Morgan Falls: A Rewarding Waterfall Hike in Marquette
Marquette is a must-visit location for those who love outdoor adventure, with plentiful opportunities for hiking, mountain biking, kayaking, and more. The Marquette area is also home to some great waterfalls, including Morgan Falls. A hike of a mile and a half following an old dirt road leads to this 20 foot drop on Morgan Creek, and some great views where Morgan Creek and the Carp River meet. This area is also home to some great mountain biking trails. We love visiting Marquette because you can go on a hike like this and feel like you are miles away from civilization even though you’re only a couple miles away from downtown. I had last visited Morgan Falls in 2015, so this one was near the top of our list when we headed to Marquette. Today we will share some photos from our visit and some updated directions for those who wish to see this waterfall in person.
One thing that had changes since my last visit was where to park to access this waterfall. On a previous visit we were able to park a short distance down a dirt road and continue the rest of the way on bicycle and foot. This road is now closed off to vehicle traffic, and the parking area you want to use is the Noquemanon Trail Network’s south trailhead parking lot (map at bottom of post). From this parking lot you can take a trail or walk on the shoulder of the road until you are able to cross to Mount Marquette Rd.
The hike is a pretty simple one, as you follow the road for a mile and a half until you see the wooden sign for the falls. This sign notes that the steps to the falls were part of an Eagle Scout project that also got help from First Presbyterian Church of Marquette, Marquette County Soil Conservation District, Hiawathaland Snowmobile Club, the Lake Superior Watershed Project, Trout Unlimited, and more.From the sign you will head down to the creek and cross a footbridge:
After crossing the footbridge it is a short downhill trek to great views of Morgan Falls! This 20 foot waterfall occurs as Morgan Creek drops suddenly over a wall of rock shortly before it meets the Carp River. A pool below the falls provides a bit of calm before the creek joins the much faster-moving Carp River.
This video shows what Morgan Falls looks like from the viewing area. For those feeling more adventurous, there is a waterfall upstream on the Carp River that can be reached after another mile of hiking.
On your hike to the waterfall and back you will notice that mountain biking trails intersect Marquette Mountain Rd. in several spots. More than 30 miles of trail can be accessed from the south trailhead parking lot, offering something for every skill level.
Morgan Falls is one of our our favorite Marquette area waterfalls due to its peaceful setting. The 3 mile round trip hike is the only thing that makes visiting here moderately challenging, but we promise the effort is worth it!
To reach the Noquemanon Trails Network south trailhead parking lot from downtown Marquette, head west on U.S. 41 and then head south on M-553. The parking lot will be on the left after a couple miles and if you get to the Marquette Mountain ski area you’ve gone too far.