superior trails | lake superior sunset superiortrails - shovel point

black river harbor rainbow fallsWestern Upper Peninsula Michigan - Water Falls, Hiking & Camping
- South Shore Lake Superior Circle Tour

Some of the UP's most impressive waterfalls are located within 50 miles of Wisconsin in the western end of the Upper Peninsula.

 

Upper Michigan Peninsula
Waterfall Directory

Western UP Waterfalls:
(see pictures below)
Presque Isle Waterfalls
Manabezho Falls
Manido Falls
Nawadaha Falls
Black River Waterfalls
Rainbow Falls
Sandstone Falls
Potawatomi Falls
Gorge Falls
Conglomerate Falls

Baraga area Waterfalls

Central UP Waterfalls:
Marquette - Sault Ste. Marie Waterfalls:
Laughing Whitefish Falls
Munising Falls
Miners Falls
Sable Falls
Upper Tahquamenon Falls
Lower Tahquamenon Falls

Circle Tour Travel Planner
UP Camping Directory
UP Color Tour


Coming from Wisconsin, heading on Highway 2 east out of Ashland, Wisconsin towards the Michigan Upper Peninsula, the road eventually leaves the lakeshore. You can rejoin the lake by taking Wisconsin Hwy 122 north near the berg of Saxon. That road morphes into Michigan 505 when you cross the state line - which is the Montreal River. (There are two impressive waterfalls, Saxon and Superior Falls, on the Montreal River - see pictures on the Wisconsin Waterfall Directory page). Continue on 505 climbing the bluffs past the Little Girls Point campground and you'll soon arrive in Ironwood, Michigan. Then rejoin Highway 2 and head east towards Bessemer. Look for the sign for the Black River Scenic Byway on the outskirts of Bessemer. Great hiking, waterfalls, and scenery are waiting!

After visiting Black River Harbor you can return to Highway 2 and continue east towards Wakefield, Michigan. About a mile north of town on Michigan 28 you encounter the road to Presque Isle Scenic Recreation Area - more impressive waterfalls, hiking, camping, and scenery.

 

Waterfalls Black River National Scenic Byway

The Black River begins about 30 miles south of here in Wisconsin, heads north into Michigan while dropping over a 1000 feet in such a short distance! The last few hundred feet of this drop are part of this national parkway that includes hiking trails to several falls plus a nice camp ground and picnic area near the harbor. The North Country Hiking Trail bisects the parkway as well.

Although water levels were down, the falls and surrounding scenery were well worth the trip. [See our links to more pictures of the falls during two other trips when water levels were higher]

Rainbow FallsSandstone Falls

Rainbow (left) Sandstone Falls (right) After our hike, I discovered Rainbow Falls - on the left - can be better viewed from a trail on the other side of the river - which would have been a nicer shot of the complete falls. Hans and JO enjoyed the close-up view of Sandstone Falls >>>

  More Rainbow Falls pictures
  Rainbow Falls - Fall Color

 

 

 

 

gorge fallsconglomerate falls

Gorge Falls (left) Conglomerate Falls (right)

Geology buffs will enjoy this hiking this area, identifying the traces of volcanic upheaval from eons ago.

After this hike, I think I now know can recognize greenstone and conglomerate rock!!

Black River Harbor & Campgroundrainbow falls - color tour

  Fall Color Tour, Black River: waterfalls, camping, hiking

  More Info on Black River Harbor Recreation Area and Campground

One of the undiscovered jewels along the UPs Lake Superior shoreline. Nice campground, terrific waterfalls, good hiking trails, spacious picnic area.



bluebar

Presque Isle River Scenic Recreation Area - Waterfalls & Hiking

Located at the extreme western end of Michigan's Porcupine Mountain State Park, the Presque Isle river runs parallel to and about 15 miles east of the Black River. Take Highway 28 north out of Wakefield for about a mile or two until you intersect with County Road 519. Presque Isle harbor is about 14 miles.

As with the Black River area, there are miles of great hiking trails and scenery.

The campground and picnic area is more rustic than what we found at the Black River campground. In 2002 they were having trouble with a contaminated water supply and at that time lacked the funds to install the necessary filtration systems. So plan to bring in your own fresh water supply.

Unfortunately water levels were down quite a bit so the falls were a shrunken version of their greatness! But still neat. But on a subsequent trip we did find higher water levels.

manabezho fallsmanido falls

Manabezho Falls (left) Manido Falls (right)

There are sturdy boardwalks and stairs along the river bank . . . as well as some viewing areas that are handicapped accessable.

