Powderhorn Falls, Gogebic County
Just down the road from Big Powderhorn Mountain Ski Resort in Bessemer is a 15 foot tall waterfall on Powdermill Creek. Powderhorn Falls isn’t the biggest or easiest to get to waterfall in the area, but it is a quiet, less visited are worth checking out if you’re in the area. If you’re up for a short adventure and maybe getting a little wet, this is a great waterfall to visit!
Powderhorn Falls features two drops on the creek, an upper section that is wider with a drop of around five feet and a lower section that drops ten feet over jagged black rock. While the main trail here is short and level, getting down to either section of falls is more difficult and should be done with caution.
The lower section of Powderhorn Falls is pretty spectacular, and the sound of water cascading over the rock face is one of the few sounds in this quiet, peaceful location. Unlike other are waterfalls, you won’t typically run into other visitors here – in our four visits, we have always had Powderhorn Falls all to ourselves.
There is a rope in place to assist with getting down to the lower section. Getting a full view here requires wading in the creek and crossing it. We had visited before and were unprepared for this, so when we returned in June of 2020 I had my water shoes ready for the adventure.
To get to Powderhorn Falls, head west on US-2 from Bessemer for about a mile. Turn at the big skier statue and head north on Powderhorn Rd. for a little over a mile. Look for the trail shown below on the right hand side of the road before it curves; if you reach the ski resort you have gone too far. The trail heads straight into the woods and splits to the left for the lower falls (look for the rope) and to the right to the upper falls (a narrow path down into a rocky gorge).
Other nearby waterfalls that are bigger or easier to get to include Gabbro Falls, Granite Rapids, and the waterfalls of the Black River Scenic Byway (Gorge Falls, Potawatomi Falls, Rainbow Falls, Sandstone Falls, and Great Conglomerate Falls).
