|
|
Fall Color at Tahquamenon Falls
Michigan Upper Peninsula
Upper Falls Tahquamenon Falls State Park - Upper Peninsula Fall Color
West of Paradise, Michigan Tahquamenon Falls State Park is a popular park most noted for its impressive waterfalls, but also popular for boating, canoeing, fishing, and hiking and camping. It has one other notable feature, a brew pub, apparently located within the park. I say "apparently" because the Tahquamenon Falls Brew Pub & Restaurant is actually an island of private property within the park that came about years ago when the state acquired ownership adn access to the upper falls from private ownership who had a camp on the present site of the brewery and restaurant. It turns out to be a win-win for both the family who sold the access and the State of Michigan because any patron of the brewpub or restaurant must purchase a daily park sticker to get to the facilities.
In 2010 we toured the central and eastern UP hoping to catch some great fall foliage. In some areas we were too early but the woods around Tahquamenon Falls showed better color than most in the area and we got some nice fall color pictures.
|
|
| ~~~"Click" on smaller images for a larger picture~~~ |
Hiking and Walking Trails, Tahquamenon Falls State Park
The quarter-mile trail to the Upper Falls from the parking lot and the Brew Pub is handicap accessible and partially paved. There's also a slightly longer nature trail leading to the falls overlook.
< < < View from one of the waterfall overlooks on the handicapped accessible trail.
|
This leg of the trail leads downstream of the Upper Falls to the gorge where a set of 112 stairs will take you to the river's edge.
A view of the falls on the way to the gorge.
|
Where the paved trail to the top of the stairs that lead down to the gorge ends is the trailhead for the four mile long River Trail. It is one of the more popular hiking trails as it runs along the Tahquamenon Riverr and connects the Upper and Lower Falls. Due to exposed roots and hilly terrain it is rated as a medium difficulty hiking trail, but also the most scenic in the park. Between Memorial Day and Labor Day the park offers a shuttle service between the falls.
Overall, Tahquamenon Falls Park offers approximately 40 miles of hiking trails. Other popular hikes are the Clark Lake Trail and the Tahqua Trail that leads to the Rivermouth. This PDF map (click here) shows some of the hiking trails and points of interest worth exploring in the park. The North Country Hiking Trail also goes through the park and past the park campgrounds. |
Upper Waterfalls - Tahquamenon River
This viewing platform at the edge of the Upper Tahquamenon Water Falls can be reached by ascending 92 stairs from the paved overlook trail.
Where you can get an up close view of the falls. The vertical drop of the falls is almost 50 feet and it is more than 200 feet wide, making it one of the largest waterfalls east of the Mississippi.
|
Lower Waterfalls - Tahquamenon River
The lower Tahquamenon Falls are actually a cascade of several smaller waterfalls on either side of the large island in the middle of the river. The North branch falls can be reached by a boardwalk trail. The South branch and falls can be seen from the island which is accessible only by boat.
The last cascade of the Lower Tahquamenon Falls.
|
|
This viewing platform is at the edge of the cascades of the Lower Tahquamenon Water Falls - North Branch.
Cascades above the last drop of the Lower Tahqumaneon Falls.
|
Tahquamenon Falls Camping and Links
Tahquamenon Falls State Park has two primary campground areas. The largest is adjacent to the Lower Falls. It offers 188 sites with electrical service and modern washrooms. The second major area is the Rivermouth campground, which as the name suggests is near the mouth of the Tahquamenon River as it empties into Lake Superior. It has 72 sites with electricity and modern washrooms. It also has a 36 unit rustic tent camping area with vault toilets. There's also a 50 unit group camping site and a large lodge and a camper cabin available. |
 PDF map of the park and camping areas
PDF map of popular sites to explore
Park Website
|
|
|
Paradise, Michigan and Whitefish Point
Paradise, Michigan is the closest community to Tahquamenon Falls. It stretches along the west shore of Whitefish Bay and offers gift shops, restaurants, outfitting, and lodging services.
Had a great fish fry at the Little Falls Inn near the Best Western Motel.
If you have time, take the trip north of Paradise to Whitefish Point to see the lighthouse, beach, shipwreck museum & gift shop, and the Whitefish Point Birding Observatory.
 Motel, Hotel Lodging Paradise, Mi
|
|
Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan
The Army Corps of Engineers "Soo Locks" at Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan
Point Iroquois Lighthouse
Michigan UP Copper Harbor & Keweenaw Peninsula
Ontario East Shore Lake Superior Tour
Motel and Hotel-Resort Lodging in Michigan UP Circle Tour Cities
|
 |
|
Campground Directory
Lake Superior Circle Tour
Camping RV Parks
Upper Peninsula
Pictured Rocks
National Lakeshore Park
 Upper Peninsula
Campground Directory
 Two Months in the
Copper Regions
In 1845 Geologist-Historian Charles Whittlesley spent two months exploring and documenting his travels from Sault Ste. Marie to the Ontonagon River. At that time the UP had only been open for settlement for 3 years and was still very much a wild and unsettled frontier. Until recently this faacinating account of life in the early UP was "lost" in 160 year old archives. Now recovered it has now been published by the Northern Michigan University Dept of History. It is available for $10 plus postage. Contact
rmagnagh@nmu.edu
|
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
