Brownstone Falls
Copper Falls State Park, Wisconsin · 1,049 ft
Typical peak
Sep 26 – Oct 4
low confidence in typical timing.
Best light
Best under flat overcast
Classic view faces NE (52°)
Tyler Forks drops 30 feet over black lava rock into the Bad River gorge, framed by maple and birch growing straight out of the canyon walls. The railed platform sits across the gorge, so the falls and both walls fit one frame.
Seasonal model estimate. Timing remains uncertain; check recent reports before traveling. Source: seasonal timing model. Calculated .
Crowds
moderate
Often busier by mid-morning; consider arriving at first light.
Getting there
Enter Copper Falls State Park off WI-169 north of Mellen and walk the Doughboys Nature Trail about 0.7 mile from the concession lot to the Brownstone overlook.
What turns here
- sugar maple
- yellow birch
- eastern hemlock
Color progression
Typical peak Sep 30Typical color progression for Brownstone Falls. No change from Aug 23 to Sep 9. First color from Sep 9 to Sep 18. Approaching peak from Sep 18 to Sep 26. Peak from Sep 26 to Oct 4. Past peak from Oct 4 to Oct 14. Bare from Oct 14 to Oct 28.
Leaves are typically down on Nov 1, 2026. Color starts around Sep 9.
This season so far
First frost
Oct 17
2 nights at or below 32°F since Aug 1.
Last 14 days
63°F / 42°F
Average daily high and low.
Modeled weather for these coordinates from the Open-Meteo historical archive, Aug 1 – Oct 31; not a station record. Reported peak is the median date of approved peak-color reports.
Plan the light
Brownstone Falls on September 30, 2026, the center of its typical peak window.
| Event | Time |
|---|---|
| First light (blue hour) Sun 6° below horizon | 6:29 AM |
| Sunrise Rises E · 93° | 6:59 AM |
| Morning golden hour ends 40 min of low, warm light | 7:39 AM |
| Solar noon Highest sun, flattest light | 12:52 PM |
| Evening golden hour starts 40 min before sunset | 6:05 PM |
| Sunset Sets W · 267° | 6:45 PM |
| Last light (blue hour) Sun 6° below horizon | 7:15 PM |
Times in America/Chicago · day length 11h 46m · computed from NOAA solar equations.
Local terrain can hide the sun; allow extra time to reach your viewpoint.
Which way to point the camera
Sunrise: backlit
Sun behind the canopy — leaves glow translucent. The shot most people are after. Expect flare; a hood or a hand helps.
Sunset: front-lit
Sun behind you. Flat, even light — accurate color, little drama. Good for wide valley scenes, weak for single trees.
Classic composition faces NE (52°).
Shooting conditions
Glassy water, wind blur, and what the cloud will do to your light.
Recent reports
What people actually saw here. Been recently? Add yours.
Nearby locations
Within 100 miles in a straight line; road distances can be longer.