Marinette County, Wisconsin Family Fall Color Driving Tour
MARINETTE COUNTY, WISCONSIN FALL ROAD TRIP
If you’re looking to see the best fall colors in Wisconsin, look no further than Marinette County. This Northeast Wisconsin destination is the waterfall capital of its state with 15 cataracts, many of which are located in Marinette County’s delightful parks.
As a new Wisconsin resident, I’m on a mission to find the most breathtaking fall foliage drives in Wisconsin. My trip to Marinette County was full of kid-friendly hikes where we could enjoy the cool weather, the vibrant autumn leaves, and the soothing rivers and waterfalls.
The Marinette County Visitor’s Bureau put together a Fall Color Driving Tour to make it as easy as possible to maximize your time in the parks.
Below you’ll find a destination guide to experiencing Marinette County with kids, especially highlighting spots for the best fall foliage views and kid-friendly hikes.
Disclosure: This post is sponsored by The Real North - Marinette County, WI. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
This post contains affiliate links. That means if you click on a link and make a purchase I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.
KNOW BEFORE YOU GO
WHERE IS MARINETTE COUNTY?
Marinette County is located in Northeast Wisconsin bordering Lake Michigan and Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.
It’s just a 2 and a half-hour drive from Milwaukee, a 3-hour drive from Madison, and an hour from Green Bay, making it the perfect spot for a fall getaway for Wisconsinites. Visitors from eastern Minnesota and northern Illinois might fight this to be a nice weekend escape as well.
ABOUT MARINETTE COUNTY
Even though I grew up in Wisconsin, I didn’t know much about Marinette County until I stumbled upon the name in a search for scenic fall drives in Wisconsin.
I discovered that Marinette County is the waterfall capital of the state, boasting 15 waterfalls, and 22 county parks. The opportunities for outdoor activities abound, ranging from hiking and photography to fishing, biking, canoeing, and ATV riding.
HOW TO ENJOY FALL COLOR IN MARINETTE COUNTY
There are so many parks and waterfalls to choose from in this unspoiled corner of Wisconsin that I started to feel overwhelmed as I was planning our itinerary.
Where should I stay? Which hikes are kid-friendly? Where are the best spots to view fall colors?
Thankfully, the visitor’s bureau has put together a Fall Color Driving Tour to take all the guesswork out of a quick leaf-peeping road trip.
FALL COLORS DRIVING TOUR
The self-guided 65-mile driving tour includes 4 county parks and 2 scenic overlooks which you could finish in one day, or stretch out over the span of a weekend. Of course, there are many more spots to stop and hike or enjoy nature around Marinette County, but the Fall Color Driving Tour is a starting point and a way to simplify the planning process.
You can find the map and directions for the Fall Color Driving Tour on the Marinette County website - The Real North, and there are large red leaves posted to signs around Marinette County to help guide you along the tour. It couldn’t have been easier to follow!
I ended up visiting the region with just my 3-year-old and 6-month-old, while my husband and 2 kids stayed at home for work and school. I was so grateful for the ease of the tour because it meant I could focus on spending time with my kids rather than poring over maps and looking up directions.
We ended up only making it to 3 of the 4 parks and 1 of the overlooks. I was absolutely blown away by the natural beauty in the parks. The waterfalls were all easy to get to with short hikes that even my toddler could do. I’ll share some highlights from our itinerary below.
141 SCENIC OVERLOOK
The Hwy 141 Overlook was our first stop on the tour. It’s just a few miles south of Dave’s Falls, the first park listed on the tour. If you’re driving north on Hwy 141, you can’t miss this spot on your left! Just pull into the parking lot, soak in the beauty, snap a few photos, and be on your way.
There are no hikes or trails at this stop, which was perfect for me since I wanted to let the baby nap a little bit longer before waking her up to explore the park.
DAVE’S FALLS
Dave’s Falls County Park is the first stop on the Fall Colors Driving Tour. It’s located in Amberg, Wisconsin, and there is a gas station 1 mile north of the park (in case you're like me and forgot to fill up your gas tank before the driving tour), and cafes about 2 miles north.
Next to the parking lot, you’ll find a picnic area and a small playground for the little ones, along with a bulletin board with information about the park. This fall they have a photo booth set up with pumpkins, which was such a fun way to commemorate our trip.
