The Menominee River State Recreation Area doesn't show up on many Wisconsin itineraries — and that's exactly its appeal. A recent report ranked it the state's least-visited park in 2025, despite 7,652 acres of forest, rocky gorge country and a 17-mile stretch of one of the Midwest's last wild rivers, right on the Wisconsin-Michigan border.
The park is split into three zones: Piers Gorge, Quiver Falls and Pemene Falls. Water is the main event. The river here runs Class II and III rapids, drawing first-timers and experienced paddlers alike — outfitters run rafting trips if you'd rather not go it alone, and launch points include the Quiver Falls ramp, a gravel ramp near Pemebonwon Campsite, and the concrete launch at Saler Landing. Anglers have plenty of reason to pack a rod too: smallmouth bass dominate, with northern pike, walleye, perch and muskie also in the mix.
Camping is the real draw for anyone after genuine solitude. Four designated sites — Stoney Hill, Grand Isle, Pemebonwon and Pemene Falls — sit on the Wisconsin side and are reachable only by canoe, so you paddle straight to your front door. Book ahead; each takes a maximum of six people and offers just a bench, fire ring and primitive toilet. There's no potable water, so bring your own. If they're full, campgrounds on the Michigan side are an alternative.
Hiking is low-key but scenic. From the Pemene Falls campground, three routes — 0.5, 0.8 or 1.9 miles — follow old logging tracks through pine to the falls, which is less a towering cascade than a rocky river constriction with a small drop. At Piers Gorge, a 2.6-mile out-and-back with about 200 feet of climbing passes several viewpoints, including one at the fourth pier overlooking Sand Portage Falls.
Winter flips the park into a different kind of trip: snow blankets the trails, making it a spot for snowshoeing and cross-country skiing. Year-round, birders should pack binoculars — ospreys, loons and even eagles patrol the river.
Practically speaking, the park is about 90 minutes north of Green Bay and two hours from Marquette in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, so it works as an add-on to a Lake Michigan road trip or a standalone escape for paddlers, anglers and anyone tired of queueing for a campsite. Just know what you're signing up for: facilities are minimal, the rapids deserve respect (kayakers do flip), and the reward is riverfront wilderness with very few people in it.
