We are always looking for new things to do near the Northern Shore as we take a trip at least once a year up that way. This was our first time driving into Duluth through Superior Wisconsin so we had to make a stop at Pattison State Park. Our favorite view of the Big Falls was from the parking area across the street from the park entrance ( you still need a park permit to park there). Short hike to the viewing area and they also have a selfie station to get a great picture in front of the falls. The colors were beautiful as we came in the fall time but I would love to come back in the spring to see the falls raging! read more

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I spent 3 wet, foggy days camping with my family at Pattison last weekend. The sites and trails are very well maintained and the hiking was great. The bathrooms were clean for the most part but the showers were kind of gross- however some of that was due to other campers. They are also in the process of building a new shower/bathroom facility. The most standout part of our stay however was Ranger Chris. He was incredibly nice and helpful, especially towards my 5 year old who always has about a million questions and observations. Ranger Chris hooked him up (pun intended) with a series of much treasured "fish cards" and a neat activity book that we had fun completing as a family so my boy could earn a Wisconsin patch. Thanks for making our (and especially his) stay wonderful, Ranger Chris!! read more

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Patterson State Park is a smaller park we stopped by, and while the waterfalls (big and little falls) here aren't as large as the ones at Copper Falls, they're still worth a quick visit. Since the parks are close to each other, it makes sense to swing by and spend 15-20 minutes enjoying the falls. If you already have an annual state park pass, it's a great bonus stop. And if you don't, I recommend investing in the $28 yearly pass--it easily pays for itself if you visit a few parks throughout the year. read more

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First things first...big shout out to the office staff member who was so helpful when we checked in. Really enjoyed chatting with him. Pattinson is home to the tallest waterfall in Wisconsin. No hiking required - just a very short walk and you'll be able to see Big Manitou Falls with a convenient "selfie station" for the best shot. It's worth hiking in for Little Manitou Falls. The trail is beautiful, runs mostly parallel to the river, and a fairly easy hike. One thing Pattinson does well is provide ample benches for resting/sightseeing. There are comically a lot of benches facing the lake so no shortage of finding a place to sit. This is not a huge state park and can be easily explored in a day. Worth the short drive from Duluth to enjoy the waterfalls! read more

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My husband and I camped here for four days and it was wonderful! The park is stunning for hiking with waterfalls and dark brown basalt rock everywhere. We took a half day trip to Amnicon Falls State Park which was also beautiful. read more

What a wonderful place to spend several hours. We hiked a total of 5 miles. First down to the big falls and rivers edge. Then we hiked the beaver trail to the little falls and back. The scenery was green and beautiful. It was a shame to see all the noxious weeks taking over the lake. It is easy to pull from the lake bottom and safely treat. However the situation is beyond repair. read more

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If you're visiting Pattison State Park, you MUST take the time to visit the nearby Amnicon State Park as well. If you're making the 6.5 hour drive from Milwaukee for just a weekend trip, then it's only worth it if you hit at a minimum these two parks; see if you can squeeze in Copper Falls, too.  In July the Pattison waterfalls aren't much to look at, but the hiking trails are gorgeous. We did the easy trails that are well groomed. There is no bicycling on the trails however. You can only bike around the campground on the paved roads (watch out for children zipping around; they aren't too careful and we got hit by one 8-year-old as he was trying to bike past us on the narrow bathroom trail). The campsite markers don't require posted reservation slips anymore, each one has a QR code you use to check-in/reserve a site. The campground was very clean and had lots to do for families - horsehoes, basketball, swingsets, beach complete with movable, motorized coyotes to scare away the geese (which did not work, the geese just walked all around them). The campsites are kind of close together, so you definitely get to know your neighbors. We could hear the conversations of all the campers on every side of us, and we even got serenaded a couple of times by groups singing, and one fellow playing his guitar and singing John Denver's "Country Roads." We played pickle ball on the basketball court, saw Limpy the gosling trying to keep up with the family, saw a hummingbird bathing in the spray at Little Manitou Falls, and took the geology self-guided walk to learn about the fascinating history of the miners and Native Americans to see what they'd left behind. Blue Jays are smart here; they go from campsite to campsite looking for tidbits from your meals. They watched us eat potato chips and swooped down to pick up any chips that fell to the ground. The chipmunks and the red squirrels are fun to watch as they, too, scour your campsite for scraps. There was a wedding going on in the pavilion and they decorated it beautifully. The bathroom buildings could use some updating, and it would be nice if more than half of the stall doors had locks on them. If you're looking for a nice family park, a good place to bring the kids, this is the park for you. Skip overnight camping though if you're looking for privacy. Just do a day visit to see the falls and hang on the beach. The water is shallow, no more than 3.5 feet deep at the deepest part. It was quite buggy, so bring bug spray for sure. Cell service is spotty. read more

