Ephemeral Waterfalls

We’re regularly asked about Devil’s Lake State Park’s waterfalls. Thing is, even when people go search for them, they are often disappointed. This is because the park’s falls are all ephemeral. They only flow when there is enough water around. That generally means right after the spring thaw or during a very wet summer season.

Black Bear Falls is the largest of the park’s ephemeral waterfalls and is located far from any trail and the hike is only for the most adventurous. What’s more, by the time the first spring flowers are up, it’s usually done flowing for the season. Black Bear is part of a trio of falls in this location. The other 2 are small ribbons of water falling from nearby cliffs. The one we call “Baby Bear” is just to the south of Black Bear. The 3rd is, well, a challenge to get to. 😉

The other ephemeral fall in the park is “December Fall” located just off of the Roznos Meadow (Ice Age) trail as it climbs up the East Bluff on the eastern side of the park. This small waterfall is fed by overflow from small wetland/pond that captures spring runoff further up the bluff. It requires a very snowy winter or wet summer to have enough water to flow. One heavy rain won’t get it going. Still, when it does run, it’s very photogenic!

Learn more here.

Derrick Mayoleth

For nearly 2 decades the Skillet Creek blog has focused on 3 main goals; To inspire you to visit and explore the Devil’s Lake region, to help you get the most your visit by sharing tips, events, and other helpful information. Lastly to advocate for our environment & wildlife and talk about how we can keep our natural areas amazing now and into the future! That last goal can sometimes cause controversy, but it’s the only way we can accomplish the first two. – Derrick Mayoleth, Owner.