Stephens Falls
Wisconsin · 30-foot drop · Governor Dodge State Park · Last verified 2026-05-15
Today at Stephens Falls: partly sunny, 72°F. October averages 1.4 snow days here.
Right now
Today
72°F
Partly Sunny
Tonight
49°F
Mostly Cloudy
Today's daylight
Sunrise 7:25 AM · Sunset 6:03 PM · 10h 38m
Snapshot built 7m ago. Sources: NWS MKX.
Stephens Falls is a waterfall in Wisconsin. It drops roughly 30 feet. Access details and conditions have not yet been verified in person by Fallspots — the data on this page comes from OpenStreetMap and USGS GNIS.
Stephens Falls is in Wisconsin. The falls are inside Governor Dodge State Park. The base sits at roughly 1,132 feet of elevation. Drive time is about 6 minutes from Dodgeville. A trail — Stephens Falls Trail — runs within 10 meters of the marked location. No public parking is recorded within 2 km, so a longer approach is likely. It draws modest visitor attention — busier weekends, quiet weekdays. Source records come from OpenStreetMap.
Entry is free. Dogs on leash are welcome on the access trail. The approach is short and gentle enough for young kids.
Is the water flowing right now?
Most waterfall sites don't tell you this. The waterfall itself is almost never gauged, but a USGS streamgage in the same watershed can tell you whether snowmelt has started, peaked, or run dry.
USGS gage 05432055 · 15.2 mi away
LIVINGSTON BR PECATONICA RIVER NEAR LIVINGSTON, WI
— Distant gauge — proxy reading, not on the same drainage.
View live discharge data →
When to go (from the climate data, not our opinion)
Monthly averages from Open-Meteo's reanalysis dataset (2020–2024). Highlighted months are when we think the waterfall is at its best — but the numbers are the numbers regardless.
| Month | High °F | Low °F | Precip (in) | Snow days |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 29 | 14 | 1.9 | 14 |
| Feb | 34 | 14 | 1.2 | 8 |
| Mar | 47 | 28 | 3 | 7.6 |
| Apr | 56 | 37 | 3.8 | 4.6 |
| May | 69 | 50 | 4 | 0 |
| Jun | 80 | 61 | 3.4 | 0 |
| Jul | 82 | 64 | 3.3 | 0 |
| Aug | 81 | 63 | 2.9 | 0 |
| Sep | 74 | 57 | 3 | 0 |
| Oct | 60 | 44 | 2.7 | 1.4 |
| Nov | 47 | 32 | 2.4 | 4.6 |
| Dec | 36 | 21 | 1.9 | 10.6 |
Source: Open-Meteo Historical Weather API · ERA5 reanalysis 2020–2024.
Compare to nearby falls
If this one isn't the right fit, here's how it stacks up against the closest documented falls. Every column is filterable on the site — not buried in 13,000 reviews.
| Waterfall | Distance | Height | Trail | Dogs | Fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stephens Falls (this page) | — | 30 ft | — | Y | Free |
| Cascade Aerator | 32 mi | — | — | — | — |
| Skillet Falls | 34 mi | — | — | — | — |
| Tennyson Falls | 35 mi | 13 ft | — | — | — |
| Apple Canyon Waterfall | 42 mi | — | — | — | — |
| Thunder Bay Falls | 45 mi | — | — | — | — |
Related waterfalls
Similar height (~30 ft)
- Champagne Falls30 ft
- Crevice Falls30 ft
- Cucumber Falls30 ft
- Eternal Flame Falls30 ft
- Georgiana Falls30 ft
Questions visitors ask about Stephens Falls
Answers built from our structured data. If a question isn't here, the fact is unverified — we'd rather omit than guess.
How tall is Stephens Falls?
Stephens Falls is 30 feet (9 m) tall. Height is sourced from OSM.
Is Stephens Falls in a national or state park?
Yes — Stephens Falls is inside Governor Dodge State Park. We inferred this from OpenStreetMap protected-area polygons; if you find we got the boundary wrong, please report it. See the park page for fees, hours, and current conditions.
Can I bring my dog to Stephens Falls?
Yes — dogs are allowed (Governor Dodge State Park permits leashed dogs in most areas). Inferred from park type; check the official site for trail-specific restrictions. Always leash and pack out waste.
Is there a fee to visit Stephens Falls?
No entrance fee. Governor Dodge State Park is free to access. Some trailheads may charge a parking fee separately.
How far is Stephens Falls from a major city?
Stephens Falls is 4 miles from Dodgeville (about 6 minutes' drive).
More waterfalls in Wisconsin
Where it is
43.0278, -90.1294
Sources and live status
Where we got the data, and where to check current conditions before you drive.
Last verified by Fallspots: 2026-05-15
Been there?
Marina and Theo verify pages one road trip at a time. If you've been to Stephens Falls recently, your local knowledge improves the page for everyone. Pick the kind of contribution that fits — every email lands in our inbox and gets read (and credited when we publish).
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