Michigan’s nature wonderland, also known as the Upper Peninsula, is home to over 300 waterfalls. They range from small, 10-foot-tall showers along the side of the road, to the large Tahquamenon Falls, the second largest waterfalls east of the Mississippi River. They also range in difficulty to see, from easy, along the side of the road, to forging your own trail through the woods to reach them. Are you up for adventure?

Munising is a great place to setup base to explore waterfalls. You will find many water falls in the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore and surrounding area. If you are driving into town from the east on M-28, look to the right and you will see Alger Falls as you coast down the hill. Pull off to the side of the road if you want to have a closer look.

Munising Falls:

Munising, MI              Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore

Easy: Paved walkway

Height: 50 feet

Located on the edge of town at the beginning of the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore.

Miners Falls:

Munising, MI              Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore

Intermediate: .6 mile walk down the trail

Height: 50 feet

Sable Falls:

Burt Township, MI     Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore

Intermediate: Short trail and 169 steps up and down.

Height: 75 feet

Walk a little bit further down the trail following the stream and the water empties out into Lake Superior at the beach.

Alger Falls:

Munising, MI

Easy: roadside

Height: 20 feet

You might miss it the first time you drive by going down the hill. It is located at the “T” intersection of M-28 and M-94.

Horseshoe Falls:

Munising, MI

Easy: Private Park, located on private property. There is a $10 entry fee.

Height: 30 feet

This waterfall is about a mile from Alger Falls. There are nice gardens surrounding the waterfall, a nice place to relax and mediate.

Wagner Falls:

Munising, MI

Easy: Short trail walk from a roadside park.

Height: 20 feet

Near Alger Falls off M-94

Au Train Falls:

Au Train Township, MI

Easy: 530 feet down the trail to the falls

Height: 40 feet and 10 feet.

Scott Falls:

Au Train Township, MI

Easy: Roadside

Height: 10 feet

Another quaint waterfall along the side of the road (M-28). One can easily go behind the water and up on top from the water source. There is also a beautiful roadside beach on Lake Superior. It’s also a good place to park to see the falls.

Black River Falls:

Ely Township, MI                   Gwin State Forest Area.

Hard: No obviously marked parking lot or trail. There is a small sign that someone made. The trail to the falls isn’t marked. It appears that there was a small bridge over a ravine, but it is out, so you must go down into the ravine and back up the other side. Once you get close to the falls, there are large rock formations that make for difficult terrain.

Height: 30 feet

Up for adventure? Raise your heart rate to reach the Black River Falls. It is worth the trip to see the pulsing cascade cut through the rock formation.

Presque Isle River Falls:

Manabezho Falls and Manido Falls

Ironwood, MI

Intermediate

Height: 25 feet and 15 feet

The Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park has a lot of waterfalls. The Presque Isle waterfalls are the easiest to get to. There is a trail and boardwalk along the river (lots of stairs) to view the waterfalls. These waterfalls are near where the river empties into Lake Superior.

Tahquamenon Falls:

Paradise, MI

Easy: paved trails to the falls

Height: 48 feet

The Tahquamenon Falls are the second largest waterfalls east of the Mississippi River, second only to Niagara Falls. The main falls are over 200 feet across. The falls have a brownish tint to them from the surrounding cedar swamps. At Tahquamenon Falls State Park, there is parking at the upper and lower falls. The upper falls are the large falls. At the time of my visit in July, you could take a canoe to the island to get a closer look at the lower falls. This fall, the state put in a bridge and path to reach the island and get a closer look at the falls.