10 Best Waterfall Hiking Locations in Michigan (2026 Updated)
These 10 Michigan waterfalls are reached on foot and rated highly by the people who hiked them, led by Upper Falls, Bond Falls, and Miners Falls. The list spans the Pictured Rocks and the Eastern UP and Western Upper Peninsula and Keweenaw.
How We Picked
We started with the 17 publicly accessible Michigan waterfalls whose reviews or listing mention hiking, trails or walks, then ranked them by a weighted Google rating. Difficulty notes quote what reviewers say; always check current trail conditions with the land manager. Every waterfall links to a full page with coordinates, maps and nearby falls.
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1. Upper Falls
Newberry, MI · Luce County · Pictured Rocks and the Eastern UP
Why hike it
"A huge amount of cedar-stained water drains over this wide waterfall on the Tahquamenon River." Reviewers describe the hike with words like "paved trails", so it suits most hikers. It is rated 4.9 stars by 1,223 Google reviewers. 1 more named waterfall is within 5 miles (Lower Falls), so there is more to explore nearby. It is one of 23 named falls in the Pictured Rocks and the Eastern UP region. The nearest town is Newberry, about 19 miles to the southwest.
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2. Bond Falls
Iron River, MI · Ontonagon County · Western Upper Peninsula and Keweenaw
Why hike it
On the trail: "Sightseeing locale with hiking trails & a river-crossing walkway offering views of scenic falls." It is rated 4.9 stars by 685 Google reviewers. 2 more named waterfalls are within 5 miles (Little Falls and Rock Bluff Falls), so there is more to explore nearby. It is one of 92 named falls in the Western Upper Peninsula and Keweenaw region. The nearest town is Iron River, about 32 miles to the southeast.
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3. Miners Falls
Munising, MI · Alger County · Pictured Rocks and the Eastern UP
Why hike it
On the trail: "Waterfall in Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, accessible via a path with stairs to a lookout." It is rated 4.9 stars by 419 Google reviewers. 2 more named waterfalls are within 5 miles (Bridalveil Falls and Mosquito Falls), so there is more to explore nearby. It is one of 23 named falls in the Pictured Rocks and the Eastern UP region. The nearest town is Munising, about 7.1 miles to the southwest.
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4. Spray Falls
Munising, MI · Alger County · Pictured Rocks and the Eastern UP
Why hike it
On the trail: "Hiking trails & boats lead to this powerful 70' waterfall which plunges into Lake Superior." It is rated 5.0 stars by 30 Google reviewers. 2 more named waterfalls are within 5 miles (Chapel Falls and Mosquito Falls), so there is more to explore nearby. It is one of 23 named falls in the Pictured Rocks and the Eastern UP region. The nearest town is Munising, about 15 miles to the southwest.
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5. Laughing Whitefish Falls
K. I. Sawyer Air Force Base, MI · Alger County · Pictured Rocks and the Eastern UP
Why hike it
On the trail: "Densely wooded hiking trail leading to a scenic platform overlooking a large waterfall." It is rated 4.8 stars by 297 Google reviewers. 1 more named waterfall is within 5 miles (Rock River Falls), so there is more to explore nearby. It is one of 23 named falls in the Pictured Rocks and the Eastern UP region. The nearest town is K. I. Sawyer Air Force Base, about 15 miles to the west.
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6. Chapel Falls
Munising, MI · Alger County · Pictured Rocks and the Eastern UP
Why hike it
On the trail: "This picturesque 60-ft-high waterfall in a forest is reached via a 1.5-mile-long hiking trail." It is rated 4.8 stars by 96 Google reviewers. 3 more named waterfalls are within 5 miles (Mosquito Falls and Spray Falls), so there is more to explore nearby. It is one of 23 named falls in the Pictured Rocks and the Eastern UP region. The nearest town is Munising, about 13 miles to the southwest.
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7. Manabezho Falls
Bessemer, MI · Gogebic County · Western Upper Peninsula and Keweenaw
Why hike it
On the trail: "Wide waterfall located in a state park on a river with a 25-foot drop & views from nearby trails." It is rated 4.8 stars by 69 Google reviewers. 10 more named waterfalls are within 5 miles (Manido Falls and Nawadaha Falls), so there is more to explore nearby. It is one of 92 named falls in the Western Upper Peninsula and Keweenaw region. The nearest town is Bessemer, about 16 miles to the south.
