Waterfalls in Michigan
Michigan might be the Great Lake State, but it’s also known for picturesque and secluded waterfalls. From Ocqueoc Township to Copper Harbor, we’ve got you covered.
Waterfalls in Michigan’s Lower Peninsula
The lower peninsula of Michigan has very few waterfalls. Most people will tell you that Oqueoc Falls is the only one in the LP; however, that isn’t true. There are two waterfalls on Manistee River tributaries, and there’s a legend of a 5+ foot waterfall near Alpena that’s been hidden on private land for decades.
That said, the most known and accessible waterfall in the lower peninsula is Ocqueoc Falls. It’s small, and many refer to it as a rapid rather than a fall, but it’s worth a visit regardless! If you’re near Petoskey, it’s worth checking out the artificial fall near Little Traverse Bay. Despite not being natural, it’s shockingly picturesque.
Waterfalls in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula
Now we’re cooking with gas! Michigan’s Upper Peninsula is chock full of waterfalls, most residing west of M-77. The most known falls are likely the mighty Tahquamenon Upper Falls, which boasts an average of 7,000 gallons of water per second. These are well worth a visit, but some of the most delightful falls sit further west.
To be more specific about what waterfalls you should check out, we’ll break down a few popular regions of the Upper Peninsula and name a few falls worth checking out in that area.
Interactive Map of Michigan’s Waterfalls
Marquette Area
The Marquette area has a ton of waterfalls, many of which are easily accessible. That said, our favorite falls in the Marquette area are those you must hike to. There isn’t much more rewarding than hearing the rumble of the falls getting louder and louder as you approach. Plus, you can enjoy a nice picnic (or just a snack) by the falls before you hike back. Typically, the falls you have to walk to are less crowded, too!
Upper Dead River Falls is one of the most popular waterfalls in the Marquette area, and for good reason. Some things that make this place special are that the hike out to the falls is stunning, you can fish the Dead River for Trout, there are numerous falls along the path, and you can cliff jump below a waterfall here. What else is there to ask for?
In the warmer months, Dead River Falls is more crowded. That said, it’s such a spread-out area that finding a slice of the pie for yourself isn’t hard. When we’ve visited the falls, we’ve always made new friends and found moments to enjoy the serene beauty all to ourselves.
Yellow Dog River Falls is closer to Big Bay, an unincorporated community north of Marquette. The Yellow Dog Watershed Preserve looks after this waterfall (and hundreds of acres of land), which keeps it pristine. The hike to the falls is roughly a mile, so you’re looking at two miles round trip. There are plenty of places to sit and enjoy the water, and this is one of the best waterfalls in the area.
Alder Falls is a remote waterfall that’s easily accessible. As backward as that sounds, you’ll understand when you get there. Before we dive into this one, it’s worth noting that Alder Falls is one of our favorite waterfalls in Michigan; seriously, it’s that quaint!
The trailhead isn’t well marked; however, there’s a small parking area and a sign asking you to keep things clean near the falls. Depending on the car that you’re driving, you may need to stop before you get there due to road conditions. There’s a steep hill to get to Alder Falls, but the view once you get to the bottom is well worth it!
Keweenaw Peninsula
Waterfalls in the Keweenaw Peninsula might be much less known than elsewhere in the Upper Peninsula; however, some of Michigan’s most unique and quaint waterfalls lie in Copper County. Some waterfalls here require ample bushwhacking to reach, and some sit (literally) right on top of the road, making access easy. Many Keweenaw Peninsula waterfalls are fed by snowmelt and precipitation, so you won’t see as much flow in the warmer months. These falls are more visited that time of year, so enjoying the Keweenaw in the early spring or late fall will give you a better show and fewer people around.
Hungarian Falls is among the Midwest’s best hikes and triumphant waterfall areas. There are numerous falls to see on your journey; depending on how adventurous you are, you can see them all. The upper falls are scraggly and rugged, the middle falls are easy to wade under and picturesque, and the lower falls are hard to reach and powerful.
The upper and middle falls are easy to reach. The trail will take you to both, and these are the two falls that most people think of when talking about taking a hike out to Hungarian Falls. The lower falls are by far the largest, standing roughly 60 feet tall. However, there is no path to these falls. The Dover Creek has carved a deep ravine, making trail management here challenging. If you decide to try to access Lower Hungarian Falls, use great caution and be prepared before you go!
