In 2016, we had the wonderful opportunity to backpack through the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. Since then, it has been a dream of mine to run the length of the park. While this trip was short, it gave me a taste of that experience and made me even more determined than ever to complete the dream.
Take a magical hike in the woods on the Bush Bay Trail near Cedarville, Michigan. With beautiful views of Lake Huron, limestone and dolomite formations, and all the moss that would make a fairy garden jealous. This hike is well worth the stop.
The Bush Bay Trail has been nicknamed “the Narnia Trail” and for good reasons. There’s something whimsical about it.
Hiking options are abundant in Marquette, Michigan. With scenic views everywhere, unique terrain, and waterfalls galore, it is easy to see why Marquette is one of my favorite Michigan hiking destinations.
Here are some of my favorite trails to hike in the area.
Michigan’s Keweenaw Peninsula is a haven for all kinds of outdoor enthusiasts. It has rugged mountain views, wild rivers, and quaint historic towns sprinkled in between. There are plenty of adventures and waterfalls to keep one satisfied. So grab your hiking boots and get ready to visit these 5 waterfalls.
The L’Anse area is rich with hidden gems. From history and culture to waterfalls and mountain views, there’s something for every type of outdoor enthusiast. If waterfalls are your thing, here are 5 you don’t want to miss.
Marquette, Michigan is rich in wild rivers and waterfalls. From small, single-drops to massive, multi-tiered, Marquette has all sorts of waterfalls. It is one of my favorite places to jump on the trails and visit some of these gems.
Miners Falls is one Michigan waterfall that should be on everyone’s bucket list. Surrounded by the endless beauty of Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, Miners Falls can hold its own.
There is a place in Michigan that is incredibly wild and remote. With miles of trails, scenic waterfalls, hardwood forests, and wild rivers, McCormick Wilderness Area is an outdoor enthusiast’s dream come true. However, the unmarked trails make this place a destination for experienced hikers.
If you are looking for an easily accessible winter waterfall adventure, Powerhouse Falls is an excellent option to add to your itinerary.
Agate Falls is one of Michigan’s impressive waterfalls. It is nearly 40 feet in height and cascades over a beautiful sandstone terrace. It can provide visitors with a one-of-a-kind experience.
Hidden within the Rock River Wilderness Area in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula is a beautiful, secluded waterfall. Narrow roads and a trail thick with mud make getting to Rock River Falls an adventure in itself. A journey that is well worth it.
Tahquamenon Falls State Park is a well-known gem in the state of Michigan. However, what most people don’t know is that the park offers so much more than just this famous waterfall. Consisting of nearly 50,000 acres, Tahquamenon Falls State Park is home to multiple campgrounds and miles of scenic woodland trails.
Each year people travel north to Michigan’s Upper Peninsula in hopes of catching a glimpse of the mystical Aurora Borealis (Northern Lights). We were lucky enough to be in the right place, at the right time, with the right conditions.
Privately owned, Horseshoe Falls is one of the many beautiful waterfalls in the city of Munising. Surrounded by ferns and moss, this picturesque waterfall is worth stopping to visit, at least once.
Michigan’s Upper Peninsula is well known for small, hidden waterfalls that few people know about. Chatham Falls is known to locals but not frequently visited by those passing through the village of Chatham.
A small waterfall tucked away on one of Pictured Rock’s most beautiful beaches. Elliot Falls, also known as Miners Beach Falls, is an iconic waterfall of the area.
Waterfalls created by or surrounded by dams are not my favorite. But every once in awhile, one must look beyond the concrete and fencing to see what beauty can be found. Forestville Dam Falls is one such case.
Hidden deep within a protected gorge is a roaring waterfall known as Sturgeon River Falls. Located on the powerful Sturgeon River, this is one waterfall that is well worth the challenge to visit.
Tahquamenon Falls is the perfect representation of the beauty to be found in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. A popular tourist destination for reasons obvious to any visitor. As a staple of Michigan, this waterfall should be on everyone’s bucket list.
Known as the Graveyard of Ships, Whitefish Point is home to the Great Lake Shipwreck Museum and Whitefish Point Light Station. Visitors can take in views of Lake Superior, search for Agates, and learn about the 240 ships that have been lost to Lake Superior.
Simple, elegant, and wild. Reany Falls is one of the many waterfalls found within Marquette County. Although small, this scenic waterfall is easy to access and makes a nice picnic spot.
Mosquito Falls is one of the smaller waterfalls tucked away in the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. It does not have the impressive height of Sable Falls or power of Miner’s, but it is nonetheless just as beautiful.
Erick’s Falls is not the prettiest or most impressive waterfall in the Huron Mountains. In fact, with concrete bridge looming upriver from it, it could be considered almost ugly. Even still, with how easy it is to access and the surrounding area, it is worth visiting at least once.
Michigan’s Upper Peninsula is rich with hidden histories. Concepts and ideas thwarted by the wilderness. Communities fading away, returning to what once existed before them. The Iron Range and Huron Bay Railroad is one such history. Today echos remain of what once almost existed.
Compared to its neighbors, Little Garlic Falls is an unimpressive, small waterfall that, by itself, isn’t worth the effort to reach. However, pair it with a hike along sandstone riverbeds and through pine tree forests and it becomes a waterfall worth visiting at least once.