Tahquamenon Falls State Park
Tahquamenon Falls State Park is one of many great places and tourist attractions in Newberry, MI.
Tahquamenon Falls State Park, Paradise, MI
Take a video tour of the 2nd largest waterfall this side of the Mississippi River. Learn how the water gets its rich amber color and the many attractions and amenities at this destination.
Tahquamenon Falls State Park
41382 West M-123
Paradise, MI 49768
(906) 492-3313 (Lower Concession)
(906) 492-3415 (Park Headquarters)
http://www.michigandnr.com/parksandtrails/Details.aspx?id=428&type=SPRK
Upper Falls
Upper Falls Drive
Newberry, MI 49868
GPS: 46.5825, -85.2547
Lower Falls
6999 N. Lower Campground Ln
Paradise, MI 49768
Rivermouth
32130 W. South River Road
Paradise, MI 49768
If you are a fan of Mother Nature and the Great Outdoors, it doesn’t get any greater than this! Tahquamenon Falls, open for your pleasure and enjoyment year round, originate from the springs north of McMillan draining an area of more than 820 square miles.
From its source the river wanders nearly 94 miles before reaching its final destination in Whitefish Bay. Tahquamenon encompasses almost 40,000 acres stretching over 13 miles and is divided into the Upper and Lower Falls, both equally superlative and magnificent.
The Upper falls is one of the largest waterfalls east of the Mississippi with a drop of nearly 50 feet spreading 200 feet across. A maximum flow of more than 50,000 gallons of water per second has been recorded surging over its impressive rock face.
The Upper Falls is also the location of the Tahquamenon Falls Brewery and Pub, a family friendly restaurant serving a wide variety of appetizers and entrees including whitefish, steak and shrimp. What a great way to grab a little refreshment after a long day of nature walks. The Pub's main attractions include a long rustic bar at the entrance and a functioning Micro Brewery. Also be sure to check out Camp 33, a small gift shop neighboring the restaurant.
Four miles downstream you will find the Lower Falls, a series of five smaller falls cascading around an island and forming a small lake where you can rent rowboats.
Long before any European settlers or white men set their eyes on the Falls, Chippewa Indians had made their settlement aside the banks of the river. Camping along the falls provided plentiful fishing and good land for harvesting and trapping. The 1800’s brought a change of land occupancy as the lumberjacks took control of the rivers to transport millions of logs to saw mills miles away. These lumberjacks were among the first permanent settlers in the Tahquamenon area. Over the years tribes vacated the lands and the settlers turned their attention to new expeditions, but a few things remained the same. The steady churning of the falls creates a foamy lather on the surface of the water, one trademark of the falls that has been present since the days of early voyageurs. Also trademark of the falls is the amber color of the water, which gives it a muddy or rusty appearance. The tawny color of the water is a result of run off from the Cedar, Spruce and Hemlock trees in the swamps.
Plan on spending the afternoon exploring the nature trails that run between the upper and lower falls. The trails offer great landscape for hiking, backpacking, fishing, canoeing, nature study and photography. Fall colors provide a picturesque view of the park and the ice formations from the falls and Lake Superior during the winter are truly a photographers’ delight. Tahquamenon Falls State Park is located in the northeastern part of Michigan's Upper Peninsula, on Michigan State Highway 123 just a short drive from Newberry.
For more information on the Falls, feel free to visit their website: http://www.exploringthenorth.com/tahqua/tahqua.html.
Tahquamenon Falls State Park - Online Brochure
Virtual brochure and information for Tahquamenon Falls State Park, one of many online travel brochures for tourist information in Paradise, MI. Provided by your source for Mackinaw Information and Mackinac Information.
Virtual PDF brochure of Tahquamenon Falls State Park
Experience the Adventure
Tahquamenon Falls State Park is home to the 2nd largest waterfall east of the Mississippi River. Two distinctly unique waterfalls create the centerpiece for this park.
"Upper Falls" is the larger and more dramatic with a drop of 50 feet and a width of over 200 feet.
"Lower Falls" is 4 miles down stream. The Tahquamenon River rushes its 50,000 gallons of water per second around an island where it is then broken into two distinct waterfalls cascading around opposite banks of the island.
Each falls has a drop of 22 feet and a width of over 100 feet. Although the lower falls can be viewed from many interesting observation points on the mainland, visitors can opt to visit the island by renting a rowboat from the Lower Falls concession. Accessing the island is a great opportunity for visitors to afford a good view of the falls in the south channel and explore it up close.
Outdoor Enthusiasts
Over 45,000 acres of wilderness waiting to be explored at Tahquamenon Falls State Park.
- Camping - Hiking - Fishing - Boat Rental - Photography - Canoeing - Birding - Nature Study
Be sure to visit Tahquamenon Shores gift shop and Longfellow's Café:
Tahquamenon Shores Gift Shop
- Souvenirs
- Books
- Shirts/Hats
- Hiking/camping accessories
- Gift memorabilia for everyone
Longfellow's Café
- Jilbert's Ice Cream
- Michigan made food products
- Dine inside
- Dine outside
- Daily specials
Re-Capturing History
VII. Hiawatha Sailing (Song of Hiawatha, W.W. Longfellow)
Give me of your bark. O Birch-tree!
Of your yellow bark. O Birch-tree!
Growing by the rushing river,
Tall and stately in the vally
I a light canoe will build me,
Build a swift Cheemaun for sailing,
That shall float on the river,
Like a yellow leaf in Autumn,
Like a yellow water-lily!
Thus aloud cried Hiawatha
In the solitary forest,
By the rushing Taquamenaw,
When the birds were singing gaily,
In the Moon of Leaves were singing,
And the sun, from sleep awaking,
Started up and said, "Behold Me!
Gheezis, the great Sun, behold me!"
Park Events
- Hike between da Falls
- Geo Caching 101
- Smokey Bear Day
- Tahqua Trail Run
- Wilderness Canoe Race
- Harvest Fest
Open rain or shine Monday - Sunday
If you have new or updated information about this virtual brochure, please contact us.
2 Comments
Reader Comments (2)
I love hiking and adventures and this place was just perfect for both. The falls create a perfect ambiance to explore and discover. I would go back tomorrow, if I could.
Spectacular...it is so beautiful and peaceful we have a hard time leaving this area. We walked nearly all of the trails and found the information posted along the way to be very interesting. I would recommend this place to everybody.
Edit: Page content has moved. Original comment made April 22nd, 2011