Wisconsin's Amnicon State Park, a few miles south of Superior, features the Amnicon River, its rapids, the dramatic river gorge and four scenic waterfalls. Pictured here is the Upper Falls, where recent rainfall has pumped up the water flow. The dark basalt rock glistens with mist, rising up from the thundering cascade.
   Rock formations around the Upper Falls date back a billion years when volcanoes spewed out lava, covering a large area of northern Wisconsin. Seismic activity opened a rift that stretches from present day Ashland to Minnesota's Twin Cities.
   During early to mid October, when Wisconsin's hardwoods put on a wonderful show, both sides of the Amnicon Gorge are lined with colorful foliage, mixed with contrasting shades of green conifers. Here at the park, the Upper and Lower Amnicon Falls, the Now-and-Then Falls, Snake Pit Falls, and a picturesque Horton Covered Bridge offer plenty of scenes for the shutterbug.
   The bridge, originally without a cover, was moved into the park to allow visitors access to the park's island. The Lower Amnicon Falls can be seen from the covered bridge, where visitors may enjoy an over-the-water viewpoint. The unusual bowstring bridge, designed by Charles M. Horton, was mostly likely built during the late 1800s. Horton promised his new design as being light-weight, durable, and easy to assemble, requiring no large scale equipment or expensive tools. No one knows the extent of the Horton design, but five of his style bridges remain today.

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