Tahquamenon Falls State Park

About Tahquamenon Falls State Park

Tahquamenon Falls State Park covers nearly 50,000 acres that stretch for 13 miles and has a total area of 1.5 million square feet. Most of it is dedicated to hiking, biking, camping and other outdoor activities, but it is also home to a variety of wildlife.

The Upper Falls are one of the largest waterfalls east of Mississippi and it is the second largest waterfall in the USA and the third largest in North America.

Although not as dramatic as the Upper Falls, it is just as grandiose, with a drop of nearly 50 feet and is over 200 feet wide. Four miles downstream lies Tahquamenon Falls Island, an island surrounded by a series of five smaller waterfalls. Each of these waterfalls, each about 1,500 feet in diameter and 1.5 miles long, has a Had falls of nearly 50 feet, and each was more than 200 feet wide and measures about 5,000 feet long and 2,400 feet high.

You can see the falls from Tahquamenon Falls Island or you can reach the island by rowing boat, which can be rented from the park concession if you have it. The walk offers a view of the waterfall from the South Canal and can be seen from a rowing boat, which is rented for parking.

The Ojibwa Indians, who camped, bred and caught on the banks of the river, attracted the attention of the white men who took in the sights from the rivers. Loggers harvesting the high timber were the first permanent white settlers in the area. The wooden barons arrived at the end of the 19th century, and the river carried their trunks to the mills of their millions.

The Tahquamenon River rises north of McMillan and drains the watershed, which covers more than 790 square miles. It winds for 94 miles from its source to the mouth of Whitefish Bay, totaling about 1,200 miles and with a maximum flow of 1.5 million gallons per day.

The amber colour of the water is caused by tannins that emerge from cedars, spruces, hemlock and firs in the swamps along the river.

The large amount of foam that Tahquamenon has to offer on a day trip is caused by the extremely soft water swirling around the waterfalls. Moose can be seen in the park, as well as a rich bird life, including spruce, woodpeckers have been spotted and there are pretty much every other animal you can see in the park.

Upper Falls has a number of privately owned restaurants and gift shops adjacent to the park. Parking concessions are available and boat rentals are available from Memorial Day to Labor Day for rowboats and canoes.

Put-ins are available in Lower Falls and Rivermouth, or call the concessions at 906 - 492 - 3457. The Tahquamenon River offers a wide variety of leisure activities, from kayaking and canoeing to fishing and boating. Picnic areas are equipped with tables and barbecues, as well as picnic tables, picnic chairs and tables for picnics.

Accommodation in Lower Waterfall can be rented at 906 - 492 - 3415 and in Rivermouth at 1 - 888 - 567 - 3457.

The park has more than 35 kilometers of hiking trails that allow people to see beautiful parts of the park that are rarely seen by the public. The North Country Trail runs along the Upper and Lower Waterfalls trail, which includes hiking, cycling, canoeing, kayaking, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. Some campsites have playgrounds for children with different equipment (hiking maps and more information can be found under the link below).

Nature programs are held regularly at Tahquamenon Falls State Park, and you can find the program booklets by picking up a copy of the park newspaper.

School groups can book guided tours and programs by contacting the Park's headquarters at 906 - 492 - 3415. There are special events for visitors and campers and the area offers a variety of activities for children, such as hiking, canoeing, kayaking, fishing, camping, hiking and much more.