Waterfalls

Waterfalls are a popular attraction in the Upper Peninsula. Some of the most popular are Tahquamenon (one of the biggest and best in Michigan), and the beautiful Bond and Agate falls near Porcupine Mountains.

There are more than 300 falls in the U.P. to choose from but the smaller, secret falls that you sometimes stumble across on a hike or hear about from the locals are the best.

Among the hidden gems are Hungarian Falls on the Hungarian River near the town of Hubbell, which offers a multi-tiered falls over a 100-foot drop to Lake Superior. Hungarian Falls are now owned by the Keweenaw Land Trust.

Close by you’ll find Douglas Houghton Falls, which at 110 feet is Michigan’s tallest waterfall. Located off M-26 between Laurium and Lake Linden, these falls were privately owned before being sold to the Michigan DNR in 2018, which expects to open a state park at this 70-acre location by 2025. Making the public access safer will be a key goal as erosion has made these falls difficult to reach and explore.

The Sturgeon River Gorge and Falls is another less-trafficked area with a big wow factor. The waterfall is very impressive, funneling the fast-moving Sturgeon River into a rocky chasm. This is the same Sturgeon River that winds north, east and then south of Otter Lake. The Sturgeon is classified as a Wild & Scenic River with Class II rapids, one of just 16 in the state.

One of my favorite things about waterfalls is the sound. The large falls that move a lot of water make a prominent roar, contrasting with the relaxing trickle as water tumbles over the rocky drops in smaller creeks and rivers.

The larger falls produce that super fine mist of water that you can feel sometimes before you see it. The sunshine making rainbows in the mist is pretty special, too — a sight we are all pretty lucky to behold.