How to Get a Copper Falls Permit
One site, two miles in, on the Bad River above the sandstone ledges.
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Duration
2 miles
Distance
About Copper Falls
One backpack site. A single site means the facility is either open or gone — there is no second chance on a given night.
A single campsite means the booking behaves differently from everything else in the Wisconsin system: there is no partial availability. Any night it is taken, the facility is sold out. It also sits on the North Country National Scenic Trail, a footpath DNR describes as running "from Vermont to North Dakota" — so this is a thru-hiker's night as much as a weekender's.
The Experience
Copper Falls is a gorge park: ancient lava flows, water cutting down through them, and CCC log buildings from the 1930s at the top. The campsite is far enough down the trail that the day-use noise is gone, and DNR is blunt that your phone will not work.
Park in the small lot off the maintenance/disabled access road, before the road turns to gravel — there is a post marking it, and DNR is explicit that backpack campers may not use the main picnic-area lot. From there the walk is about two miles: down the gravel road, then following the brown signs to the site. It finishes on the bank of the Bad River, above the sandstone ledges. Carry your water; the site has none.
What to Expect
There is exactly one backpack campsite at Copper Falls, and it is reservation-only. If it is taken, there is no second option in the park.
DNR puts it "on the banks of the Bad River overlooking the sandstone ledges, about a 2-mile hike from the parking lot."
"This site is very primitive and contains only a stone-lined fire ring."
There is a primitive latrine nearby. DNR: "campers should plan to bring their own toiletries and sanitizer."
"There is no water available, and campers should plan accordingly."
The site sits on the North Country National Scenic Trail, which runs more than four miles through the park.
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Permit Requirements
Backpack parking is off the maintenance/disabled access road, not the main picnic area. DNR: "Before the road turns to gravel, there is a small lot with a post identifying where to park for the site."
Pets are not permitted on the Doughboys Trail, so a dog means taking the campsite's signed route instead and skipping the falls.
Firewood must be certified or come from within 10 miles; the park sells it at the woodshed near the entrance.
Reservations run up to 11 months ahead; backpack sites may be booked for a single night.
Check-in is 3 p.m., checkout is 1 p.m.
No more than 14 days of camping in any 21 days.
The park is closed to non-campers between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m.
Fires in the fire ring only; carry out everything you carry in.
Pets on a physical leash no longer than 8 feet, and never left unattended — including in a vehicle or at a campsite.
A vehicle admission sticker is required.
Gear & Preparation
Required Gear
- •All your water for the stay, plus a means to treat river water if you plan on more — DNR states there is none at the site
- •Toiletries and hand sanitizer for a primitive latrine
- •A stove; the site has a fire ring and nothing else
- •A way to navigate without a signal
Recommended Gear
- •Paper map or an offline track — DNR flags limited-to-no cell service
- •Microspikes if you are walking the gorge trails in winter, when DNR closes part of the Doughboys route because the rock stairs ice over
Hazards & Safety
No cell coverage. DNR: "This is a remote site, and cell service may be limited or non-existent. Please follow backcountry best practices and inform a friend or family member where you will be, how long you will be gone and when you plan on returning."
No water at the site at all — this is the one that catches people out on a two-mile walk in summer.
Icy rock stairs in winter: DNR closes a portion of the Doughboys Trail because "ice and snow make the rock stairs very slippery."
Wisconsin state park water systems are weather-dependent; showers and drinking water at Copper Falls run only from Memorial Day weekend to Oct. 1.
Best Time to Visit
The park is open year-round, 6 a.m. to 11 p.m., and the site is bookable through it. Park water and showers run Memorial Day weekend to Oct. 1, depending on the weather, so outside that window everything you drink comes off your back. Winter closes part of the Doughboys Trail for ice.
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This guide is based on personal experience obtaining wilderness permits and is regularly updated to reflect current policies and strategies.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get a Copper Falls permit?
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Copper Falls permits require advance reservations. Book online as soon as reservations open for your desired dates.
When is the best time to visit Copper Falls?
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The park is open year-round, 6 a.m. to 11 p.m., and the site is bookable through it. Park water and showers run Memorial Day weekend to Oct. 1, depending on the weather, so outside that window everything you drink comes off your back. Winter closes part of the Doughboys Trail for ice.
What gear do I need for Copper Falls?
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Essential gear includes: All your water for the stay, plus a means to treat river water if you plan on more — DNR states there is none at the site, Toiletries and hand sanitizer for a primitive latrine, A stove; the site has a fire ring and nothing else, A way to navigate without a signal.
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