10+ Best Upper Peninsula Michigan waterfalls! + map 🌳 UP Michigan road trip travel blog - Flashpacking America (2025)

Hi there!

Michigan is home to a bunch of waterfalls.

The vast majority of these waterfalls are located in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.

So if you want to make it a Michigan waterfalls trip, then a trip to the UP it is!

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As it goes with waterfalls, there may be times that there’s not as much water flow so depending on the time you visit, some waterfalls may appear more like a trickle.

But, there are also waterfalls that will likely have good water flows no matter when you go.

By making it an Upper Peninsula waterfalls trip, you can have the chance right alongside rivers to get to waterfalls.

You can have the chance to see rivers flowing into a great big lake, and it can be both a hike to see waterfalls and a hike to go to Lake Superior.

And then you can also get up close and personal with some waterfalls!

Best Michigan waterfalls in the Upper Peninsula

Tahquamenon Falls State Park waterfalls

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If you’re driving up from the south from the Mackinac Bridge and the lower peninsula, then you’ll end up in the eastern Upper Peninsula. You can then make your first waterfalls stop Tahquamenon Falls State Park. There are 2 main sections to see the waterfalls that flow along the Tahquamenon River. It’s about a 10 minute drive between the 2 parking areas.

1. Tahquamenon Falls (Upper Falls)

There’s a short trail to go to the Upper Falls overlook.

See more about Upper Falls.

2. Tahquamenon Falls (Lower Falls)

There are a couple of ways you can experience the Lower Falls area of Tahquamenon Falls State Park.

There’s a short trail to go to the Lower Falls overlook. And if you want to REALLY experience Lower Falls, you’ll want to rent a rowboat to go to the Tahquamenon River island. There’s a short trail that loops around the island, and along the way you can get up close and personal with the Tahquamenon River and the waterfalls that are flowing along the way.

See more about planning a trip to Tahquamenon Falls:

• How to spend your time at Tahquamenon Falls State Park
• Camping at Tahquamenon Falls State Park
• More things to do in the eastern UP

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Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore waterfalls

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The next 5 waterfalls on the list are a part of Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore.

Ideally you’ll have at least 2 days in Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore to see all of these waterfalls. Although I suppose you could see them all in one day if you’re ready for a big day of hiking and you’re ready for a long day! The good news is that summer days in the UP are long!

3. Sable Falls

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These are the easternmost waterfalls you can see in the park. You’ll take a hiking trail to go see them. Then, you’ll want to continue on the hiking trail so you can hike all the way to the Lake Superior shoreline. This is where you’ll find Sable Beach, which is full of colorful rocks. You’ll also be able to see where a river flows into Lake Superior.

See more about Sable Falls.

4. Chapel Falls

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There are 2 Chapel Falls overlooks that you can hike to. Then you can continue on the trail to get up close to a river and some smaller waterfalls.

See more about Chapel Falls.

And then if you continue further, you’ll end up at Lake Superior where you can see Chapel Rock, the rock with a tree growing on it.

The trail continues along the Lake Superior shoreline for a couple of minutes, and then you’ll end up at Chapel Beach. Here, you can see another river that flows into Lake Superior, and these have the appearance of being small waterfalls that flow into Lake Superior!

And then if you continue hiking further, you can see the famous Pictured Rocks cliffs!

5. Miners Falls

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You’ll hike to the Miners Falls overlook where you’ll be treated to waterfalls with likely lots of water flowing.

See more about Miners Falls.

6. Elliot Falls

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These are small waterfalls that flow into Lake Superior at the eastern end of Miners Beach, so off to the far right as you’re facing the lake. Depending on when you go, there may not be a ton of water flowing, but they can still be cute little waterfalls to see.

You’ll go to Miners Beach, and then make it a beach walk to get to Elliot Falls, or you can hike on higher grounds making it a shoreline hike with views of Lake Superior to get to Elliot Falls. If you want to make it a longer hike, you can hike from Miners Castle Point to Elliot Falls too.

7. Munising Falls

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These are waterfalls with several different viewpoints that you can hike to. The start of the trail is near a Pictured Rocks visitor center.

See more about Munising Falls.

See more about planning a trip to the Pictured Rocks waterfalls:

• The list of Pictured Rocks waterfalls
• More things to do in Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore

Waterfalls in/near Munising

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These next 3 waterfalls you can do together. 2 of them are roadside waterfalls that you can see from the road, but you may want to get out of the car to get closer to them. Maybe give yourself 2 hours or so to see them all.

8. Alger Falls

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You can get out of the car and get right next to these waterfalls.

See more about Alger Falls.

9. Wagner Falls

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This Michigan state scenic site is located down the road from Alger Falls.

See more about Wagner Falls.

10. Scott Falls

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You can get out of the car and walk behind these waterfalls!

See more about Scott Falls.

11. Laughing Whitefish Falls

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These waterfalls are also somewhat near Munising (40 minute drive). So if you’re staying in Munising, you can easily visit these on the same day you go to the other Munising waterfalls if you want to make it a waterfalls day. But if you have plans to head further west, it can be convenient to add these waterfalls to your road trip is when you’re driving from Munising to Marquette. These are less visited waterfalls.

See more about planning a trip to Laughing Whitefish Falls:

• Trail to Laughing Whitefish Falls
• More things to do on the drive from Munising to Marquette

12. Bond Falls

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There’s a good chance that you will see a ton of water flowing at these waterfalls. You can also explore a little more and walk along the river to see more spots and different viewpoints to get up close and personal with the river.

See more about Bond Falls.

Nearby Bond Falls is the Agate Falls roadside park.If you do a google image search of Agate Falls, you’ll see some impressive looking waterfalls. It seems like you need to take an unmarked trail or something to reach the river level. Otherwise, there’s an overlook that you can rock to and see the waterfalls from above, although the view is a bit obstructed because of trees.

Porcupine Mountains State Park waterfalls:Presque Isle River waterfalls

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And now this is the far western Upper Peninsula. You can take the Presque Isle River Trail that will take you to viewpoints of 3 waterfalls (the next 3 on the list). You can make it a loop by hiking on both sides of the river.

13. Nawadaha Falls

14. Manido Falls

15. Manabezho Falls

See more about planning a trip to the Porcupine Mountains waterfalls:

• Trail to Porcupine Mountains waterfalls
• How to spend your time in Porcupine Mountains State Park
• Camping in Porcupine Mountains State Park:
  • Presque Isle campground
  • Union Bay campground

UPPER PENINSULA MICHIGAN WATERFALLS MAP: The Upper Peninsula waterfalls tour route!

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List of Michigan waterfalls you need to see:

• Tahquamenon Falls State Park waterfalls
• Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore waterfalls
• Waterfalls near Munising
  • Alger Falls
  • Wagner Falls State Scenic Site
  • Scott Falls
• Laughing Whitefish Falls State Scenic Site
• Bond Falls State Scenic Site
• Porcupine Mountains State Park waterfalls

And those are some ideas for a Michigan waterfalls road trip!

You can make it a Michigan lighthouse tour in the UP too!

Also see about making it a Michigan camping trip in the UP!

HAPPY SEEING WATERFALLS IN THE UPPER PENINSULA!

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