Potato Falls

Potato Falls is in Gurney Wisconsin and was on the “10 spectacular U.S. waterfalls” in a CNN Article. This is a very impressive waterfall. If you are tired of having your hands held by the State Parks and are looking for a big waterfall that you can freely climb all over, risking life and limb, this is the one for you. The park consists of a parking lot, a picnic area, a pit toilet and some trails to view the falls.

Upper Section
To view the upper falls take the trail to the left. There is a sign indicating it is the trail to the upper falls. The trail ends at an observation deck from which you can view the upper part of the waterfall. This is a complicated waterfall consisting of several drops each going in different directions. Below the part visible from the observation deck, the water tumbles down another 20 feet in two different places. In high water it probably becomes one big sheet of water.

From the observation deck it is fairly easy to get down to the river. From here you can walk downstream to the top of the Lower Falls, or clamber around on the rocks and through the water looking for better views of the upper falls. In higher water this may be dangerous if not impossible. If you could get to high ground on the far bank you might be able to get a more comprehensive view of the entire falls.

Lower Section
This is one of the most impressive waterfalls in all of Wisconsin, especially if you are looking for some adventure. The waterfall is large, easy to find and provides all sorts of opportunities for exploration. There is also a nearby upper falls that is equally as impressive.

There is an observation deck right by the parking lot from which you can get a somewhat obstructed view of the falls. It is tempting to try to get down to the river from here, and you will see evidence of people having worked their way down the steep hills, but if you go back to the parking lot you will find a maintained trail complete with stairs that will take you down into the gorge. At the bottom of this trail there is a observation deck from which you can get a nice distant view of the entire waterfall.

To the right of the parking lot, there’s an observation deck offering an obstructed view of the falls. This view does not suffice, however, and we start exploring. We find a path that’s more steep crevasse than trail, but it leads us to the middle cascade that stands between the Upper Potato River Falls and the impressive Lower Potato River Falls. I cautiously scurry out on the smooth basalt, made possible by the fall’s low water. Lying deep in a gorge, red walls of Keweenaw conglomerate seem to contain the falls, which are spread out over 400 feet of the Potato River. Standing here I feel both free and contained, on the edge of something dangerous. Of all the falls we have visited, here I am the most humbled and inspired.

After our walk on water, we head back up and cross the parking lot to a sign directing us down another trail. Initially, we are thankful that this trail contains stairs, but after 150 steps, I lose count. At the bottom we get an upstream view of the falls. Dripping with sweat from the hike down – and dreading the climb back up – we pull off boots and socks and dip our feet into the water and rest, hypnotized by the scene.

You can get even closer if you wish. The trail leads to the river and you can walk upstream towards the falls. Unfortunately you will have to wade across the river at some point. The walls on the side of the river you will be on become sheer and there is no river bank. In the spring crossing the river may not be possible. If you do cross the river you can get right up to the base of the falls. There are some also precarious spots from which you can get dangerous view of the falls.

Waypoint: 46.631604N 90.055346W

Directions

The waterfall is located in a county park in Gurney. The park is easy to find, and there is no fee. Gurney is on Hwy 169, about 12 miles northeast of Copper Falls State Park and about 3 miles south of US 2. The park is at the end of Potato River Falls Road, west of Hwy 169. Potato River Falls Road is gravel, but it is in good shape and the park is just about a mile from Hwy 169.

All content the property of the www.minocqua.org and www.wisconsintrails.com. Photography the property of Eric Reischl – of the Lower Potato Falls.

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