Spring & Fall at the Top of Wisconsin

Roaring waterfalls accent the seasons around Hurley and Ironwood. Your innkeeper will help you discover more than 30 waterfalls cascading at their peak!" The best time to see the highest water in the falls is from the end of March through early May -- and after any heavy summer rainfall. They're also beautiful accents to a fall color vacation.

Superior Falls near the mouth of the Montreal River on Lake Superior's South Shore. From the base of Saxon Falls to the flowage above Superior Falls is a whitewater kayak dream-come-true in the spring. WSW of The Whitecap Mountains on a remote forest trail one can stand at the edge of Rouse Falls. In the spring, Saxon Falls is a roaring 90 foot cascade.

The mud pit from one of the Memorial Day ATV rally. Hurley's Pumpkin Run ATV Rally in October and Memorial Day ATV Rally in May are great times to visit. We are located on a spur of Iron County's vast ATV trail system ... so you can ride right from our driveway; yet we don't have through traffic to keep anybody up at night. Explore 200 miles of 4-wheeling trails -- that's one-seventh of Wisconsin's warm weather trails! We can put you in touch with an ATV rental dealer in town if you don't have your own 4-wheeler.

As you discover four distinct seasons in this land between the tropics and the arctic, be sure to reserve your room by using the handy request form at the bottom of the Rooms & Reservations page, or by calling the Anton-Walsh House at 715.561.2065.

Spring

All that snow up here has to melt! And when it does, the rivers and streams become engorged with water racing north to Lake Superior. As a result, the waterfalls so plentiful in this area are at their most spectacular from the end of March through mid-May.
Dozens of crocuses brighten up the brown grass as this year's snow melts away. April 10, 2009.

Spring is a much slower season here. You won't have any crowds to fight, that's for sure. In fact, many locals - who were very busy during winter's high season flee to southern climates. Yet for those who come to Hurley from the end of March through mid May, the waterfalls are a sight to behold. And some even suggest inhaling all of those O² molecules released from the crashing water offers energizing and healing properties!

You'll need to pack a variety of clothing. It is "mud season". With a good deal of iron ore in our soils, the reddish tint has a way of lingering. So pack hiking boots that are waterproof. Spring temperatures during the day can break 80° on rare occasions - and often fall below freezing at night. Plan on layers to give you the most comfort and flexibility during your spring waterfall adventures.

On the Wisconsin side of the Montreal River Canyon next to a lower portion of Saxon Falls. The upper portion of the Potato River Falls, which has three unique tiers. Just upriver from the Potato River Falls is Willards Falls; more of a challenge to reach! Saxon Falls with little frozen falls coming down the canyon walls.

You'll discover the pictured waterfalls in Iron County on the Wisconsin side. Yet there are even more next door in Michigan's Gogebic County - especially along the Black River National Scenic Byway nearby. And two of the tallest cascades make up the border between Wisconsin and Michigan. Your innkeeper has photographed and visited all of these falls many times. He can give you excellent directions and tips only a skilled local guide could provide for you.

This is also a time when wildlife begins to emerge for their hibernation and as spring moves along, you'll have the chance to see their young. From the robins and ruby throated finches born on our own front porch to the spotted fawns and bear cubs in the wilderness, you can see new life emerging all over the place. And in mid May, you'll be delighted to see forest floors blanketed with the rare and protected Trillium.

Trillium growing in the shade of our giant maple tree. Fragrant peonies next to our unique purple irises that have a strong root beer fragrance. A lone Jack-in-the-Pulpit appeared near our trillium in the back yard. As seen on CNN; sometimes our robins arrive long before the last snowfall. One of a few varieties of columbine in the neighborhood.

There is also a lot of gardening going on right here at the Anton-Walsh House Bed & Breakfast Inn of Hurley! The inn is surrounded by perennial flower beds and more than 1,000 spring bulbs have been planted. You'll even discover some wild surprises like trillium, jack-in-the-pulpit, columbine and lilies of the valley to name but a few. Crocuses follow the melting snowline to be the first blooms that add a little brightness to spring. Of course the robins often arrive long before the last snowfall, many gathering right on our front porch (as was seen on CNN's Headline News in 2008). The grape vines in our micro vineyard start coming to life and it's not too long before our Prairie Spy Apple tree blossoms (planted in 2000, the first dozen apples appeared in 2007 and in 2008 the tree was laden with apples, included in some of our jams!).

8 inches of snow in May made for a nice backdrop in our tulip garden. If it's a crocus, it must be spring!

Autumn

By the end of September, spectacular colors fill the forests that surround this area. Mountains, bluffs, waterfalls and lakes punctuate the striking autumn colors covering our vast hardwood forests. The colors create picture postcard views that rival the best New England has to offer from late September into late October. The warm days, cool nights, and fresh air of the changing seasons are great experiences. This is an incredible time for hikers and mountain bikers to visit Hurley and explore hundreds of miles of trails. And over Columbus Day Weekend there is Hurley's Pumpkin Run ATV Rally.

Skye Golf in the Whitecap Mountains is the best course within 100 miles, yet just 18 of 90 holes within half an hour. The fall colors can't be beat on the Penokee Mountains! Iron County's Farmers' Market in Hurley.

Beginning in late July, enjoy fresh produce from the farmers' market and road side stands. As fall draws closer to winter, you can experience some of the best fishing and hunting to be found. Below is a picture overlooking Lake of the Clouds within the Porcupine Mountain wilderness area, less than an hour away.