Duncan Creek Rapids

Duncan Creek Rapids - Upstream view from bridge at Columbia Street

Another quick stop in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin at Duncan Creek Rapids. This one is very easy to access right from the bridge on Columbia Street just off WI-124.  The downstream views aren’t very exciting but there are smaller riffles for quite some distance. Upstream of the bridge is the real feature – several substantial rapids … Read more

Lake Wissota Rapids

Lake Wissota Rapids

Today was a bit less eventful due to the long drive & strong thunderstorms but I still squeezed in a few neat places.  First one was at Lake Wissota Rapids in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin. Access is quite easy through the Chippewa County Riverview Reserve / Area 178 nature park trails. Alongside the trail are some … Read more

Madeline Island

Madeline Island - Sunset at the La Pointe ferry docks

Due to some trails being closed at Big Bay State Park I was left extra time to explore La Pointe, Wisconsin on Madeline Island.  Sharing everything in one post for lack of a better place to put these odds & ends.  First step to visiting the island is actually getting there via the ferry that … Read more

Big Bay State Park – Bay View + Point Trail Loop

Big Bay State Park - Lake Superior Coastal Views

Bit of a late start this morning (had to move campsites, was the only way I could get a last minute reservation) but sometime around 10am I was on the trail.  Agenda for the morning was to hike Bay View and Point Trails looping back to the campground.  I started from camp towards the Bay … Read more

Big Bay State Park – Boardwalk Trail

Big Bay State Park - Boardwalk Trail

Shifting gears during the midpoint of this road trip and floating my car & camping gear to Big Bay State Park on Madeline Island.  I was getting cranky from all the driving so my first action item was to stretch out my legs and hike the Boardwalk Trail.  Originally I was going to make a … Read more

Copper Falls State Park – Sunset & Astro

Copper Falls State Park - Astrophotography over Loon Lake

Home base for the past couple of days has been Copper Falls State Park.  I skipped them on this trip in favor of other destinations (see old posts here, don’t skip these if you’ve never visited before) but the weather did give me an opportunity for some fantastic night photography.  Clear Sky Charts confirm this … Read more

Foster Falls

Foster Falls

After spending lots of time driving & hiking to Copper Creek Falls my day was nearly over.  Still, I found just enough time to reach Foster Falls near Upson/Gurney, Wisconsin.  Overall this is fairly easy to reach via county forest roads and the hike is relatively short. The biggest challenge is jumping across several small … Read more

Pattison State Park – Copper Creek Falls

Pattison State Park - Copper Creek Falls upper section from side

Intermittent storms for the past several days washed away my best laid plans.  Today (Jul-6) the stars aligned giving me blue skies, 72 degres, and a gentle breeze.  Just about the perfect day to attempt a mysterious and unpublished waterfall called Copper Creek Falls at Pattison State Park.  Access is through the northern park section … Read more

Rouse Falls

Rouse Falls - View below falls

Chasing another waterfall on Iron County Forest lands, this time at Rouse Falls.  Due to heavy overnight rains the tracks here are mostly mud so I opted for the mountain bike.  Pay close attention at the first fork in the road and STAY LEFT if you don’t like mud. I did not pay attention and … Read more

Wren Falls

Wren Falls

My first two stops this morning took considerable amounts of time.  For the afternoon I planned to circle back through Iron County and try some remote destinations.  First up is Wren Falls near Anderson/Saxon, Wisconsin.  You can drive up via fairly well graded forest roads and park several hundred yards down the hill.  There is … Read more