Amnicon Falls State Park and Pattison State Park #26 and #27

We visited Amnicon Falls State Park and Pattison State Park on the same day during our "Weekend O' State Parks". We traveled from Big Bay State Park heading west across the northern part of the state. Amnicon Falls was as we expected, a beautiful park. It has a 55 foot bridge, called a Horton or bowstring bridge. This type of bridge is built using arched beams connected with hooks and clips instead of rivets and bolts. Today there are only five other Horton bridges are known. While G wasn't riveted by this piece of history, he loved running back and forth on the bridge. This particular bridge was moved into its' current location in 1930, to allow visitors the ability to travel to the island around which the river flows.

 

 



After thoroughly inspecting the bridge, we hiked the trail around the falls and up and down the river. It was a nice, relatively easy hike, affording views of the three main falls; upper, lower and Snake Pit. It was a nice park, clean and not too busy, with a lot to see in a compact area.

Next stop was Pattison State Park, our home for the night. At this point, after having spent a decent portion of the day attempting to explain some semblance of campground etiquette and appropriate volume to G, (and having failed miserably thus far), we were hoping for families with small children camping nearby, so G's vocalizations could just "blend in" with theirs. We found that although the campground was moderately busy, there was no one right next to us, and the sites were spaced far enough apart, it just wasn't an issue.

Pattison features the highest waterfalls in Wisconsin and the fourth highest waterfalls east of the Mississippi. The falls were breathtaking, definitely one of the favorite places we have visited thus far. Big Manitou Falls is 165 feet high, and was magnificent enough for us to trek back for a second view at sunset. In addition to beautiful waterfalls and a clean, and quiet campground, there was a great beach, grassy hill to lounge on by the beach, and a circa 1930 changing house/bathhouse built by the Civilian Conseration Corp (CCC). We have learned a ton about the CCC. The group was created and functioned during the 1930's, to create jobs for young, unemployed men during the depression. If you have visited a state or national park, you have most likely seen their work.

The CCC had camps at some state parks, including Pattison and Wyalusing, where the young men lived and worked. In fact, they hauled sand from the shore of Lake Superior to create the beach at Pattison State Park. This is a park that we would love to return to, and would definitely recommend to others. Next stop (next day), Brunet Island and Lake Wissota State Parks!