) work in the 1930s. Most of the park structures were built during that time, and the bridges, park shelters, and railings are all made of nice, big timbers and logs, creating a wonderful look and feel. One of the structures is this observation tower, which you can reach after climbing a long series of stairs comprising 114 steps and 14 landings (Kathie counted them), followed by a hike along a trail that follows a high ridge, which has its own great views to the park below. I elected to climb to the top of this structure too, and I admit that my legs were really feeling the exercise of the hikes and all the stairs by the time I was done.

I thought I might be able to see Lake Superior from up there, since we were only about 20 miles from the lake while in the park, but I couldn't make it out. Probably, it was hiding in the gray distance or was simply too far off. Nevertheless, the views in all directions were spectacular. I bet the fall colors would be impressive from up there.

I took the following two pictures so that Will could see some other types of timber construction. I thought the iron hangers used for the beams and which were made from 3/4" strap iron were impressive. This tower was so solid that I doubt you could ever feel any movement in it.

Like I said, I eagerly look forward to another visit sometime. We also want to check out Morgan Falls and St. Peter's Dome, which are nearby, on another outing next year.