Hiking Team: Dave Miller, Rosie Miller
Date: September 5, 2026
The Upper Falls spans 200 feet wide and drops nearly 50 feet. This makes it the largest waterfall in Michigan and the second-largest waterfall by volume east of the Mississippi River—bested only by the massive Niagara Falls. A long boardwalk descended to the river giving us great views of the colorful falls.
Its most famous trait is that the water is naturally stained with deep amber or “root beer” color due to tannins leaching from the surrounding cedar and hemlock swamps, making it one of the most distinctive sights in the Midwest.
The River Trail to the lower falls is just over four miles and is considered moderate due to the hilly terrain, exposed tree roots, muddy patches and multiple staircases. On the plus side, it parallels the Tahquamenon River which gave us many beautiful scenic views.
A volunteer ranger had some local animal pelts on display near the parking lot. Overall, we had a pleasant 4.4-mile hike.











































