Houghton Falls is a 25-foot tiered waterfall in a gorge cut into pre-Cambrian sandstone in Bayfield County, Wisconsin, a short walk from Lake Superior near Washburn.
The falls
The stream drops 25 feet at the falls itself on its way through the gorge to a sandy Lake Superior cove; upper Echo Dells, further along, has small falls of its own. The Wisconsin DNR notes that the surrounding ravine descends more than 60 feet in total to the lake, with additional smaller drops of about 15 feet elsewhere in the gorge.
Getting there
From Washburn, take Highway 13/Washington Avenue north 2.4 miles, turn east on Houghton Falls Road, and continue 0.5 mile to parking on the south side. A 0.75-mile trail leads from the parking area to the Lake Superior edge. The site is a non-DNR State Natural Area owned by the Town of Bayview and Village of Bayview. It is open 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. year-round behind an automated gate, and the parking area is not plowed. Temporary closures are possible.
On site
The trail ends at the Lake Superior edge above the water.
History and name
Houghton Falls was designated a Wisconsin State Natural Area in 2010.
Nearby
Little Sioux River Falls is about 4 miles away, Siskiwit Falls about 15.9 miles, and Potato River Falls about 22.3 miles.
Distances are straight-line.