• Thursday-What'sUP September 6 - 11:47 pm

Tahquamenon State Park, is home to the Tahquamenon River, which in turn, is where you'll find the Upper Tahquamenon Falls and four miles downstream, the Lower Falls. Carolyn Williams was there recently and snapped a few shots that she shares with us here today, starting with a great side angle view of the Upper Falls and the river flowing away from it. She also snapped one up a bit closer, so you can see the huge amount of water that is flowing over the falls all at the same time. The record flow of water cascading over this spot, is documented as 52,228 gallons per second, recorded on May 10, 1960. That's a lot of water!

Carolyn's last two photos are of the Lower Falls, which is actually a series of smaller falls. In the midst of these smaller cascades, is an island where you can view the falls from. It's reachable by rowboat, rented from the park concession and rowed by your own man (or woman) power. You can also view the group of lower falls from the bank of the river.

Both of these falls together, make this a must see stop when you're making the rounds in the U.P. The park is open year round, so you can enjoy them in all four seasons.

Beautiful!

Beautiful, as always!!

Totally Upper Peninsula Michigan!

Thank you, Carolyn!! These are magnificent!

FANTASTIC!

Not Niagara, but pretty.

Gorgeous!

September 1952. My first visit to the area on our honeymoon! Visited this area several times since.

The water does not seem nearly as tannin tinted as
I remember from many many years ago. If I remember
correctly, tannoid compounds are released by
vegetation upstream in swampy areas. It could
simply be the lighting and/or exposure settings.
Makes me wonder though if there is some seasonal
aspects or maybe it's changed over the longer
period of time.

D. A. (Midwested):
"The water does not seem nearly as tannin tinted as I remember …"

Yes, that certainly looks to be the case, not nearly the 'Root Beer Falls' of yore. But as you say, "It could simply be the lighting and/or exposure settings … or some seasonal aspects … ".

The color probably depends on the day or time of year. It was very brown when we were there in August. I posted this yesterday but will post it again so you can see our photos. I wrote the article after seeing the falls for the first time in my life.
http://www.squidoo.com/tahquamenon-falls-michigan

Beautiful! My wife and I, and her blue heeler dog Dusty visited those falls in 1985, and we waded out on the flat rocks near the lower falls, which was only ankle deep.

Anyone ever walk behind the falls? Can't recall the year we did that, but it has been a looong time ago!

Clicked on your link. Very impressive, Diane! I, too, have never been to those falls. They are on my bucket list, though!

One of my all time favorite places! The island in the middle of the lower falls is such a peaceful place.
My parents walked behind the falls many, many years ago. They left us kids behind at the bottom of the old "stairs" (which were mostly roots and rocks) and went back there. They took some 8mm film out through the falling water.
Though I've been there many times I've never been to the opposite side of the upper falls. I've seen people over there and there is (or was) a little walkway over there but I have not been able to find out any information on how to get there.

Highly recommend it, Deb... And if you go in the fall, the colors are spectacular, if you hit the area at the right time, as is always the case with the UP fall colors.

Jack K ~

We've never been to the "other side" either, but
you can take the Toonerville Trolley at Soo
Junction to get there. You can find it easily on
the web.

Yes, you are so right ~ the old stairs/path were
much more primative. The new ones block you off
from going under the falls. Guess it IS safer now
but not as much fun!

Always called these the "Root Beer River" falls ;o)

Back in the late 1940's i took the Toonerville Trolley and riverboat to the other side. Back then you could get under the falls.

Thanks for everyone who visited my article. I wanted to take the Toonerville Trolley because they have been seeing a Mama Bear and her cubs along the tracks, but it didn't fit into our plans.