Miners Falls – Visit One of Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore’s Most Powerful Waterfalls

Michigan’s Alger County is home to more than 20 waterfalls, and more than half of those lie within the boundaries of Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. In Munising, three waterfalls (Tannery, MNA Memorial and Munising) feature similar plunges over horseshoe/bowl rock formations but water levels can vary quite a bit seasonally. Wagner Falls and Horseshoe Falls feature consistent water levels and unique drops, but would never be referred to as “thundering” or powerful falls.

The breathtaking and powerful Miners Falls are reached by one of the shorter and less demanding hikes through Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. An almost 3/4 mile trek on a well-worn path through calm woods leads to an observation deck with the view shown above of the falls. Any time of year, these falls thunder through the gorge, as the river is forced through a narrow drop, at an angle, before the river returns on its trek to Lake Superior.

The hike back to the falls is a pleasant, 0.6-mile medium difficulty hike through the woods. While the view from the platform here is stunning, it is possible to reach the bottom for a closer view – be warned this involves climbing down narrow and sometimes slippery rocks, but the reward may be well worth it to some:

Directions: Take H-58 east about five miles from Munising, and turn onto Miners Castle Rd. (on left) Travel down this road until you see the sign for a road to the right and the falls. There is a small parking lot (about 20 cars) and the path starts from here. While you’re in the area, be sure to head farther down the road and visit Miners Castle. If you’re looking for a modern campground nearby, we recommend Munising Tourist Park Campground.