Pattison State Park
Rate this placeLast Updated: December 5, 2025
Pattison State Park is located in the state of Wisconsin and is a popular destination for outdoor enthusiasts.
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Summary
The park is known for its beautiful waterfalls, hiking trails, and scenic views.
One of the main reasons to visit Pattison State Park is to see the park's two main waterfalls, Big Manitou Falls and Little Manitou Falls. Big Manitou Falls is the tallest waterfall in Wisconsin, standing at 165 feet. Visitors can view the falls from a variety of vantage points, including a wooden footbridge that crosses over the river.
The park also offers a variety of hiking trails, ranging from easy to difficult. The Beaver Trail is a popular trail that takes visitors through a forested area and along the shores of the lake. The park also has a campground, picnic areas, and a beach for swimming and boating.
Interesting facts about Pattison State Park include that it was established in 1920 and is named after Martin Pattison, a lumber baron who donated the land for the park. The park is home to a variety of wildlife, including white-tailed deer, black bears, and bald eagles.
The best time of year to visit Pattison State Park is during the summer months when the weather is warm and the park is bustling with activity. However, visitors can also enjoy the park in the fall when the leaves change colors or in the winter when the park offers cross-country skiing and snowshoeing.
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Park & Land Designation Reference
Large protected natural areas managed by the federal government to preserve significant landscapes, ecosystems, and cultural resources; recreation is allowed but conservation is the priority.
State Park
Public natural or recreational areas managed by a state government, typically smaller than national parks and focused on regional natural features, recreation, and education.
Local Park
Community-level parks managed by cities or counties, emphasizing recreation, playgrounds, sports, and green space close to populated areas.
Wilderness Area
The highest level of land protection in the U.S.; designated areas where nature is left essentially untouched, with no roads, structures, or motorized access permitted.
National Recreation Area
Areas set aside primarily for outdoor recreation (boating, hiking, fishing), often around reservoirs, rivers, or scenic landscapes; may allow more development.
National Conservation Area (BLM)
BLM-managed areas with special ecological, cultural, or scientific value; more protection than typical BLM land but less strict than Wilderness Areas.
State Forest
State-managed forests focused on habitat, watershed, recreation, and sustainable timber harvest.
National Forest
Federally managed lands focused on multiple use—recreation, wildlife habitat, watershed protection, and resource extraction (like timber)—unlike the stricter protections of national parks.
Wilderness
A protected area set aside to conserve specific resources—such as wildlife, habitats, or scientific features—with regulations varying widely depending on the managing agency and purpose.
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Land
Vast federal lands managed for mixed use—recreation, grazing, mining, conservation—with fewer restrictions than national parks or forests.
Related References
Area Campgrounds
| Location | Reservations | Toilets |
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Pattison Family Campground
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Amnicon Falls
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Amnicon Falls State Park Campground
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