Laughing Whitefish Falls in Alger County is one of the many outstanding waterfalls that can be found in Alger County. (Scot Stewart photo)

“We are all naturally seekers of wonders. We travel far to see the majesty of old ruins, the venerable forms of the hoary mountains, great waterfalls, and galleries of art. And yet the world’s wonder is all around us; the wonder of setting suns, and evening stars, of the magic spring-time, the blossoming of the trees, the strange transformations of the moth…” — Albert Pike

By SCOT STEWART

Special to Journal

Each season offers its own take on waterfalls. Summer’s look is lazy, often with low levels of water inching their way to nearby lakes or larger rivers. Fall’s water reflects a palette of color bouncing off trees and crystal, violet blue skies. Winter’s edges and tree branches hold layers of crystal clear, frozen splashes, etched in blues and grays of the winter sky. Spring is the time of young, rambunctious, boisterous rivers with waterfalls full of energy and volumes of water.

Spring is one of the best times to see the excitement and drama of waterfalls, all sorts of waterfalls. There are between 200 and 300 waterfalls in the Upper Peninsula, depending on the simple measure of the fall of water. Many are small, some tumbling rapids, or narrow drops, but in spring with greater rushes of late melting snow and early thunderstorms, both recent happenings, even minor falls can look truly impressive. While most of them are in the central and western U.P., the most impressive, and second largest in the eastern U.S. is Tahquamenon Falls in Luce County. But for most of the area, one is never more than 40 or 50 miles from an impressive waterfalls.

In the western U.P. the Black and Presque Isle rivers are loaded with falls as the rivers drop to Lake Superior, with their final falls just short distances from the lake. The Black River Scenic Byway has five big falls and a number of smaller drops. The Presque Isle River has three big falls, part of 90 falls in the Porcupine Mountains State Park.

Some of the taller falls are in Houghton County. Hungarian Falls, a beautiful neighborhood falls near Hubbell. It has a total drop of 90 feet and is accessible from a trail right in town. Houghton Douglass Falls, named for Douglass Houghton and his cousin C.C. Douglass, is a Houghton Co, waterfall that drops 120 feet. It was purchased by the state in 2018 and is waiting for trail improvements and safety features to be installed before opening to the public as a state park. With dangerous crumbly rock near its steep edges and undeveloped trails, it has been a dangerous area for exploration, and the floods in 2018 only made the area more difficult to navigate. Once the area is properly developed for safe travel it will be a great falls to visit. Until then, hike to it are not recommended.

The Sturgeon River in Baraga and Houghton Counties goes through a canyon and a gorge and has several impressive falls. It also has trails to explore the canyon area along the river of U.S. 41 near Alberta, and wilderness area along the gorge.

Munising may be the waterfall capital of the U.P. with 15 gorgeous falls in or near town. Some are on private property, two owned by the Michigan Nature Association and several part of the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. East of Munising is the 40 foot tall Miners Falls and farther east the 70 foot Spray Falls. The tallest is 140 Bridal Veil Falls, along with Spray dropping directly into Lake Superior. Bridal Veil Falls is truly a spring falls, often drying up in later summer. Scott’s Falls in nearby AuTrain can be seen from a pullout on M-28 and is beautifully situated in a small grotto.

Also, in Alger County, Laughing Whitefish Falls in the state park with its name, off M-94 has a short drop, followed by a long cascade over layers of sedimentary layers of sandstone. In the spring the water roars over the edge into the narrow canyon below. Herons and muskrats can occasionally be seen below the falls, and the trail along the river is lined with blooming trout lilies, bellwort, and other spring ephemeral flowers.

Marquette County has a number of falls accessible in seconds or minutes from nearby roads too. Reany Falls can be seen from the Forestville Road north of Marquette and is close to Dead River Falls. Farther north Yellow Dog and Eye Ball Falls are just a short walk off Co. Rd. 510 west of Big Bay. Downstream, spectacular Pinnacle Falls can be found.

The web is full of maps, directions and trails for falls excursions across the Upper Peninsula. Each offers something a little different, rugged mountainous terrain in places like the Porcupine Mountains and the McCormick Tract Wilderness, wildflower trails in Alger County and spectacular Lake Superior vistas in the Porkies and Picture Rocks are some of the other attractions near these falls. Some falls are smaller, out of the way and full of solitude and quiet to contemplate the beauty of the U.P.

There is something for literally everyone. So, take a hike!