About 4 miles north of Mellen, WI the Bad River plunges across an outcropping of resistant rock through which it has been cutting a path for millions of years. The result is a spectacular piece of scenery that today is surrounded by Copper Falls State Park.
Established in 1929, the park carries the name of the 29 foot falls that marks the first drop of the Bad River as it flows through about 2 miles of steepwalled canyons of awesome and rugged splendor. Downstream, Tyler's Forks of the Bad River joins the main branch of the river by plunging into the canyon over Brownstone Falls.
On either side of the swift-flowing water, the walls of the gorge rise 60-100 feet. The falls, the rivers, and the rock walls add up to a breathtaking and exceptional scenic experience.
The Bad River runs a meandering course northward to empty into Lake Superior.