Pinnacle Falls on the Yellow Dog River

Posted on by farlane

Pinnacle Falls - (Yellow Dog river) - near Big Bay, Michigan

Pinnacle Falls – (Yellow Dog river) – near Big Bay, Michigan, photo by Michigan Nut

The Pinnacle Falls entry at GoWaterfalling.com explains that:

Pinnacle Falls is located on a wild stretch of the Yellow Dog River, roughly 8 miles south west of Big Bay. The Yellow Dog has carved out an impressive gorge that must be around 200 feet deep. The falls is about 25 feet high, and is a steep cascade like many of the falls in the area. The falls is named for the large pinnacle of rock on the right side of the falls.

Read on for comprehensive directions and a map of the many Marquette area waterfalls.

John writes:

This was I think the most remote Michigan waterfall I have been to. The only directions we had was an article written in 2006 from some guy who found it on his mountain bike. He included the GPS way-points but when we reached it there was no falls or trail around. We went down one last two-track with the jeep after trying for a couple of hours, and finally found the trail to the falls. It was about a 25 minute hike. The Yellow Dog has carved out an impressive gorge back there. This would be a great place to pack in and pitch a a tent for a night or two. Very beautiful Waterfall. The photo doesn’t do this area justice.

That’s a pretty deep hole right below the falls, I couldn’t resist stripping down and swimming for awhile. :)

That’s probably ill-advised for today! View John’s photo bigger and see more in his awesome 80+ photo Michigan Waterfalls slideshow.

Many (many) more waterfalls on Michigan in Pictures.

Waterfall Wednesday: Shining Cloud Falls

Posted on by farlane

Shining Cloud Falls

Shining Cloud Falls, photo by Mikeydubz1

GoWaterfalling.com is the premier site for Michigan waterfall information, and they write that Shining Cloud Falls:

…is the largest, and one of the wildest backcountry waterfalls in Porcupine Mountains State Park. You will have to hike at least 5 miles in to see the falls, and another 5 miles to get back. If you are looking for a good long day hike this is a winner. In addition to the main falls there are also a number of smaller cascades, and whatever route you take there is lots of wilderness scenery.

The total drop of the falls is about 20′. The falls consists of two parts, a slide on the left, and a plunge on the right. In higher water the two parts merge, but in lower water the two parts are distinct. Plunge falls are rare around Lake Superior.

They say that the real challenge is reaching this remote fall, but that it’s definitely worth the trip – read on for instructions!

Check Mikey’s photo out bigger and see more in his Porcupine Mountains slideshow.

Many more Michigan waterfalls on Michigan in Pictures!

Falling back at Sturgeon Falls

Posted on by farlane

Lower Falls Sturgeon Gorge

Lower Falls Sturgeon Gorge, photo by Shadows in Reflection

Say hello to your last early evening light for a while today, and don’t forget to set your clocks back for Daylight Savings Time tonight!

Back in May I posted a pic of Sturgeon Falls raging with the spring snowmelt. I thought Michael’s photo provided a cool look at how much the snowmelt changes the flow of UP rivers from spring to fall.

Michael writes that this is an awesome place and a must visit if you like waterfalls. See it bigger and see more in his slideshow.

For a look at how to get there, check out the North Country Trail guide for the Sturgeon Gorge area and see many more Michigan waterfalls on Michigan in Pictures.

Misty Moonrise at Tahquamenon

Posted on by farlane

Misty Moonrise

Misty Moonrise, photo by ShaneWyatt

Here’s a gorgeous shot of the moon rising over the mist of Lower Taquamenon Falls – Shane caught a shooting star too!

View his photo bigger and see more including another night shot at the falls in Shane’s stars slideshow.

Fall at Spray Falls

Posted on by farlane

Spray Falls Autumn Colors

Spray Falls Autumn Colors, photo by James Marvin Phelps

James took this photo four years ago today at Spray Falls in the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore.

Check this out background big and see more great shots from the UP in his Michigan Fall Trip 2009 slideshow.

More about Spray Falls on Michigan in Pictures.

Manabozho and His Toe … and his waterfall

Posted on by farlane

Manabezo Falls.

Manabezo Falls., photo by one lost backpacker

The stories of the people native to Michigan are among my favorite. One reason is for the pervasive humor that enriches them. Manabozho was definitely a trickster, one of four divine brothers in Algonquin tales. Via the Literature Network, here’s Manabozho and His Toe:

Manabozho was so powerful that he began to think there was nothing he could not do. Very wonderful were many of his feats, and he grew more conceited day by day. Now it chanced that one day he was walking about amusing himself by exercising his extraordinary powers, and at length he came to an encampment where one of the first things he noticed was a child lying in the sunshine, curled up with its toe in its mouth.

Manabozho looked at the child for some time, and wondered at its extraordinary posture.

“I have never seen a child before lie like that,” said he to himself, “but I could lie like it.”

So saying, he put himself down beside the child, and, taking his right foot in his hand, drew it towards his mouth. When he had brought it as near as he could it was yet a considerable distance away from his lips.

“I will try the left foot,” said Manabozho. He did so and found that he was no better off, neither of his feet could he get to his mouth. He curled and twisted, and bent his large limbs, and gnashed his teeth in rage to find that he could not get his toe to his mouth. All, however, was vain.

