Tobacco Falls – A Simple Yet Scenic Waterfall in the Keweenaw Peninsula

Michigan’s Keweenaw Peninsula is home to a handful of scenic waterfalls, and countless sites featuring ruins of once-prosperous mines, mills and more. At Tobacco River Park on Gay-Lac LaBelle Rd. you can visit both things at once as the Tobacco River makes a few small drops (referred to as Tobacco Falls) on its way to Lake Superior. The roadside park, a popular spot for fishing, is also home to some ruins from the Mohawk Mill Pump House.

We parked at the park and walked across the road, following a path down to the riverbank for the views seen above. Great views can also be had from the bridge that crosses the river, and traffic isn’t usually a problem. A path from the park leads under the bridge for a different view.

The park also features access to the rivermouth and some good fishing opportunities, as well as the brick remnants from the mill pump house. The park and falls can be found south of Bete Grise/Lac LaBelle, and east of Mohawk. This isn’t the kind of waterfall that justifies a huge drive out of the way, but if you’re in the area anyways it’s a worthwhile stop. In the spring the river tends to look more like rushing rapids thanks to snow melt, and at lower levels the falls are more defined as the rock ledges show through better.

Directions: Tobacco River Park is located on Gay-Lac LaBelle Rd., about 2 miles northeast of Gay and about 15 miles south of Lac LaBelle. It can be reached from US-41 by taking the Mohawk-Gay Rd. east from Mohawk.