Tahquamenon Falls State Park and a Gorgeous Sunset

Our last stop on the Lake Superior Circle Tour was Tahquamenon Falls State Park, located on the eastern end of the Upper Peninsula. Though there are both lower and upper falls along the river, the park is known for the gushing upper falls which spread over a 200 foot ledge and drop 48 feet to the river. We knew the falls were a popular spot due to their proximity to the more-populated lower peninsula of Michigan but we were a bit taken aback by just how many people were there, particularly at the upper falls where there is a visitor center, a number of wide boardwalks, and even a restaurant. We began at the lower falls, which is a series of a half dozen small drops, and hiked upstream along the 4 mile River Trail. The dense crowds quickly fell away as we began walking, though for a hiking trail it was pretty busy

The trail follows the river banks through sections of old-growth eastern hemlock, fir, and white pine – which were airy and lovely – but also exposed marshy areas that were more uh, conducive to mosquitos. As we walked towards the upper falls I kept expecting the river to change from it’s relatively clear state to the muddy, tannin-stained water I’d expected, but it never entirely did. As we neared the upper falls the trail joined with the boardwalk and a mess of people appeared. I got a few shots of the famous curtain of water falling over the 48 foot drop and then we all bee-lined for the car, eager to move on.

That afternoon we made the drive south back over the Mackinac Bridge and turned east with the goal of heading for the border crossing at Port Huron. We stopped for a couple nights along the coast of Lake Huron first however, and were treated to a sky filled with pinks and oranges at sunset the evening we arrived. With the radiant colors reflecting off the pond and the inland marsh, it was too beautiful not to share.