Good Times at Laughing Whitefish Falls

Within the Marquette/Munising area in Michigan's Upper Peninsula there are many waterfalls.  A visit to Laughing Whitefish Falls should be included on your “to do” waterfalls list. 

Laughing Whitefish Falls Scenic Site (established in 1965) is a 360-acre park located in northwestern Alger County.  They are about 28 miles southeast of Marquette, Michigan and about 32 miles southwest of Munising, Michigan (USA).   Simply put, they are about three miles north of Sundell (off of M-94)..

We arrive at the parking lot.  There is a picnic area with a water pump and, if I recall right, there is an outhouse.  We begin our 1.2 mile (round trip) hike through a beech/maple forest.  The shady forest floor is a green carpet of feathery-looking ostrich ferns.  The hard, dirt trail is part of the North Country Trail System.   Listen … is that the song of the Black Capped Chickadee? 

Trail to Falls

Soon, we arrive at a wooden platform offering us a view at the top of the falls.  Here we watch the water slide down the rocky slope through the picturesque gorge.   

1st Platform - Top of Falls

For an aerobic workout, there are 150 +/- wooden steps down to the base of the falls.  Just remember – whoever goes down the stairs must climb back up them.

Stairs at Falls

At the bottom is a small wooden platform offering a view of the falls.  The falls flow in lacy rivulets as they slide down a slanted slab of limestone dropping a total of 100 feet into a small pool at the bottom.

2nd Platform

3rd Platform - Base of Falls

The above photos were taken during one of our May visits.  In a late summer visit, we found Laughing Whitefish Falls to be a delicate veil of water. 

Summer Visit - Decreased Water flow

During a mid-April visit to the Upper Peninsula, we decided to see if we could reach Laughing Whitefish Falls.  Unfortunately, the paved County Road ends and the seasonal dirt road to the falls is not plowed.  After a short distance, our anti-skid brake alarm sounds.  Since we do not have a 4-wheel drive vehicle, we take the hint and return to the County Road without seeing the falls.   It wasn’t until we got home that I confirmed the only way to see these falls in snow/winter conditions is by snowmobile and snowshoe.  

April - County Road to Falls

May - County Road to Falls

This is a Michigan State Park and requires a “Recreation Passport”.  For information on obtaining an annual or daily pass please click on the following link:

Recreation Passport

There will be some lodging and dining options in Munising (the west end of Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore).  Marquette is a college town offering a wide variety of lodging and dining options.  Since opinions, preferences, and budgets vary, I recommend checking a trusted travel source for current reviews for eating and lodging options.    

Family vacations created some of my favorite memories.  Start planning your memorable trip today.

Discovering a Hidden Gem - Tannery Falls

Munising, Michigan (USA) is at the western end of Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore.  This scenic park located in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula stretches along the shoreline of Lake Superior from Grand Marais to Munising.  It has a lot to offer in scenic beauty and recreational opportunities.  For us, that means hiking the trails.

At the Visitor Center, we get current trail information.  We have been here many times and this time we want to do something we haven't seen or done … like hiking to Tannery Falls (aka Rudy M. Olson Memorial Falls).

We park the car on Washington Street and cross H-58 where a wooden staircase (maybe 17 steps) goes up the side of the hill to the trail.  From here, the trail is easy to follow.  During our short walk to the falls, we pass by high sandstone cliffs that gently curve along the trail.

Sandstone Cliff

The trail continues to hug the sandstone cliffs and at times we even walk under the overhanging edges.

Overhanging Sandstone Cliff

The walk is so quiet and pleasant.  We have the beautiful sandstone cliff on our right side and down the ridge is Tannery Creek on our left side.

We don’t see Tannery Falls – it comes into view at the last minute.  We cross a short wooden plank foot bridge over the narrow creek and go up the short steep hill to the top for a better view of Tannery Falls (40’ drop) 

Foot Bridge to Tannery Falls

Tannery Falls

After the water falls down into a small pool, it follows the curve in the sandstone wall.  Then, it passes under the foot bridge and continues on its merry way. 

Tannery Creek

We spend some time here enjoying the quiet scenery of this hidden gem.

For more photos and information on visiting Pictured Rocks, I invite you to view my blog post on "Picturesque Pictured Rocks NLS" by clicking on the following link:

Pictured Rocks NLS

The Munising/Wetmore area has a variety of lodging options from National chain hotels to locally- owned places to stay.  Dining choices include subs, pizza, pasties (similar to a pot pie) and casual dining places.   Since opinions, budgets, and preferences vary, I recommend checking a trusted travel source for current reviews on food and lodging.

Family vacations created some of my favorite memories. To start planning your memorable trip to Pictured Rocks NLS, please click on the following link:

Pictured Rocks NLS