The next entry in our "Wisconsin Waterfalls" series is Cascade Falls in Osceola. Visible from downtown, you can park right on North Cascade Street or in the lot directly across the street and near the public library.

Accessing the falls involves a descent down several flights of stairs into Wilkie Glen. I wish I had taken a photo of the stairs to illustrate why you will not want to forget anything in the car (towels, bug spray, camera, snacks, rubber chicken...you get the idea).   A nice spot on a hot and humid day, I felt completely comfortable letting the kids wade in Osceola Creek and walk behind the falls. The water was chilly, but not unbearably cold (we visited in late July).

You might want to plan ahead and have your kids wear water shoes, as the ground cover is a mix of rocks and sand.

Somewhat rushed for time, we noticed a series of hiking trails following the creek and accessible by crossing this wooden bridge.

Here's a view from behind the water. The kids were already dressed for the day (we didn't test the water strength, but I bet it would have felt nice on our "we've been camping for four days and probably smell like a sweaty mix of campfire smoke and DEET" grubby bodies).

Back on the main drag, the town of Osceola looks like a charming spot for a girlfriends getaway. We popped into The Looking Glass, which describes itself as a curiosity boutique that sells vintage, retro, up-cycles, funky, and handmade items (this pretty much sums it up).

The prices are reasonable and (without kids), I could probably have poked around the shop all day. Another option for exploring the region is the Osceola and St. Croix Valley Railway (we did not have time for this either, but I did notice the train station as we headed south on Highway 35).

If you're looking for another waterfall in this part of Wisconsin, check out Willow River Falls near New Richmond.