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Clean, loved the hikes, love the falls, the Forest. During COVID we were surprised we were the only ones in the south picnic area. We appreciated the shade trees and very clean outhouses there. It was a little weird to call to get a permit and we were sad they didn't sell day passes as we're from MN. We ended up purchasing an out of state annual permit because by the time we drove there - we really wanted to see the falls. The $38 cost wasn't too high. Now we will likely visit another WI park this year. It was also nice to see fewer than expected people in this park on a Sunday. We drove home through a MN state park and it was packed - we were glad we had planned to go to Pattison. We also appreciated the interp signs and nice brochure at the ranger station - we read it all. read more

A great place to hike, In the late fall, winter and spring, it's not too busy. Summer is usually busy.

Pattison State Park is a beautiful park with plenty of things to do! The campground is easy to use, with partially shaded sites. They are fairly small for the most part, so you certainly can't have a family reunion at one campsite! There are hiking trails all over the park, some of which lead you to the two major scenic features of the park, Big Manitou and Little Manitou Falls. Big Manitou Falls has the biggest drop of any waterfall in Wisconsin, and it can be breathtaking, especially at high water levels. There are numerous scenic overlooks on both sides of the Black River to enjoy it. Interfalls Lake, which is formed by a dam just upstream from Big Manitou Falls, is a pleasant no-wake lake that is perfect for canoeing or kayaking. read more

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I have day hiked here twice now. I was here in August with my guy for a weekend hiking excursion on the north shore and I insisted we stop here on the way up. A lot of people unfortunately don't know about this park which is a shame. Big Manitou Falls is the highest waterfall in WI & MN and the 4th largest east of the Rocky mountains at 165 feet! We parked at the head of Little Manitou falls which is a beautiful 30 foot high fall. The trail downriver hugged the bank and was canopied with beautiful hardwood and birch. The mushrooms and vegetation was fun to stop and inspect and I saw some amazingly beautiful trees worn bare at the base from the water erosion. The water that flows is a copper color from all of the mineral deposits and it colors the rocks with beautiful striations of color. We hiked along Little Manitou falls trail to the Beaver trail (did not cross the bridge) and continued on to Big Manitou falls. There are plenty of vantage points and overlooks from the top over to a view from across the river on the big manitou river trail. We hiked down that trail to get some great vantage point pictures all the way to the end where the black river flowed. Lots of pretty and interesting rocks along the river and a very peaceful fairly private place to hang out for a while. We returned on the opposite side of Interfalls lake to see a different view of the park. Total round trip was about 5 miles hiking. A great way to spend your day! The ranger station was nicely situated right there near Big Manitou falls with tons of parking and camping facilities. They have a bath house and shower facility as well as a nice swim beach on Interfalls lake. Take the little detour over here if you are headed up to the north shore. This park is totally worth the stop! read more

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This is a really nice medium size Wisconsin state campground. The sites are spacious (on the outer loop moreso than the inner loop). There is a swim beach, shower facilities, and a super friendly staff at the entry station ready to check you in, sell you firewood, make sure you know what is available. The picnic tables are new and ADA compliant. The rangers were present but not a nuisance. There are 2 hikes - a short one around the Big Falls, and a 5K down and back to the Little Falls. I actually liked the Little Falls better - there were great views from below, beside, and above. The only downside is that you have to drive to a local bar to get ice - they may consider adding an ice locker for convenience to park patrons. read more

Beautiful place to take the family and there are never any crowds! Wisconsin's largest waterfall and great hiking.

Camp sites seem more geared towards glamping RV style than legitimate tent camping. The trails are not the best but the scenery is nice. Little Manitou is breathtaking and Big Manitou is pretty. read more

Pattison State Park - Parks Near Me - Superior, Wisconsin

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Great place, excellent views. I have not camped here, only visited for the day several times. Enjoyed the trails.

A beautiful and well kept park. Came to do some hiking and trail running. Some paths were very muddy from rain when I came. Also shorter trails than I'm use to but it's very intimate paths provide a closer look at the river and wildlife. Great beach for swimming and the facilities are well kept. If you can travel light of have someone you can lug everything down a 10min walk I would suggest staying in the backpacking area which is right next to the river. read more

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Brought the family up there over the 4th of July. Enjoyed hiking to see the waterfalls. Trails were well maintained. Definitely make a trip back up there read more

I do love visiting this park! Both Big Falls and Little Falls are worth the hikes.