Tahquamenon Falls

OTHER THINGS TO DO

Tahquamenon Falls State Park encompasses close to 52,000 acres stretching over 13 miles. Most of this is undeveloped woodland without roads, buildings, or power lines. The centerpiece of the park, and the very reason for its existence, is the Tahquamenon River with its waterfalls. The Upper Falls is one of the largest waterfalls east of the Mississippi. It has a drop of nearly 50 feet and is more than 200 feet across. A maximum flow of more than 50,000 gallons of water per second has been recorded cascading over its precipice. A paved pathway (.4 mile) leads from the parking lot at the Upper Falls, through an old-growth forest to the observation platforms at the crest of the Falls, and is handicap accessible. Steps lead to the bottom of the falls where the water crashes into the Tahquamenon River. There is a 4-mile hiking trail along the river to the Lower Falls. Four miles downstream is the Lower Falls, a series of five smaller falls cascading around an island. Although not as dramatic as the Upper Falls, they are equally magnificent. They can be viewed from the river bank or from the island which can be reached by rowboat rented from a park concession. The island walk affords a view of the falls in the south channel.