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8. Bridalveil Falls
Munising, MI · Alger County · Pictured Rocks and the Eastern UP
Why hike it
On the trail: "140-ft. waterfall cascading over tall, lakefront cliffs, visible from a boat or the shoreline trail." It is rated 4.8 stars by 9 Google reviewers. 3 more named waterfalls are within 5 miles (Mosquito Falls and Miners Falls), so there is more to explore nearby. It is one of 23 named falls in the Pictured Rocks and the Eastern UP region. The nearest town is Munising, about 9.0 miles to the southwest.
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9. Houghton Falls
Lake Linden, MI · Houghton County · Western Upper Peninsula and Keweenaw
Why hike it
Reviews are mixed on difficulty, mentioning both "easy trail" and "steep hike" and "steep hill". It is rated 4.7 stars by 118 Google reviewers. 1 more named waterfall is within 5 miles (Hungarian Falls), so there is more to explore nearby. It is one of 92 named falls in the Western Upper Peninsula and Keweenaw region. The nearest town is Lake Linden, about 1.3 miles to the southeast.
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10. Lower Falls
Newberry, MI · Chippewa County · Pictured Rocks and the Eastern UP
Why hike it
On the trail: "Cascading series of 5 small falls around an island, reachable by a wooded trail along the river." It is rated 4.6 stars by 24 Google reviewers. 1 more named waterfall is within 5 miles (Upper Falls), so there is more to explore nearby. It is one of 23 named falls in the Pictured Rocks and the Eastern UP region. The nearest town is Newberry, about 22 miles to the southwest.
When to Visit Michigan's Waterfalls
Spring snowmelt is the main event. In the Upper Peninsula, melt typically runs from April into late May, depending on elevation and distance from Lake Superior, and the falls are at their most powerful then. Some seasonal roads and two-tracks remain snowbound or muddy into May. By June, black flies and mosquitoes are thick in the woods, especially near wetlands, and flows begin to settle. Summer brings comfortable temperatures and the busiest crowds at Tahquamenon, Bond Falls and Pictured Rocks. Fall color usually peaks from late September to early October, making it one of the most popular times to visit. Winter is long and snowy, and some falls freeze into impressive ice formations, with ice climbing near Munising, but many roads are not plowed.
Before You Go
Michigan's falls are spread across the Ottawa and Hiawatha national forests, Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, state parks such as Tahquamenon Falls and Porcupine Mountains Wilderness, state forests and scenic sites, and large tracts of commercial forest. State parks require a Michigan Recreation Passport for vehicle entry, and some national forest sites have their own fees. Many lesser-known falls in Gogebic, Baraga and Marquette counties are reached by unmarked two-track roads that can be washed out, muddy or blocked by fallen trees, so high-clearance vehicles and offline maps help. Cell service is spotty. Hazards include cold, fast water in spring, steep riverbanks, slippery rock, and remote terrain. Bring insect protection from late May through July.
Read our waterfall safety rules and packing list before heading out. Hiking with children? Read waterfall hikes with kids.
Explore More Michigan Waterfalls
See all 200 waterfalls in the Michigan waterfall guide, or browse by town: Newberry, Iron River, Munising, K. I. Sawyer Air Force Base, Bessemer, Lake Linden.
More Michigan Waterfall Lists
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best hiking waterfall in Michigan?
Upper Falls tops our 2026 list, with a 4.9-star rating from 1,223 Google reviews. It is near Newberry in Luce County.
How was this list made?
We started with the 17 publicly accessible Michigan waterfalls whose reviews or listing mention hiking, trails or walks, then ranked them by a weighted Google rating. Difficulty notes quote what reviewers say; always check current trail conditions with the land manager.
How many waterfalls are in Michigan?
Our directory lists 200 named waterfalls in Michigan. See them all, sorted by town, in the Michigan waterfall guide.
Why are almost all Michigan waterfalls in the Upper Peninsula?
The Upper Peninsula has hard, exposed bedrock and rivers that drop toward Lake Superior, while the Lower Peninsula is covered by thick glacial deposits with little relief. That geology leaves the Lower Peninsula with very few natural falls.