After walking for about a half-mile you’ll reach the river, and you can choose to go left to the lower falls or right to the upper falls. We chose the path to the left because it seemed a little easier with a toddler. A word of warning - the path at this point is not smooth. There are tree roots and rocks and you’re on an incline. I was able to handle it with a baby in the baby carrier and a toddler while juggling my cameras, so it’s definitely doable. Just make sure you’re paying attention!
The path with take you to a pedestrian bridge over the river so you can get closer to the small falls. It seemed that you could hike a bit further, but we just explored that area and enjoyed the beauty of the rapids.
Fallen leaves blanket the forest floor in their various hues of red and gold while the sound of the rushing water washes over you. It’s the perfect natural playground for kids of all ages!
GOODMAN PARK
After Dave’s Falls, you’ll head west on some gravel roads to reach Goodman Park, the next stop on the Fall Colors Driving Tour. There are public restrooms and a large playground near the parking lot, so if you need a bit of a break, this is an awesome spot.
There’s no need to hike to see the falls here - they’re the first thing you see as you enter the park! There is a series of connected footbridges and boardwalks where you can get a closer view of the falls and the rapids and get some photos.
We found this park to be the most relaxing and ended up spending the most time here so that my toddler could play on the playground and get some wiggles out.
There are plenty of short trails you could follow if you want more than just the boardwalks and footbridges.
MCCLINTOCK PARK
McClintock Park was our last stop, and the least crowded park we visited on our trip. Plus, it was just a 4-mile drive from Goodman Park! It was woodsy and quiet, bringing a sense of wonder as we enjoyed connecting with nature.
With 4 bridges that cross over the Peshtigo River, this is a beautiful spot for hiking. Since this was our last stop after a long day of hiking and exploring with a toddler, I brought out my fall scavenger hunt for kids. I put it in a protective sleeve so my 3-year-old could use a dry erase marker. It kept him engaged while he looked for the different items from nature on the list.
This was by far my favorite spot, and I would have stayed longer and done a lot more hiking, but the kids were hitting their limit for the day.
WHERE TO STAY IN MARINETTE COUNTY WITH KIDS
Our family was hosted by the Four Seasons Island Resort, Trademark Collection by Wyndham in Pembine, WI. This place is perfect for families because it is an all-suite resort. In this stage of life that’s very important to me. The baby needs to nap during the day, and she goes to bed much earlier than the rest of us. This gives us a chance to hang out, eat, and work in a separate room while the baby is sleeping.
Our room has 2 queen beds, a balcony with a lovely view and seating, a giant bathroom, and a separate room with a kitchenette, a small dining table, a couch, a coffee table, and a tv.
The resort is located on the Miscaunee Island in the Menomonee River between Wisconsin and Michigan. It feels secluded and peaceful with plenty of outdoor activities and space to wander the grounds, including a nine-hole golf course.
There are multiple dining options at the resort:
Boundary Waters Bar & Grill - casual
The Diamond Room - fine dining
The Plaza Room - casual dining
Lillie’s Ice Cream Parlor
We chose to bring our own food and eat in our room to save money and limit contact with others during the pandemic.
Speaking of the pandemic, the resort had plenty of policies in place to keep guests and workers safe:
plexiglass partitions at check-in
only cleaning rooms during your stay upon request
masks required indoors
increased cleaning of high-touch surfaces
boxed breakfast available at the front desk instead of a buffet option
We found this resort to be incredibly charming with an interesting history, very kid-friendly, and a perfect spot to escape stress and noise. It was about a 20-minute drive from the start of the Fall Colors Driving Tour, but the drive from the hotel to the first park was so scenic that I considered it to be part of the tour!
Check current prices for The Four Seasons Island Resort here!
THE BEST SCENIC FALL COLORS DRIVE IN WISCONSIN
So if you’ve been searching for where to see fall colors in Wisconsin, Marinette County is a wonderful place to start! With the fall colors driving tour available on their website for anyone, you can’t go wrong.
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Emily Krause is a Florida-based travel blogger who writes about exploring the world with kids. On A Mom Explores you’ll find best family travel destinations, Disney World tips, and how to make travel with babies and toddlers a little easier.
Emily believes that exploring starts in our own backyards, and adventure can happen anywhere with the right mindset.
