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LakeQuality

Updated July 2026

Tahquamenon Falls (Upper Falls)

Luce County, Michigan — about 48 ft, mid-height.

The Upper Falls is a single ~48 ft drop on the wide, tannin-stained Tahquamenon River (over 200 ft across), one of the largest waterfalls east of the Mississippi, reached by paved paths and stairways from the parking area.

Height
48 ft
Type
Block
Access
Short Hike
Trail
0.8 mi out-and-back
Elevation gain
100 ft
Best season
Spring snowmelt (Apr-Jun)
Land manager
Tahquamenon Falls State Park (Michigan DNR)
Watercourse
Tahquamenon River

Before you go

Waterfalls are hazardous by nature — wet rock, cold water, and unstable edges — and flow varies enormously with season and recent rain. Trail figures here describe the route as documented, not conditions today. Check Tahquamenon Falls State Park (Michigan DNR) for closures and current conditions, and confirm land status before setting out.

Graded lakes within 25 miles

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Frequently Asked Questions

Tahquamenon Falls (Upper Falls) drops about 48 feet. That makes it the 437th-tallest documented waterfall in this inventory, taller than roughly 36% of the falls listed here. Height comes from published land-manager and survey records, not from our own measurement.

The Upper Falls (Gravel Path / Brink & Lower Overlook) reaches it about 0.8 miles (out-and-back) with roughly 100 feet of elevation gain, rated easy. The nearest town is Paradise. That describes the route as documented, not conditions on the day — check with Tahquamenon Falls State Park (Michigan DNR) for closures and current conditions.

Spring snowmelt (Apr-Jun). Waterfall flow swings enormously with snowmelt and recent rain, so a fall that roars in spring can be a trickle by late summer.

More Michigan waterfalls

Sources

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