Houghton Falls Trail

The 76-acre Houghton Falls Natural Area is a landmark along the Lake Superior shore. The dramatic sandstone cliffs extend into the clear waters of Lake Superior, affording breathtaking views of the Apostle Islands. A beach at the base of the rocky cliff provides an ideal refuge for kayakers and waders. A stream meanders through hemlock, cedar, spruce, tamarack, birch, and maple, cascading over the exposed sandstone before descending over 60 feet into a rippled sandy cove at Lake Superior. Upstream (and also on the property) is Echo Dells, a series of watercarved rock cliffs and caves interspersed with small waterfalls and a forested footpath. Over 2,230 feet of Lake Superior coastline and 2,305 feet of stream are included in the Houghton Falls Natural Area. Houghton Falls Natural Area is located one mile north of the historic coastal city of Washburn in Bayfield County. This site is important in maintaining the Lakes water quality, enhancing the existing high-quality habitat for many species of wildlife, and preserving the historic significance of the site as a landmark attracting people who enjoy its scenic beauty and clear waters. Houghton Point extends into Lake Superior as a distinguishing feature on the property, and has long-served as a destination for Native Americans, early European explorers and fur-traders, and later, tourists traveling the railroad north to Lake Superior. For at least three centuries, this point of land in Chequamegon Bay has stood as a landmark attracting people who enjoy its scenic beauty and clear waters.