Waterfalls in Michigan

Overview of waterfalls in Michigan

At Tahquamenon Falls, the Michigan DNR says the Upper Falls drops about 50 feet and stretches more than 200 feet across. Tahquamenon Falls sits in a state park near Paradise, with the Lower Falls about 4 miles downstream.

In the western Upper Peninsula, Bond Falls cascades about 50 feet near Paulding, according to the DNR. Munising Falls drops 50 feet over a sandstone cliff in Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, but its trail is closed. In the Lower Peninsula, Ocqueoc Falls is a set of small cascades about 5 feet high, per Wikipedia. For winter trips, our frozen waterfalls guide shows which of these you can reach when the falls ice up.

Two agencies run these falls. The Michigan DNR manages Tahquamenon, Bond and Ocqueoc, and the National Park Service (NPS) manages Munising. That split decides which pass you need.

Waterfalls in the Upper Peninsula

Three of the four Michigan falls on this site are in the Upper Peninsula. UP Travel, the region's tourism association, says the U.P. has more than 300 waterfalls, from under 5 feet to drops of 48 feet or more.

• Tahquamenon Falls (near Paradise): the DNR says the Upper Falls drops about 50 feet and is more than 200 feet across. The Lower Falls is a set of cascades about 4 miles downstream. A 1,100-foot accessible boardwalk to the Upper Falls opened in May 2026.
• Bond Falls (near Paulding): about 50 feet, with an accessible boardwalk and six viewing locations, per the DNR. As of Oct 2026 it is seasonal. The DNR says Bond Falls vehicle access typically runs from mid-May to mid-October, depending on weather.
• Munising Falls (Pictured Rocks): a 50-foot drop over a sandstone cliff, per NPS. As of Oct 2026 the trail is closed, and NPS expects the rebuild to finish by the end of 2027.

Waterfalls in lower Michigan

This site covers one waterfall in the Lower Peninsula so far: Ocqueoc Falls, west of Rogers City in Presque Isle County. It is a set of small cascades about 5 feet high, per Wikipedia, so it is no rival to the U.P. falls for size.

Ocqueoc Falls' draw is access. In 2012 the DNR called it the first truly universally accessible waterfall in the nation, with a ramp to the river, transfer stations and a viewing platform. Visitors enter the water there. As of Oct 2026 its status is unconfirmed, so call the DNR before a long drive.

Recreation Passport and NPS fees at Michigan waterfalls

The three Michigan DNR waterfalls use the Recreation Passport, while Munising Falls is in Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, which sets its own NPS fees.

Michigan DNR sites (Tahquamenon, Bond, Ocqueoc): a Recreation Passport is the pass to carry. The DNR requires a Passport for vehicle entry at Tahquamenon. A 2012 DNR bulletin said the same for Ocqueoc. UP Travel says Bond Falls needs one to park. Michigan.gov lists these 2026 prices:

• Michigan residents: $15 per vehicle when added at license plate renewal through the Secretary of State. Buying it at another time adds a $5 convenience fee.
• Nonresidents: $12 daily or $42 annual. The annual pass expires December 31.

At Tahquamenon Falls State Park, the DNR says every vehicle needs a Passport. At Bond Falls, the DNR page lists no lot fee. It names the Passport only for state park and forest campgrounds, so carry one if you drive in.

At Ocqueoc, the DNR said in 2012 that a Passport was required to enter. A March 2012 DNR land use order also extended the Passport to state forest campgrounds and non-motorized pathway parking areas. We found no 2026 notice that names the Ocqueoc lot, so read the signs when you park.

Munising Falls (NPS): Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore sets its own entrance fees. For 2026, NPS lists $25 per private vehicle for 7 days and $20 per motorcycle. It charges $15 per person on foot, bike or boat, and $45 for an annual park pass.

NPS says its passes cover all areas of the lakeshore. Its fees page does not say whether you need a pass just to visit Munising Falls, and we could not confirm it either way. NPS takes cards only, and visitors under 16 don't need a pass.

Michigan waterfall closures and conditions (Oct 2026)

As of October 2026, two of the four Michigan falls on this site have access limits. The Munising Falls trail is closed, and Bond Falls is past its usual vehicle season. Statuses below are from our falls pages checked October 27 to 29:

• Munising Falls: closed. About 75 feet of the paved trail washed out on April 28, 2025, NPS said. On Sept 3, 2026, NPS awarded a $2.8 million rebuild contract and expects the work to finish by the end of 2027, weather permitting. The visitor center is not affected, but construction staging may limit parking.
• Bond Falls: seasonal. The DNR says vehicle access typically runs from mid-May to mid-October, depending on weather. The hiking trail stays open year-round, but trails and boardwalks are not monitored or groomed for snow and ice. We found no 2025 or 2026 closure.
• Tahquamenon Falls: open. The DNR keeps the Hemlock campground loop open year-round. The park page lists no opening hours; call 906-492-3415.
• Ocqueoc Falls: unconfirmed. We found no 2025 or 2026 closure, damage or construction, but no 2026 DNR notice confirms the falls' status. The DNR's number is 989-734-2543.

Frozen waterfalls in Michigan

Tahquamenon is the one falls on this site with winter camping. The DNR keeps its Hemlock campground loop open year-round, and the Portage loop opens for hike-in camping in winter. The park page lists no opening hours, so call 906-492-3415 about winter access to the new boardwalk.

At Bond Falls, the hiking trail stays open year-round on foot, but the DNR says trails and boardwalks are not groomed for snow and ice. Munising Falls is closed. Our frozen waterfalls guide covers winter falls trips in more states.

Access, accessibility and water rules at Michigan waterfalls

Tahquamenon has the most step-free access of the four Michigan falls, per the DNR, and water rules differ at each site.

Confirm access before a long drive. Munising is closed. The DNR says Bond Falls vehicle access typically runs from mid-May to mid-October, depending on weather. The hiking trail stays open on foot. The DNR's Bond Falls phone number is 906-353-6558.

For step-free viewing, start with Tahquamenon. Its new 1,100-foot Upper Falls boardwalk opened in May 2026. The DNR describes it as fully accessible, with over 60 feet of elevation change spread across five switchback landings. It lends wheelchairs free from the interpretive area near the Upper Falls lot and has track chairs for visitors (DNR, May 2026).

At Ocqueoc, the DNR built a recycled-plastic ramp and tiered transfer stations down to the river's edge. Bond Falls has an accessible boardwalk with six viewing locations, per the DNR. We could not confirm the accessible route from parking there, so ask the DNR about a step-free route.

Water rules differ by site. NPS prohibits walking into or behind Munising Falls. At Ocqueoc, the DNR's 2012 bulletin describes a pool "just perfect for splashing," but we found no current swimming rule and no mention of a lifeguard. We could not confirm swimming rules at Tahquamenon or Bond, so check posted signs. Expect wet, slippery rock at every site.

Time it for flow. Wikipedia says the Tahquamenon River averages about 7,000 gallons per second and can reach 50,000 in spring runoff.

Michigan waterfalls FAQ