Rock River Falls & Rock River Canyon Wilderness Area

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Beyond the obvious: 34 choice U.P. waterfalls

People who love waterfalls for their otherworldly magic may want to seek out Rock River Falls. It's in Hiawatha National Forest along the canyon of the Rock River, some 150 feet deep. The path down to the falls from the nearest road is well used, about 3/4 of a mile long. It is not marked, but not hard to follow, either. It goes through a deep woods before reaching the river at the falls' splash pool.

In A Guide to 199 Michigan Waterfalls, the discriminating Penrose family say Rock River Falls is one of Alger County's most beautiful falls, and certainly one of the most remote. "So far it's my favorite," says a woman who has seen most area waterfalls.

After dropping about 20 feet over a limestone ledge, "the water catches on the steps of the ledge, creating progressively smaller streams, which form feathery trails from top to bottom." Wear waterproof footgear or expect to have wet feet. Water seeps up and makes mud. And be prepared for insects, especially in spring.

As a wilderness area, Rock River Canyon Wilderness has no signs, no waste containers, no man-made improvements. You won't get lost, however, if you follow the trail to the falls. If you want to explore farther without following the river, you'd do well to get a USGS map of the area from the Pictured Rocks/Hiawatha National Forest Visitor Center and know how to read it and use your compass or GPS. Take out your trash. Bury human waste in a 6" deep hole.

From M-94 Chatham, go north on Rock River Rd. where M-94 makes its right-angle turn. Go 3.6 miles, crossing the Rock River, to take USFS Road 2276. Turn west (left) and go about 4.3 miles. Look for a pullover on the left and the path to the falls. Handicap accessible: no.
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