An 80-foot waterfall, a 2.5-mile sandy beach, and trails through forests and wetlands give Ashland County a natural setting that can be explored in different ways. Along with waterfalls and coastal views, you can also find traces of the town’s history in murals and on a route that runs from the south of the county to Madeline Island in the north.
Waterfalls and Trails Through the Forest
The St. Peter’s Dome State Natural Area includes Morgan Falls, an 80-foot waterfall. St. Peter’s Dome was designated a State Natural Area in 2007. A scenic gorge with a stream is surrounded by a large, contiguous stand of regrown northern hardwood forest. Here, the stream and forest together take center stage in the landscape.
The round-trip hike to Morgan Falls is 1.2 miles long. The trail has a gravel surface and relatively gentle slopes; it was renovated in 2019 to improve accessibility for people with disabilities. Ashland County Forest also has six hiking-only Hunter Walking Trails, totaling about 20 miles of trails and 11 acres of wildlife areas. The approximate total mileage refers to all six trails combined.
Copper Falls State Park offers a different trail setting, with ancient lava flows, deep gorges and waterfalls amid a Northwoods forest. The 1.7-mile Doughboy’s Nature Trail follows the Bad River past waterfalls and overlooks. For comparison, the Morgan Falls hike is described as a round trip; the Doughboy’s Nature Trail description emphasizes the river route and overlooks.
Coast and Trails by the Water
Big Bay State Park features sandstone cliffs along a four-mile stretch of Lake Superior shoreline and is part of the Lake Superior Water Trail. Its 1.5-mile Boardwalk Trail is a flat, well-marked and accessible boardwalk. Interpretive signs and views of Lake Superior accompany the trail.
At Big Bay Town Park, activities on the 2.5-mile sandy beach include camping, hiking, swimming, biking, kayaking and canoeing, birdwatching, and snowshoeing. The two park descriptions emphasize different things: the Town Park offers a wide range of activities, while the State Park highlights a particular landscape and type of trail, with its coastal cliffs and Boardwalk Trail. When planning, you can consider whether a variety of beach activities or a trail with coastal views matters more to you.
Wetlands, Wildlife and Fishing
The 180-acre Northern Great Lakes Visitor Center property includes a 2/3-mile loop trail on a boardwalk through cedar and tamarack swamps. The Visitor Center also has a five-story observation tower and a wildlife-viewing platform. The David R. Obey Northern Great Lakes Visitor Center is on County Highway G, just off US Highway 2 and two miles west of Ashland, Wisconsin.
The Madeline Island Wilderness Preserve includes more than 2,900 acres of forest, wetlands and trails that provide habitat for plants and wildlife. The Capser Trail is within walking distance of the ferry landing on Madeline Island; check trail conditions before your visit. Fishing is another activity in the region: Chequamegon Bay offers fishing for species including smallmouth bass and walleye. Inland lakes and streams offer opportunities to fish for musky, northern pike, bass, panfish and trout. Check current rules and conditions before fishing.
Town History in Murals
The Ashland Mural Walk includes more than twenty murals in Ashland’s historic downtown district, which spans eight city blocks. The images depict people and events from the city’s past. A stroll through the murals adds a glimpse of Ashland’s history to the area’s nature and trail experiences. The “Follow the Mural Brick Road” route runs from Butternut in the south of Ashland County to Madeline Island in the north of the county.
Discover more destinations: La Pointe, Marquette County, Oneida County, Chippewa County, Richland County, Lafayette County, Crawford County, Waushara County.
For the broader travel overview: Wisconsin.