  See More Presque Isle WaterFall Pictures (spring time high water levels).

  Porcupine Mountain State Park & Campground

fall color in the porcupine mountainsThe "Porkies" have some great hiking trails and scenic areas . . . plus camping, waterfalls, rivers, and Lake Superior beaches. You could easily spend a week there exploring what it has to offer and still leave lots for future visits.

Fall Color & Hiking in the Porcupine Mountains.

bluebar

Tahquamenon Falls State Park Campground & Waterfalls

Upper Tahquamenon FallsTahquamenon is a large (40,000 acres, 13 miles long) state park with two widely separated camping areas. The highlight of the park is the Upper Falls, almost a 50 foot drop and stretching across 200 feet. At times as much as 50,000 gallons of water per second cascade down.

See waterfall pictures and more information on Tahquamenon Falls State Park.

Michigan Upper Peninsula Lake Superior Circle Drive

arrowGoing east towards Munising and Pictured Rocks . . . More waterfalls and hiking pages from the Keweenaw Peninsula through Tahquemenon Falls to Sault Ste. Marie.

  Michigan UP Copper Harbor & Keweenaw Peninsula

arrowMarquette, Michigan

arrowOntonagon & Porcupine Mountains State Park

WI South Shore
Water Fall Directory

Wisconin Lake Superior Waterfalls:
Manitou Falls (big and little)
Amnicon Falls
Copper Falls
Morgan Falls
Potato Falls
Superior Falls
Saxon Falls
Potato Falls in Fall Color

Bayfield-Ashland Info:
Bayfield Applefest
Bayfield Area Camping
Bayfield Hiking
Ashland
Apostle Islands
Madeline Island

Minnesota North Shore
Waterfall Directory

North Shore Page 1:
Gooseberry Falls - Gooseberry River
Split Rock Falls - Split Rock River
Beaver Falls - Beaver River
North Shore Page 2:
High Falls - Baptism River
2 Step Falls - Baptism River
Manitou Falls - Manitou River
Caribou Falls - Caribou River
Cross River Falls -Cross River
Temperance River Cascades
North Shore Page 3:
Cascades - Cascades River
Cascade Falls - Cascades River
Devil's Kettle Falls - Brule River
High Falls - Pigeon River

 

 


SuperiorTrails.com - Reinhold Development - 2023

 

SuperiorTrails.com Mobile-Friendly Lake Superior Circle Tour Travel Planner

gooseberry falls park
Winter - Michigan UP
Winter - Wisconsin Winter - Minnesota
Winter - Sault Ste Marie.

Little Girls Point Campground
Best Upper Peninsula Campgrounds

bay furnace campground upper peninsula
Lake Superior Camping
& Campground Directory

Best Camping along Lake Superior.

Upper Tahquamenon FallsTahquamenon Falls State Park and Waterfalls.

wagner falls - munising michigan
Munising and Pictured Rocks

Brockaway Mountain Fall Color By Ziming Zheng
Copper Harbor and Brockaway Mountain

Lake Superior Agate?
Identifying Lake Superior Agates and Beach Rocks

miners castle on the pictured rocks cruise
Pictured Rocks Cruises

Upper Tahquamenon Falls
Michigan Upper Peninsula Waterfalls

red bar

Travel Information



lake superior road map of the circle tour
Lake Superior Circle Tour Road Map & Guide to Travel Attractions around Lake Superior.


keith aliUP200 Sled Dog Race & Festival

Identifying Lake Superior Agates and Beach Rocks.Lake Superior Agate?

rainbow falls fall color black river harborBlack River Harbor
Scenic Byway - Fall Color.



Best Rock Picking and Agate Hunting Beaches in the Upper Peninsula. grand marais beach and grand sable dunes


miners castle on the pictured rocks cruise
Pictured Rocks National Park

Wisconsin Outdoor Treasures

Hiking Michigan's Upper Peninsula

Eric Hansen's guide to UP hiking is well respected in hiking circles. This guide includes profiles on some terrific off-the-beaten path hiking trails. [More info]

Piorcupine Mountains Lake of the Clouds
Porcupine Mountains Lake of the Clouds

Porcupine Mountains Lake of the CloudsPorcupine Mountains State Park was voted #2 Best State Park in the U.S.

WEATHER REPORT WEATHER REPORTS

Lake Superior Golf Course Reviews
See our Reviews of Michigan Upper Peninsula Golf Courses around Lake Superior.