At length he rose, worn out with his exertions and passion, and walked slowly away in a very ill humour, which was not lessened by the sound of the child’s laughter, for Manabozho’s efforts had awakened it.

“Ah, ah!” said Manabozho, “shall I be mocked by a child?”

He did not, however, revenge himself on his victor, but on his way homeward, meeting a boy who did not treat him with proper respect, he transformed him into a cedar-tree.

“At least,” said Manabozho, “I can do something.”

If you’d like more of Manabohzo, check out Manabohzo and the Ultimate Fish Story which might make you a bit more kindly disposed to seagulls.

Check out Randy’s photo background bigtacular and see more in his amazing Michigan Upepr Peninsula 2013 slideshow.

More about Manabezho Falls on Michigan in Pictures.

Miners Falls in the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore

Posted on by farlane

Wide view of Miners Falls

Wide view of Miners Falls, photo by ChiliFrei64

GoWaterfalling is the go-to place for Michigan waterfalls.  About Miners Falls they write:

Miners Falls is located in Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. To reach the Falls, take H58 west from Munising. Take H13 north 3.5 miles towards Miners Castle. There is a dirt road on the right that leads to falls. There is a sign marking the road. The dirt road is less than a mile and leads to a parking area. The walk through the woods to the falls is about 20 minutes. There are stairs at the end. The viewing area is a little frustrating. I do not know if there is an easy way into the gorge.

Little Miners Falls is about a mile downstream but you would have to bushwack to reach it. Chapel Falls, Spray Falls and Sable Falls are also in Pictured Rocks. Wagner Falls, Munising Falls, and others are in nearby Munising.

Be sure to also check out How Miners Falls Got Its Name on Michigan in Pictures and a Panormio/Google map of the area.

Dan writes that he was striving for a view he hadn’t seen of the falls. He got one!! Check this photo out bigger, see more in his Water slideshow and also check out Dan Frei Photography on Facebook.

Many more Michigan waterfalls on Michigan in Pictures!

Chasing the Perseids at Bond Falls

Posted on by farlane

Chasing the Perseids

Milky Way over Milky Falls with a dash of Perseids, photo by Like The Ocean

“I am beginning to love the stars too fondly to be fearful of the night.”
~Sathya R.

I hope that you had a chance to catch the annual show that is the Perseid Meteor Shower. In Chasing the Perseids at his blog Like the Ocean, Saytha writes:

45 hours on the road with just few hours of sleep, in search of that one spot to capture the Perseids. The lashing rain, the forecasted aurora that never turned up and the hide and seek with the clouds – it was all fun. Was it all worth it, you bet! The road trip took me to one of the darkest skies of Mid Western US – Bond Falls. Would like to share with you a moment in time from that night. This was one of the two meteor I was able to capture on frame, but loved how everything came together in this shot. I do love when a plan comes together :)

The deafening sound of 500 gallons of water / second from 50 feet
The tranquil silence of the dark night
Milky way adorning the skies
A (Perseids) meteor fireball streaking across the horizon
Definitely a moment of serenity and one I would cherish!

Read on at Like the Ocean Photography, check this photo out bigger and see more in his awesome Nightscape slideshow.

More about Bond Falls at Michigan in Pictures.

Elliot Falls aka Miners Beach Falls

Posted on by farlane

Elliot Falls

Elliot Falls, photo by Aaron Peterson

In Wednesday Waterfall: Elliot Falls, aka Miners Beach Falls Aaron Peterson writes:

There are so many big, raucous thundering waterfalls in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula that it’s too easy to overlook little gems like Elliot Falls at Miners Beach in Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore near Munising in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.

For years I’ve heard this waist-high falls called Miners Beach Falls, and also Potato Patch Falls referring to the nearby backcountry campsite called the Potato Patch. However the actual Potato Patch Falls is a wispy pillar located between this lower falls at Miners Beach and the campsite where the stream drips off a sandstone ledge.

A recent interaction on Facebook set the record straight on the beach falls though:
“Elliot Falls is named after my great aunt’s husband, who had the cabin there for many years. Bob Elliot had ‘Elliot’s Farm’, and the home had also been known as “Zimmies” in later years prior to being torn down by the park service. The house sat right over the creek (you could see the creek through the floorboards in the bathroom). A few pipes and concrete slabs still remain at the site. “

Read on for directions and to view Aaron’s photo bigger. See more great shots from the UP on his blog and also at aaronpeterson.net.

Many more Michigan waterfalls on Michigan in Pictures!

Overlooked Falls in Porcupine Mountains State Park

Posted on by farlane

fallen tree [Overlooked Falls 2478 2481]

fallen tree [Overlooked Falls 2478 2481], photo by Frank Kaelin (aka Fir Dawg)

GoWaterfalling’s page on Minor Waterfalls has this to say about Overlooked Falls in Porcupine Mountains State Park:

Overlooked Falls is a small falls on the Little Carp River. The scenic falls consists of two drops, each about 5′ in height. This is the most easily accessed of the falls on the Little Carp River, big or small. It is only a few hundred feet from the parking area. The trailhead to the falls is at the end of Little Carp River road. This is also the trailhead to Greenstone Falls, which is about 1/2 mile away. The trail also leads to the much larger Trappers Falls, which is three miles away.

Check this out bigger and see more in Frank’s Mainly Water slideshow.

Many (many) more Michigan waterfalls on Michigan in Pictures!