Tahquamenon Falls State Park sprawls across 46,179 acres of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula in Chippewa and Luce Counties, anchored by one of the largest waterfalls east of the Mississippi. The Upper Falls thunders nearly 200 feet wide with a 50-foot drop, its tea-colored water stained by tannins from the cedar swamps upstream — giving the cascade a distinctive amber hue you won’t find anywhere else in the country.

Four miles downstream, the Lower Falls splits around an island into a series of smaller cascades. You can rent a rowboat to reach the island and explore the falls up close, which is one of the park’s most rewarding experiences. Beyond the waterfalls, the park offers over 25 miles of hiking trails winding through dense old-growth forest, including a stretch of the North Country National Scenic Trail. In winter, those same trails open to cross-country skiing and snowshoeing, and the frozen falls make for a striking sight.

Fishing is excellent along the Tahquamenon River, with opportunities for brook trout, walleye, and northern pike. Birders will find the boreal forest habitat rich with warblers, woodpeckers, and the occasional bald eagle.

The park is best visited from late spring through early fall when the water flow peaks and trails are fully accessible, though autumn color season in late September draws serious crowds. Winter visitors trade the crowds for solitude and frozen waterfalls.

Plan for at least a half day — most visitors wish they’d stayed longer.

Explore Nearby

• Crisp Point Light — Lighthouse in Michigan
• Whitefish Point Light — Lighthouse in Michigan
• Hiawatha National Forest — National Forest in Michigan