Tahquamenon Falls State Park, State park with waterfalls in Upper Peninsula, Michigan.
Tahquamenon Falls State Park is a protected natural area in Michigan's Upper Peninsula covering more than 46,000 acres and home to two major waterfall systems. The Upper Falls drops about 50 feet over a 200-foot-wide ledge, while the Lower Falls splits into several smaller cascades around an island.
Ojibwe communities lived in this area for centuries and used the river for fishing and travel before European settlers arrived in the region. The State of Michigan established the park in the 20th century to protect the waterfalls and surrounding forests from logging.
The name Tahquamenon originates from Ojibwe language, referring to the water discharge that creates the powerful falls in the park.
Visitors need a Recreation Passport to enter, which provides access to camping sites, trails, and boat rentals near the Lower Falls. The waterfalls are reached by marked paths, and in winter snowshoes or cross-country skis can be helpful for getting around.
The water flowing over the falls has an amber tint caused by tannins leaching from cedar, spruce, and hemlock trees in nearby swamps. This coloration gives the falls an unusual appearance that shifts slightly with the seasons and water levels.
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