Tahquamenon Falls State Park
Michigan State Park · Paradise, Michigan
Tahquamenon Falls State Park is a large Upper Peninsula park near Paradise, centred on the Tahquamenon River and its two sets of falls. The Upper Falls is about 50 feet high and roughly 200 feet wide, one of the larger waterfalls east of the Mississippi, and the river runs a deep brown, often called root beer, from tannins washed out of cedar swamps upstream. The Lower Falls is a series of smaller drops around an island, reached on a separate trail area and a 4-mile trail downstream from the Upper Falls, with rowboat rental to the island in season (confirm). The falls are sometimes linked to the Hiawatha poem. Viewing platforms mean many stairs, summer weekends are crowded, black flies are a nuisance in early summer and ice makes winter visits tricky. It suits families, photographers and casual hikers, and half a day is enough. The Whitefish Point lighthouse is a separate stop nearby. The Recreation Passport is required - confirm.
41382 W M-123, Paradise, Michigan, 49768, United States
The park is open year-round and is generally accessible from morning through evening, with the falls areas reachable on foot at any hour the trails are open, but the facilities keep their own seasons. The gift shop, brewery and pub, rowboat rental and some restrooms operate mainly in the warmer months, with reduced hours or closures in winter (confirm). In winter the parking areas may be plowed but the stairs and platforms can be icy, and some trails are groomed for snowshoeing or skiing. Heavy lake-effect snow can close nearby roads. Check the DNR park page or call ahead before a long drive, especially in late autumn and early spring.
Tahquamenon Falls State Park on Spottos · Explore more places on Spottos