Madison Gap Falls
Madison Gap Falls is one of my favorite waterfalls in the Keweenaw Peninsula, and that’s saying something! Located just a short jaunt from Eagle Harbor Cut Off Road, this waterfall is easily accessible for those willing to bushwhack a short distance to reach a serene fall without much traffic.
There’s no parking area for these falls, so do your best to park safely on the edge of Eagle Harbor Cut off Road. The main falls are downriver from the road (north), and you can access them from either side of the river. It’s much easier to take the eastern route (closer to Eagle Harbor), but the western hike is more of an adventure. Follow the river from the road, and the waterfall is a short walk away—you’ll be able to hear it once you’ve moved away from the road.
According to Jacob Emerick’s site, Madison Gap is one of the few breaks in the Keweenaw Ridge. This makes for a unique landscape for the falls, and although Eliza Creek isn’t very fast-paced, the change in elevation is enough to make these falls worth visiting.
There are falls on either side of Eagle Harbor Cut Off Road, but those pictured here are the lower falls.
If you visit the Keweenaw Peninsula before or after the main tourist season, it’s easy to see a handful of waterfalls in a day without seeing many other explorers. However, this waterfall is fairly lowkey year-round, offering a quaint spot to enjoy the result of millions of years of weathering on the Keweenaw Ridge and Madison Gap.
