Tahquamenon Falls State Park: Tahquamenon Falls (Blog Hike #101)

Trails: (numerous)

Hike Location: Tahquamenon Falls State Park

Geographic Location: west of Paradise, MI (46.60416, -85.20515)

Length: 1.8 miles

Difficulty: 5/10 (Moderate)

Date Hiked: August 2001

Overview: Two short hikes leading to Lower and Upper Tahquamenon Falls, respectively.

Park Information: http://www.michigandnr.com/parksandtrails/Details.aspx?id=428&type=SPRK

Hike Route Map: http://www.mappedometer.com/?maproute=102721
Photo Highlight:

Directions to the trailhead: From Paradise, go west on SR 123 8 miles to the entrance to Lower Tahquamenon Falls on the left.  Pay the small entry fee and proceed along park roads to the falls trailhead, following signs.  Upper Tahquamenon Falls is located another 4 miles west on SR 123.  Again, turn left and follow signs to the upper falls trailhead.

The hike: Located in the eastern Upper Peninsula, Tahquamenon Falls is one of the crown jewels of the Michigan state park system.  The state park surrounds the last 20 miles of the Tahquamenon River as it winds its way east toward Whitefish Bay and Lake Superior.  Highlighting this journey are two waterfalls, both of which are among the largest east of the Mississippi.

            The park has an extensive trail system.  A 12-mile scout trail winds along both sides of SR 123 and past both waterfalls.  Also, a four mile trail connects the upper and lower falls areas and would make for an excellent extended day hike.  Our route contains two short hikes that combined yield the maximum scenery for the shortest distance of any trail in the park.

            From the Lower Falls Parking Area, pick up the blacktop trail that heads west into the forest.  Immediately the basin, a shallow pool of water into which the waterfalls flow, comes into view.  The land across the basin is not the other side of the river, but it is actually an island.  Notice the waterfall to the left of this island.  Stop at an overlook for a good view of this falls.  Our hike stays on the north bank of the river, and therefore does not swing close to this waterfall for a close look.  The park does offer canoes for use by its patrons to row across the basin to the island.  A short trail around the island offers excellent views of waterfalls on both sides of the island, but that trail is not described here.

River island

            Continue along the blacktop trail, following signs that say “overlook.”  The blacktop soon turns to boardwalk as the trail enters a forest consisting of yellow birch, maple, and white pine.  After 0.4 miles arrive at the first wooden overlook on the left.  Standing on this overlook, you are but feet away from powerful Lower Tahquamenon Falls.  This waterfall drops 50 feet in three tiers splashing over rocks and carrying large volumes of water.  Though not as high and dramatic as upper falls, this may be my favorite waterfall overlook in the park.  A good waterfall is not merely seen, but also heard and, in the best of cases, felt.  Standing almost directly over the falls, one can feel the spray and clearly hear the powerful roar of the water cascading over bare rock.  The water has a brown tint created by tannin, the same substance that gives Dr. Pepper its color.  After you have viewed both this and another overlook slightly further on, retrace your steps to your car and head for upper falls.

One tier-Lower Tahquamenon Falls

Another tier-Lower Tahquamenon Falls

            Having parked at the upper falls parking area, again choose the blacktop path which leads downhill into the forest.  In 0.3 miles arrive at a trail junction with another blacktop trail, this one running along the rim of the Tahquamenon River gorge.  Turn left and begin walking with the gorge on the right and the forest on your left.  The falls can be heard down in the gorge but not yet seen.  Bypass two trails that go off to the left.  The first one is our return route and the second one is the river trail connecting you to the lower falls in four miles.

            Look for a metal set of steps leading downhill to the right.  Descend eight flights of steps to arrive at just above river level in the gorge.  Now heading upstream, a boardwalk and a few more metal steps negotiate the rock walls of the gorge to arrive at a wooden overlook.  From this point, the falls are easily visible about 0.5 miles upstream.  This waterfall features a straight drop of 90 feet into a large plunge pool.  Upper falls is the second widest waterfall east of the Mississippi, with the widest being, of course, Niagara Falls.  Shale rock walls line either side of the waterfall.

Upper Tahquamenon Falls

            After viewing the waterfall, retrace your steps to the intersection for the return route, as described above.  Turn right on this gravel trail and enter a birch, maple, beech, and white pine forest with a dense shrub layer.  Several interpretive signs tell about the animal and plant life of the forest.  In 0.3 miles the trail comes out at the upper falls parking lot to conclude the hike.