A waterfall on the Bad River gorge in Copper Falls State Park, viewed from the Doughboys Nature Trail.
Copper Falls gives its name to Copper Falls State Park in Ashland County, where the Bad River and Tyler Forks cut through a gorge formed in ancient lava flows. The Wisconsin DNR describes the park's landscape of deep gorges, waterfalls, and log buildings built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s, and the park operates year-round from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. A Wisconsin state park vehicle admission sticker is required for entry.
The DNR points to the 1.7-mile Doughboys Nature Trail along the Bad River as one of the park's best hikes and the route that provides views of its waterfalls and cascades. At our review, the park's conditions page reported the trail's north segment, between the Devil's Gate bridge and the accessible parking lot, closed Monday through Friday from October 12 to 16, 2026, for Tyler Forks Bridge repairs, while the southern portion carrying falls views remained open; the separate CCC 692 Trail was also listed as temporarily unavailable due to timber harvesting, with the observation tower and waterfall views still reachable by alternate routes. Check the park's current conditions page before visiting.
On 2026-10-11 the official park conditions page reported the north segment of the Doughboys Trail (Devil's Gate bridge to the accessible parking lot) closed Monday-Friday, Oct. 12-16, 2026, for Tyler Forks Bridge repairs, with the southern portion carrying waterfall and cascade views remaining open; the CCC 692 Trail was also listed as temporarily unavailable for timber harvesting. Check the official conditions page for updates. Check the current notice ↗
Know before you go
Copper Falls State Park, Ashland County, WI; a Wisconsin state park vehicle admission sticker is required.
Park open year-round, 6 a.m. to 11 p.m.; check current conditions before visiting, especially in winter.
The 1.7-mile Doughboys Nature Trail along the Bad River provides views of the park's waterfalls and cascades, with some segments subject to temporary closures.
Wisconsin state park vehicle admission sticker required; check current rates.
An accessible parking lot serves part of the Doughboys Trail; verify current accessible segments with the park.
2026-10-12. Conditions and requirements can change; confirm with the land manager before travelling.
Sources & further reading
- Wisconsin DNR — Copper Falls State Park ↗
- Wisconsin DNR — Copper Falls State Park Conditions ↗
- USGS Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) ↗
This is a researched visitor guide, not a claim that our editors have personally visited. Trail conditions, permits, and access can change.
