Tahquamenon Falls SP
Eastern Upper Peninsula - Michigan
General information about the Taquamenon Falls
Tahquamenon Falls is a series of waterfalls on the Tahquamenon River in the northeastern Upper Peninsula of Michigan. They are the largest waterfalls in Michigan and one of the largest in the eastern half of North America. The water is a striking brown color due to the tannins leached from the cedar swamps that the river drains. The falls are one of the top tourist highlights of the Upper Peninsula.
Entrance fees and opening hours
- 9$/vehicle/Non Resident Daypass
- Covered by the Recreation Passport*
- Open daily 24h
*The Recration Passport is the “flat rate” for all state parks in Michigan. The pass costs a one-time fee of $40 (non-residents) and can be purchased online, at the entrance of the respective state parks or at the Customer Service Centers of the Department of Natural Resources. The pass is valid for one calendar year.
Our visits: So far 1 visit in October 2024
Upper Falls
Description: The Upper Falls are a large waterfall with a drop height of almost 50 feet and a width of more than 200 feet. It plunges up to 50,000 liters of water per second into the depths.
The trail to the waterfall is paved and about 0.3mi long. You can get a first glimpse of the fall from the viewpoint. If you want to get closer, there are two other viewpoints, which can only be reached via stairs.
Our rating: Of course we had to visit Michigan's biggest waterfalls on our road trip. They are very easy to get to and so there is really no reason not to come here. If you don't mind climbing stairs, we can definitely recommend both viewpoints that lead closer to the falls. You have a much better view than just from the top.
Lower Falls
Description: There are two sections of the Lower Falls, one on either side of a small island that divides the river. On the eastern side of the river, the falls can be easily viewed thanks to the boardwalk. For some time now, the small island can also be reached via a newly built bridge. Here you can now also admire the western side of the river with its small waterfalls and cascades via a short trail. In total, the Lower Falls consist of five small waterfalls. These have a height of between 5 and 6 meters.
Our rating: The Lower Falls are much smaller and line up like a string of pearls along a well-maintained path. Even though the falls here are less spectacular, we really enjoyed the short walk along the river. The beautiful weather and the colorful trees did the rest to make it a wonderful day.
