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Submission
Pattison State Park features the highest waterfalls in Wisconsin and the fourth highest waterfall east of the Rocky Mountains. Big Manitou Falls is 165 feet high and Twin Little Manitou Falls is 31 feet high. This 1,400-acre park also has a lake with a beach, a nature center, camping and scenic hiking trails. Pattison State Park has 59 regular (family) campsites, 18 of them with electric hookups and three backpack sites. There is a sanitary dumping station but no sewer or water hookups. Showers and flush toilets are available during the summer. Pattison State Park is celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2020.
From Superior: From Belknap Street (US Highway 2/53) in downtown Superior, go south on Tower Avenue (State Highway 35) 13 miles. The park's main entrance will be on your left.
Place was gorgeous. We went in the morning and there wasn't a lot of people or mosquitoes. I would give it 5 stars, but I was worried about my car getting towed. There was nobody in the office to get parking permits from. I would recommend you purchase those ahead of time.
Pattison is a hidden gem. We started at the Big Manitou Falls trail. Make sure you take the .1 mile trail to the right (north) first. Best views of the falls. Then we took the .6 mile route down to the river. Some parts near the river were fairly steep so keep in mind "what goes down, must come up."
We headed back to the main park area and had lunch. Very peaceful and bathrooms were well kept.
After lunch we took the Beaver trail down to Little Manitou falls. 2.5 miles down to the falls. Wooded and peaceful. Worth the hike. On the way back to the main park from Little Manitou make sure you take the Beaver trail over the CCC bridge to the east. You cannot get back if you take the trail to the west ( it comes to a dead end).
Enjoy!
Absolutely gorgeous! We tent camped. The bathrooms and showers definitely need an update! But still have to give it 5 stars due to the amazing views and beautiful trails!
Wonderful park. Both falls are spectacular. Short hikes from the parking areas. Big Manitou is impressive and powerful and Little Manitou is picturesque and you can get closer. The trail along the black river below Little Manitou Falls is a great hike and extremely beautiful. Perfect trip with little ones due to the short distances to either falls. The restrooms were closed in the winter and I could not find alternatives up by the park office and big Manitou. Luckily there were some vault toilets in the parking area near little Manitou that were open for my daughter. Disappointing the park office was closed as I wanted a sticker for my Jeep. Some trails were pet friendly and other areas were off limits to pets. There were plenty of picnic areas and a nice beach that looked like it would be nice when open. Our visit was in late December of 2023.