Haven Falls is easily accessible but often forgotten. They’re the crown jewels of Haven Falls Roadside Park just outside Lac La Belle. The Haven Creek is small but mighty when fed by snowmelt and heavy rain, and the falls are picturesque all year despite being reduced to little more than a trickle in the dry season. Depending on when you go to Haven Falls, there’s a chance you’ll have the entire park to yourself. On our three visits, that was the case!
Eagle River Falls combines raw beauty with the Keweenaw Peninsula’s historical significance. In 1862, the Lake Superior Safety Fuse Company was founded. It would later be renamed J. Blight & Sons, and the company would be in business for generations. They crafted blasting fuses for nearby mining operations. They dammed the Eagle River here, and remnants of that damn are still visible today, despite the factory burning down in 1957.
Since then, the mill has disappeared, and in months when the Eagle River has a higher water level, the water overtakes the remnants from the old damn, sending water over the entirety of the falls. In the dry months, water still flows here; however, it’s restricted to the right side of the falls thanks to the dam remnants. The view is spectacular and easy to get to regardless of when you visit. The old M-26 bridge, built in 1915, was turned into a pedestrian bridge in 1990 when the new one was built. You can view the falls from here or hike down to the bottom!
Porcupine Mountains
In our opinion, Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park is still a hidden gem for Michigan’s State Park system. It’s nearly 60,000 acres and includes some of Michigan’s best views and finest waterfalls. Something spectacular awaits you no matter where you look, hike, or fish. In the fall, the mountains, rivers, and waterfalls are covered in autumnal color, making the experience that much more magical. A lot has been written about the Porcupine Mountains and its waterfalls. These aren’t necessarily the best waterfalls in the park; however, they are our favorites!
Overlooked Falls’ name paints a good picture of what you can expect once you get there. It’s a short jaunt off the Little Carp River Trail to other waterfalls and hiking, so many people overlook it on their journey. However, that’s a big mistake! Today, there’s a sign pointing to the falls. The waterfall is small but has two sections, and you can wade into the water here, which makes it special. The scraggly, rocky outcroppings are a great place to rest, have a snack, or enjoy the sounds of the Little Carp River passing you by.
Greenstone Falls is surrounded by a canopy of trees, making this fall feel like something out of a fairytale, especially in the fall when the trees are screaming orange, red, and yellow. The hike to the falls isn’t long, but you likely won’t find many other people here. You can wade into the water and climb onto the falls, which we wouldn’t recommend doing without a pair of water shoes. This short hike is picturesque, and you follow the river as you take it, making the entire journey feel like a dream.
The Presque Isle River Area contains three waterfalls, numerous rapids and cascades, Presque Isle, and a handful of hiking trails. As you can imagine, there’s a lot to see here, and it’s well worth a stop on your trip to the Porcupine Mountains! Hiking from Lake Superior upstream, you’ll reach the falls in this order: Manabezho Falls, Manido Falls, and Nawadaha Falls. Manabezho Falls is the hardest to get a good look at; however, the other two are easier to see, and you can easily hike under Manido Falls. Similar to most waterfalls in the world, access to these falls is heavily dependent on water levels. A high water line can cut off access to certain areas, and low flowage can make the falls less appealing.
Alger County Waterfalls
Alger County might have the most variety in its waterfalls of any county in the Upper Peninsula. Alger County includes Au Train, Grand Island, Munising, Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, and Grand Marais. There are unique falls found throughout its acreage, and you can find a little bit of everything here. Many of the best falls in Pictured Rocks require long hikes; however, numerous falls in Alger County are easy to get to and worth stopping off the main drag for.
Scott Falls Roadside Park is likely the most accessible waterfall in Alger County. It’s visible from M-28, but you’ll want to park your car and get out to see this one up close. It flows most ferociously in the spring and fall, and the water flowing over the cliff is significantly reduced during the dry months. There’s a parking area across M-28 with bathrooms and access to Lake Superior, making this one of the best rest stops in Michigan. It’s important to be careful as you cross the road, as traffic often travels as fast as 70 miles an hour.
