Pattison State Park
Superior, Wisconsin

• Accessible Facilities
• Camping
• How to Get There
• More to Do

Pattison State Park features the highest waterfalls in Wisconsin and the fourth highest waterfall east of the Rocky Mountains. Big Manitou Falls is 165 high, and Little Manitou Falls is 31 feet high.

The 1,436-acre park also has a lake with a beach, nature programs and guided hikes, a nature center, camping, 9 miles of hiking trails, and abundant wildlife.

The cities of Superior, Wisconsin, and Duluth, Minnesota; Amnicon Falls State Park; Brule River State Forest; Wild Rivers State Trail; Gandy Dancer State Trail; and Lake Superior are all within an hour of Pattison State Park.

Enjoying the Water

The Black River begins its winding journey about 22 miles southwest of the park at Black Lake on the Wisconsin-Minnesota border. As it passes through Pattison State Park, it drops 31 feet over Little Manitou Falls, forms Interfalls Lake, and then reaches the spectacular Big Manitou Falls.

A pedestrian tunnel takes you from the park's main picnic area under Highway 35 to short trails that give you many views Big Manitou Falls from both sides of the river. Little Manitou Falls are south about a mile on the highway or 1.5 miles on the Nature Trail and Little Manitou Falls Trail.

In the Ojibwa language, the Black River is called Mucudewa Sebee, meaning "black" or "dark." The root beer tint of the water comes from decaying leaves and roots of vegetation along the river.

Pattison's 300-foot sand beach on Interfalls Lake offers an excellent sunning area, beautiful bathhouse, and adjacent picnic area. The beach is unguarded. Don't swim alone, and watch children closely near the water. Swim only at the designated beach; swimming outside the lifeline, in the river, or at the waterfalls is dangerous.

Interfalls Lake is a flowage, and water depths often change after rain. Interfalls Lake is 27 acres in size, with a maximum depth of 13 feet and mean depth of 7 feet.

Recreational fishing opportunities are limited within the park. The lake does not support a population of sport fish. The Black River below Big Manitou Falls is occasionally fished, although numbers have declined since the DNR stopped stocking the area about eight years ago.

Camping

Pattison 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.

The backpack sites are about 1.6 miles from the parking area. They have pit toilets, tables, and fire rings. Water must be carried in; garbage must be carried out.

Pattison has no designated group camping, but groups may use available individual or double sites.

Firewood may be purchased at the park office. There are soft drink vending machines outside the shelter and in the campground shower building. Nearby businesses offer ice and other items.

Reserve a site through the Web or by phoning (888) 947-2757, TTY (800) 274-7275.

Nature programs

Naturalist-guided hikes and programs are offered throughout the year.

The Gitche Gumee Nature Center in the shelter building houses interpretive displays about the park's colorful history, abundant wildlife, and unique geology.

Many young visitors enjoy the Junior Ranger or Wisconsin Explorer booklets during their stay; the booklets are available at the park office.

Two special backpacks for children are available for free loan at the park office:

• The Forest Forever Parkpack and Great Lakes Pack are geared for middle school youths in families, youth groups, or school classes. They're filled with activities designed to get you hiking, investigating, and thinking about Wisconsin's natural resources and your role in using them wisely.
• Learn about fire safety and the true story of Smokey Bear and write about Smokey's adventure with you in his daily journal as you use the Take Smokey Bear Camping pack during your stay.

More to Do

Picnicking: Pattison has three picnic areas with tables, grills, water, and rest rooms. The largest is near the beach.

Watchable wildlife: Almost 200 species of birds come to the park, 54 species of mammals live here, and many reptiles and amphibians dwell in Pattison's varied habitats. If you're lucky, you'll glimpse a timber wolf, moose, fisher [exit DNR] or wood turtle!

Play: There's play equipment near the main picnic area.

Superior and Douglas County [exit DNR]—Accommodations, activities, dining, events, and more

For visitors with disabilities

Pattison provides a campsite, picnic area, telephone, water fountain, and toilet-shower building that are accessible to people with disabilities. The paths to the shelter building, nature center, bath house, and Big Manitou Falls overlook are accessible. A map is available at the park office showing accessible buildings and facilities.

How to Get There

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.

For more information, ask:

Kerry Isensee
6294 S. State Rd. 35
Superior, Wisconsin 54880-8326
Phone (715) 399-3111