Potato River Water Falls in Fall Color
Gurney, Wisconsin

color tour shot from the top of Potato River Falls
Some great Wisconsin Fall Color from the top of Potato Falls - near Gurney, Wisconsin

You can get some great fall color pictures taking a little detour off the Lake Superior Circle route by taking a drive to Potato River Falls and then continuing on to Copper Falls State Park. Take the turn-off about 12 miles west of Hurley, Wisconsin along US Highway 2, south on to Wisconsin 169 through the community of Gurney, WI. At the southern edge of town, look for the town road to Potato River County Park. (Or if you are coming first from Copper Falls State Park, go Northwest on highway 169 about 13 miles to the turn-off to Potato River County Park.)

wi mi fall color tour map Fall Color Tour Map

Potato River Park & Waterfalls

Fall color was near its peak. We found a nice parking place in front of the picnic shelter and near the trail to the upper falls (shown far right). > > >

The Upper Falls begins in a series of stair step cascades and then drops over two higher falls. > > >

Then the river reassembles (near right) before dropping over the lower falls (far right). > > >

Copper Falls State Park & Waterfalls

If you want to go to Copper Falls, return to Hwy 169 and proceed southwest. You'l reach the entrance to Copper Falls State Park in about 13 miles. After visiting Copper Falls you can return to US Highway 2 by driving north along Highway 13 to Ashland, Wisconsin.

Scenic Fall Color Drives - nearby Upper Peninsula, Michigan

If you are heading east towards Ironwood and the UP and just made a slight detour to view Potato Falls, you can find some excellent camping, terrific waterfalls, and great fall color scenery just over the border in Michigan's Upper Peninsula.

Return to US Highway 2, go east till Wisconsin 122, turn north towards the Lake. Shortly after the turnoff to Saxon Harbor you'll join up with Michigan 505 that goes by the Little Girls Point Camping and Picnic area. From there you can continue on to the Black River Harbor Recreation Area and subsequently the Presque Isle Recreation Area and if you want even more fall scenic color beauty - the Porcupine Mountains. (see our color tour travel map above)