Ashland County: Waterfalls, Coastlines, and Forest Trails

In Ashland County, waterfalls, forests, and the Lake Superior coastline are as much a part of the travel experience as wetlands and local history. Experiences range from river trails and scenic overlooks to sandy beaches, birdwatching, and murals. You can shape your stay around the landscapes and activities that interest you most.

Waterfalls and forest trails

The St. Peter’s Dome Natural Area includes 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, continuous 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 slopes. It was renovated in 2019 to improve accessibility for people with disabilities.

In Copper Falls State Park, the 1.7-mile Doughboy’s Nature Trail follows the Bad River past waterfalls and scenic overlooks. The park also features ancient lava flows and deep gorges amid a Northwoods forest. If you want to compare different types of trails, this is a river route; the trail to Morgan Falls, by contrast, is described as a round-trip hike with a stated distance.

Ashland County Forest has six hunter walking trails for foot traffic only. Together, they cover about 20 miles of trails, along with 11 acres of wildlife areas. In Big Bay State Park, the 1.5-mile Boardwalk Trail is a flat, well-marked, accessible boardwalk with interpretive signs and views of Lake Superior. The different lengths and descriptions can help you consider trails according to your interests without treating them as identical routes.

Coastline, beaches, and activities on the water

Along a 4-mile stretch of Lake Superior coastline, Big Bay State Park features sandstone cliffs. The park is part of the Lake Superior Water Trail. Big Bay Town Park has a different focus: It offers camping, hiking, swimming, biking, kayaking, canoeing, birdwatching, and snowshoeing along a 2.5-mile sandy beach. The coastal landscape, beach, and wide range of activities are all on offer, but the two parks do not provide the same type of experience.

Wetlands and wildlife viewing

The 180-acre grounds of the Northern Great Lakes Visitor Center include a two-thirds-mile loop trail along a boardwalk through cedar and tamarack swamps. The Center has 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, just off US Highway 2, two miles west of Ashland, Wisconsin. Check the location details before your trip.

The Madeline Island Wilderness Preserve also combines natural areas and trails: It covers more than 2,900 acres of forest, wetlands, and trails, and provides habitat for plants and wildlife. Together with the loop trail at the Visitor Center, it offers a different nature focus from the waterfall and coastal trails: Here, wetlands, forests, and wildlife viewing take center stage.

Murals and local history

The Ashland Mural Walk includes more than twenty murals in Ashland’s historic downtown district, which spans eight blocks. The images depict people and events from the city’s past. Another destination across the county is the “Follow the Mural Brick Road” route, which runs from Butternut in southern Ashland County to Madeline Island in the northern part of the county. In this way, local history and a route between the stated endpoints complement the nature and coastal themes.

Plan your stay around your interests

If you’re looking for a hotel for a stay in Ashland County, you can start by considering which experiences you want to shape your trip: trails and waterfalls, the coastline and beach activities, wetlands, or local history. The specific differences between destinations can help structure your plans: The Boardwalk Trail is a flat boardwalk with interpretive signs, the Doughboy’s Nature Trail follows the Bad River, and the trail to Morgan Falls is a round-trip hike. This lets you plan your trip around the landscapes and trail types described.

Discover more destinations: La Pointe, Trempealeau County, Iowa County, Shawano County, Columbia, Fond Du Lac County, Dodge County, Barron County

For the main travel overview: Wisconsin.