Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Amnicon Falls State Park
Twelvemilessoutheastalongwell-traveledU.S.2/53is
Amnicon Falls State Park
(alsoon
the Tri-County Recreational Trail), another prime piece of geology. The weak-tea-colored
Amnicon River splits around an island and flows over three impressive falls, each nearly
30 feet high; the river drops precipitously on its course through the park—180 feet in just
over one mile. The river's “root beer” color is caused by tannic acid leached from decay-
ingvegetationinthenearbybogs—greatforreflectingsunlight,shutterbugs.Thewatershed
contains the only native muskie population in northwestern Wisconsin, and the warm Am-
nicon itself is a primary spawning run (the name even means “place where fish spawn”) for
coho, chinook, rainbow trout, and with smelt from Lake Superior.
Leading to the island is the park's famed bowstring covered bridge. A minor, sweatless
loop trail begins here, and a
nature trail
leaves from the campground and heads toward a
decaying sandstone quarry that dates from the late 1880s.
Camping reservations (888/947-2257,
wisconsinstateparks.reserveamerica.com
, reser-
vation fee $10, non-residents $14 and up/night, daily admission $10) are a good idea.
Charter Fishing
You wouldn't expect anything less than a thriving business catching lake lunkers. Most
guidesdepartBarker'sIslandforhalf-andfull-daytripsandreturnladenwithwalleye,lake
trout, steelhead, German brown, and king and coho salmon. Many also offer guided river
excursions for trout and salmon, particularly on the Brule River toward Ashland and the
Root River. The St. Louis River estuary also boasts some of the best walleye takes in North
America.
