Best Waterfalls in The Upper Peninsula

Michigan’s Upper Peninsula (UP) is well known for epic lake shores and untouched forests, but the region is also a wonderland of waterfalls. Over 300 waterfalls have names in the UP, and many of them are close to Ironwood, a town in the heart of a northern wilderness that amazes tourists year-round.

Due to the number of Upper Peninsula waterfalls, they provide an excellent theme for a trip to the UP. A waterfalls tour will take you on scenic drives and hikes

Why You Feel Good Near Waterfalls
Moving water releases negative ions as the water molecules bash into each other. When you approach a waterfall, you enter air rich in negative ions. As the ions enter your body, you feel energized. In response to the ions, your body releases serotonin which boosts your mood.

Waterfalls also look beautiful, especially when viewed alongside Upper Peninsula fall colors. The sparkling water, roaring sound, and fresh scents stimulate your senses and deepen your connection with nature.

Waterfalls Near Ironwood MI
You’d have to work hard to pick a better spot to launch a waterfalls tour than Ironwood. The town located on the UP’s western border with Wisconsin places you within a day trip of dozens of spectacular hikes with waterfalls.

Between the town and Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park, you can find many waterfalls along the National Black River Scenic Byway that heads north toward Lake Superior.

Waterfalls near Ironwood, MI, with trail access:

• Great Conglomerate Falls – Water takes a 20-foot drop as it works its way through a rock formation on the Black River. Expect to hike for 15 to 45 minutes to reach the area.
• Potawatomi Falls – Here’s another waterfall with a 20-foot drop on the Black River that you can reach with a short 15-minute hike. 
• Gorge Falls – While you’re at Potawatomi Falls, go to the taller 34-foot-high Gorge Falls.
• Sandstone Falls – The Black River keeps on delivering with this 20-foot waterfall at the end of a marked 1/4-mile trail.
• Rainbow Falls – As the name suggests, this waterfall near Ironwood, MI, boasts exceptional beauty. You’ll encounter several sets of stairs on the 1/2-mile trail. 

• Gabbro Falls – Located along the Black River near Bessemer, Gabbro falls is a 40-foot waterfall with hiking trails to the top and bottom. 
• Superior Falls – 0.7 mile out-and-back trail along Lake Superior outside of Ironwood. 

Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park
This 60,000-acre park contains at least 100 waterfalls. Any day spent hiking, or cross-country skiing is bound to take you by some of them.

The Porcupine Mountains are also a superb destination if you want to view the fall colors of the Upper Peninsula. In the autumn, you can admire Upper Peninsula waterfalls alongside brilliantly colored trees like ash, beech, maple, oak, and hickory.

Adjacent to the park, you can visit Agate Falls on the Ontonagon River. It’s considered one of the prettiest falls in the UP, which is saying something. With a total drop of about 40 feet, Agate Falls spreads water across sandstone shelves.

From May through October, you can walk to the falls on a trail from a small park with water, toilets, and picnic tables.

Keweenaw Peninsula Waterfalls
A side trip up the Keweenaw Peninsula is worthwhile for many reasons, and waterfalls are not the least among them.

• Hungarian Falls – Located in the heart of the peninsula by Hubbell, these falls take three big drops of 20 to 50 feet. 
• Jacob’s Falls – Farther up the Keweenaw in Eagle River, look for Jacob’s Falls. You’ll be able to see the falls from M-26.

Next to the town of Munising stretches the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, a diverse ecosystem on the Lake Superior shore. Sandstone cliffs dominate the coast among beaches and dunes. The location is also home to many Upper Peninsula waterfalls, some inland and some coastal.

• Spray Falls – The view of this 70-foot falls plunging into Lake Superior mesmerizes visitors. A nearly 10-mile hike on the North Country
• Scenic Trail is necessary to get to the remote falls, but tourists get the best view on the local boat tours. Visitors also approach the falls by kayak, and they can sometimes spot the shipwreck near the falls. 
• Bridalveil Falls – The Bridalveil is taller than the Spray Falls and another waterfall best seen by boat due to its coastal location. 
• Munising Falls – Close to town, this 50-foot waterfall is reachable by paved trails and stairs. 
• Sable Falls – You need to walk a trail and stairs to get a look at this 75-foot waterfall. 
• Miners Falls – The Miners River spills out over a 50-foot sandstone cliff with a powerful spray. 

Tahquamenon Falls
This is the big boss of Upper Peninsula waterfalls. It’s one of the biggest waterfalls east of the Mississippi River and the biggest in Michigan. The spring thaw and rains transform the falls into a powerful force of nature, with 50,000 gallons per second moving across the rock ledges.

The lower and upper falls are located in Tahquamenon Falls State Park near the town of Paradise. The park is open year-round, but plan for snow if you come in the winter. The UP gets hundreds of inches every year.

The Upper Tahquamenon Falls span 200 feet and drops 50 feet. The land gives the water a coppery color, earning the falls the nickname Root Beer Falls.

Farther downriver, you’ll find the Lower Tahquamenon Falls, comprised of five waterfalls and an island. Due to the immense popularity of the falls with tourists, the state has recently installed a bridge for viewing the lower falls. The bridge is labeled as “all accessible” for people who use wheelchairs, scooters, or other mobility aids.

Discover the Splendor of Upper Peninsula Waterfalls
The UP is a special place packed with recreational and historical value. The rivers slicing through the rugged terrain have forged extraordinary waterfalls that inspire visitors.

If you’ve been planning a trip to see the fall colors in the Upper Peninsula, add a few waterfalls to your itinerary. The Western UP is an excellent place to start your trip due to its proximity to forests, lakes, and waterfalls.

Find things to do on your next UP adventure at Travel Ironwood.