Munising Falls is one of the most accessible falls in Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, as it’s located right in Munising. The Munising Falls Visitor Center has a large parking area, and boardwalks will take you directly to the waterfall. Water flows here year-round, and the falls freeze in the winter, a triumphant site. Standing at roughly 50 feet, this is one of the tallest waterfalls in Michigan that’s easy to get to. There will likely be other visitors when you head out to the falls; however, it’s still worth your time to make the journey anyway.
Sable Falls is a long, tall, fast-paced fall that is the Sable Creek’s finale before it plunges into Lake Superior. The waterfall is located just outside of the town of Grand Marais and is easily accessible off H-58. Standing close to three-quarters of 100 feet, Sable Falls is triumphant to view from the boardwalks that the National Parks System has built to view them. There are many stairs here, and you can walk all the way down to Lake Superior. If you want to make the hike longer, start at Agate Beach in Grand Marais, hike down the shoreline, up the boardwalk to the falls, and back again.
How to Photograph Waterfalls
Before we dive into this section, it’s important to say that you should shoot waterfalls however you want. We don’t think there’s such a thing as a bad photo, and you should continue documenting them as you see fit!
That said, we’ve gotten much better at documenting waterfalls since we started this page in 2020. We’ll share a little about what we’ve learned here, but there’s always room for improvement. Taking photographs of waterfalls is an art form and should be treated as such. Experiment a little; why not?
Plus, waterfalls look different day-to-day and season-to-season, so you can go back and shoot them again to get a different perspective!
Madison Gap Falls in the Keweenaw Peninsula
If you have a phone or point-and-shoot camera, your best bet is to focus on your angles more than your settings. Often, waterfalls will look more significant from above, but you can get more water detail from a lower angle, so your point of attack depends on what you’re looking for. If you want to get yourself in the photo, investing in a phone tripod or a phone mount for your regular tripod is a good investment. Most cameras have a timer, and your phone will, too. Most people on Facebook would rather see you next to a waterfall than just a waterfall, anyway!
If you have a higher-end point-and-shoot, a mirrorless camera, or a DSLR, you should invest in an ND filter. A neutral density filter reduces the intensity of light, making it easier to get long exposures. If you’ve seen photos of waterfalls that look buttery smooth with white lines where the water should be, these images were shot with an ND filter! Sometimes, these filters can be expensive; however, you can find them for cheap online. Be sure to make sure you get the right size, and bring your tripod! Long exposures mean you need a stable surface to shoot from.
Ten Foot Falls in the Keweenaw Peninsula
Waterproof cameras are a solid bet for the clumsy among us and those who like to take videos. With a waterproof camera like a GoPro, Insta360, or DJI Osmo Action Camera, you can get up close and personal with waterfalls without worrying about breaking them. You likely won’t have as many settings to work with, but that’s a solid trade-off, we think. We (accidentally) threw a camera into Jacob’s Falls in the Upper Peninsula. The camera was okay after weeks in rice, but we learned our lesson! Most of the YouTube videos on our channel were supplemented with GoPro footage; the quality is pretty excellent!
Returning to our first point, just get out there and take photos! It’s better to have shot a photo and not like it than never to have shot a photo at all.
Water Shoes for Waterfalls
One of our favorite ways to experience waterfalls in Michigan, especially smaller ones or those that aren’t as ferocious, is by wading into the water under the falls. If you go in with your hiking shoes, you’ll have an uncomfortable walk back to the car or campsite, and with no shoes, you might cut your feet on sharp rocks. Water shoes fix those issues and are a key piece of gear to help make your experience better.
Greenstone Falls in the Porcupine Mountains
We tend to throw a pair of water shoes in the back of the car or our bag when we’re out for a hike. These don’t need to be expensive; you can get a pair at Walmart or on Amazon for $20 or less. Then, when you see a waterfall that you want to wade underneath, slip off your hiking shoes and socks, put on the water shoes, and have a blast. When you’re done, put your socks and shoes back on (it’s handy to bring a small towel to wipe off your feet), tie them outside your bag, and head on your way.
If you plan to do this, it’s essential that you exercise extreme caution. Rocks near waterfalls are often slippery, and it’s best to play it safely. Water shoes are also beneficial for rock hunting, as you can wade in the water without hurting the bottoms of your feet.
Every Waterfall We’ve Been To
Click here to see a list of every waterfall we’ve been to. We wish we could list them all here, but we’ve visited far too many for our site to handle that many images. The list will be updated as we visit more falls, so check this page to see what we’ve been up to!