If you’re willing to take on a short hike, there are some beautiful things to discover in Wisconsin. In Monroe County, there’s a pretty little waterfall that you can discover, and it’s in a place you might not expect – a military base. The Fort McCoy Pine View Trails can be found next to a great little campground, and they will take you on a Wisconsin waterfall hike that’s worth seeking out. Here’s why.
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Fort McCoy is a United States Army installation located in Monroe County, Wisconsin, between the cities of Sparta and Tomah. It serves as a training facility for both the Army Reserve and the National Guard, as well as other branches of the U.S. military.
Fort McCoy is surrounded by some beautiful wild areas and while the grounds are used for frequent training, there are also places that are open for public recreation.
A campground called Pine View Campground welcomes the public, as well as members of the military and their families. It’s a beautiful place to relax and enjoy an outdoors getaway.
The campground has plenty of amenities, including basketball and volleyball courts, WiFi, canoes and kayaks, a sporting range, a dog park, and miniature golf.
While there are some signs, you may want to pick up a map at the camp office or fire up AllTrails Plus on your smart phone to find your way through the woods. The trails will lead you to something very special – Trout Falls. It’s a beautiful little waterfall in any season.
I’ve spent a lot of time in this part of the state, and there’s always something new and special to discover, like this Wisconsin waterfall hike at Fort McCoy. I thinks it's one of the best hidden gem hikes in the state. If you'd like to camp, as well, you can learn more about Pine View Campground on the campground’s website.
There’s an area of Wisconsin that’s more beautiful than I could have imagined. In far northeastern Wisconsin, Marinette County calls itself the Waterfall Capital of Wisconsin, and it has plenty of falls to back up the claim. The county has 15 gorgeous waterfalls that can all be seen in person if you're willing to do some exploring. The falls are spread across the county and are in some wild and beautiful places. Some involve short hikes, but they are worth the effort. While many people choose to visit a waterfall or two on a trip, I took them all in on an adventure that took about two and a half days. Here’s what I discovered.
Veteran’s Falls was incredible. This trail involves a short walk to a viewing platform, with a scenic bridge offering another vantage point of these beautiful falls. This was one of my favorite falls in the county.
I next visited McClintock Rapids located in McClintock County Park, a pleasant place for a picnic. The river here tumbles into rapids – when I was there, I was the only one at the falls and it was beautiful.
A short drive from McClintock, I found Strong Falls in Strong Falls County Park. The water here tumbles over and around large boulders and there’s a footbridge that offers a great vantage point of Strong Falls. If you’re a mountain biker, you’ll want to take time to explore the nearby Strong Falls trails.
Near Four Foot Falls, I found a scenic spot called Carney Rapids. While this is technically a rapid, the water rushes and drops through a narrow, rocky section to form a pretty little waterfall. It’s one of the more accessible falls as you can see them from a road bridge – no walking required.
Twelve Foot Falls was my next stop. The hiking was easier, but the waterfall was just as beautiful. Some guys were fishing nearby – apparently, it’s a really good spot for angling.
Eight Foot Falls is a short, but rugged. hike away. Near the falls, you'll find some campsites and picnic spots – I wished I had more time to spend here.
I was lucky to visit Horseshoe Falls early in the day – there was a mist over the falls, and as the sun broke through the trees, it was incredibly beautiful!
I found Bull Falls on a tract of state-owned land. It took me a bit of time to figure out my way to the falls, but I soon heard that telltale rush of water and found another beautiful Wisconsin waterfall.
In far northern Marinette County, I found Piers Gorge, where I actually went to the Michigan side of the river to see the falls. There are numerous great vantage points and you may see some river rafters pass through!
I was blown away by the beauty of Marinette County’s waterfalls. You can see their locations on this map – I had it with me for the whole trip to find the waterfalls near me. If you’re planning to visit Marinette County’s waterfalls, here are some travel products that are also good for the planet.
