About this city
Also known as: The Home of Copper Falls
Mellen is a rugged, historic northwoods city located along the Bad River in Ashland County, Wisconsin, acting as a gateway to the Penokee Mountain Range. Established in the late 19th century as a bustling lumber and iron ore mining boomtown, the city maintains a resilient wilderness character. Surrounded by the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest and adjacent to Wisconsin's oldest and most waterfall-dense state park, Mellen is characterized by its rocky gorges, pristine northern rivers, and extensive network of multi-use wilderness trails.
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Practical Tourism Metadata
Suggested stay: 1–2 days
Marvel at the roaring waterfalls and deep volcanic gorges at Copper Falls State Park, hike or snowshoe the North Country National Scenic Trail, explore the surrounding Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest, and fish for trout in the Bad River.

