Munising-area Waterfalls
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| James Marvin Phelps |
| Horseshoe Falls is close to Munising but costs $5/person to visit. |
Waterfalls are one of the Munising area's big attractions. Six are almost in town. Look at the Munising side of the local Chamber of Commerce map for in-town waterfalls. Popular Munising Falls is at the west end of Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. (For seven other falls within the national lakeshore, consult the map and our descriptions.)
♦ Two of the most charming and least visited waterfalls in the Munising area are on the east edge of town, part of the Michigan Nature Association's TWIN WATERFALLS PLANT PRESERVE. Stairways now make it much easier to climb the steep hill to the two waterfalls. Directions: From M-28 by the Pictured Rocks Visitor Center, turn onto East Munising Ave./H-58. Take H-58 to Washington Street, a little over a mile, and park along Washington Street or in the tiny parking lot. Do not park along H-58. Walk back across H-58. Look for a prominent Michigan Nature Association sign. "You'll see a stairway leading into the hills directly across from Washington Street," says the Chamber of Commerce waterfall guide. "This will lead you along a beautiful and relatively short path along the sandstone canyon to the falls. This path lets you walk behind the Tannery Creek Waterfall, renamed Rudy Olsen Falls in honor of a Michigan Nature Association stalwart. From this waterfall you can choose to continue along the path and footbridge to the other ‘twin,' Memorial Falls." There is another stairway to Memorial Falls from residential Nestor Street, but it is steeper and of some danger to young children.
♦ HORSESHOE FALLS in southeast Munising is the centerpiece of a private attraction with a pleasant streamside garden. The entrance area is a small gift shop with Jilbert's ice cream. The waterfall is really very pretty, with two big drops and a cascade down the shady hillside. The path is on the steep side, with a little loose gravel. A nature trail winds down to a pond and little park-like area with sundial, wishing well, and a meteorite. There are rainbow trout to feed, 25˘ for a handful of chow. It's fun to see the big fish chase after the food. 602 Bell Ave. To find it, from M-28 at the south edge of Munising, turn east onto Prospect Street, then left onto Bell. Look for signs opposite Citgo station. (906) 387-2635. Adults $5, kids 9-12 $2, age 8 and under free. $20 family rate. Open mid May into mid Oct. From June into late August open 10-8, otherwise 10-6. Wheelchair access: requires pushing.
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| Wayne Premo |
| Alger Falls |
♦ ALGER FALLS are right on M-28 east of town.
♦ WAGNER FALLS is more secluded and powerful. Directions: From M-28 south of Munising, take M-94 west for about half a mile to the roadside area marked "Wagner Falls" with a state of Michigan sign. (This is a designated scenic area.) The falls are south of the road, but there's extra parking on the north. The path to the falls, maybe 400 feet, are on a wide, easy path. The falls cascade down the hill in powerful bursts. The footpath goes up gradually to the top of the falls.
♦ The memorable LAUGHING WHITEFISH FALLS is in the small place of Sundell. ROCK RIVER FALLS is outside Chatham, part of a canyon wilderness area. SCOTT FALLS is across M-28 from the M-DOT rest stop east of Au Train.
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POINTS OF INTEREST
Munising Front Range Light. Imposing 1908 58-foot white light tower is part of a system of range lights that guide ships into Munising's harbor of refuge. Behind & up the hill is the shorter but higher white round rear range tower. Boat captains lined up the two lights to steer safely into this harbor of refuge. ... more
Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. A major Midwest destination with wonderful waterfalls, vistas, and hikes, the sandstone bluffs here rise up to 300 feet high, shaped by wind, waves, and ice into dramatic columns and caves, and stained red, blue and green by seeping minerals to form colored "pictures" ... more
Sand Point Beach. With lovely sand & striking views, some thing it's the best beach in Michigan ... more
Scenic drive Munising to Marquette. Miles of public beaches, vistas, and elegant river mouths delight travelers who take M-28 along this stretch. ... more
Spray Falls. Enjoyable 3-mile hike takes you to one of the U.P.'s premier falls ... more
Tannery Falls. One of the U.P.'s most delightful waterfalls is reached by a splendid path along Tannery Creek ... more
Pictured Rocks Visitor Center. Recommended first stop for every new visitor—for maps, handouts, scheduled talks and walks on nature and history, and customized, impartial advice from a knowledgeable staff of adults who live here and know the area well. Also a nature bookstore ... more
Pictured Rocks Cruises. Great way to see the Pictured Rocks, preferably in the late-afternoon light, unless you have your own boat or take a kayak tour, ... more
Glass Bottom Boat Shipwreck Tour. Peer down through a large boat's viewing wells at three shipwrecks south of Grand Island ... more
Ice Climbing in Pictured Rocks. A top Midwest spot for ice climbing just east of Munising, where tall sandstone bluffs create dramatic blue columns of ice ... more
Lake Superior. Of all the U.P.'s features, none rival the largest freshwater lake in the world. ... more
Central Munising. A wonderful picnic spot, with grills, bandshell, and farmers' market on Munising Bay; a popular coffeehouse-bookstore, some specialty stores; and a kids' castle playground ... more
Alger County Heritage Center. Munising's rich history revealed in many displays, including 1830s fur trader's cabin from Grand Island, vintage Munising Woodenware products, historic kitchen, old post office ... more
Northern Waters Sea Kayaking. An adventurous way to see the cliffs, caves, and shipwrecks by Grand Island and the fabled Pictured Rocks ... more
Grand Island Scenic Overlook. A breathtaking vista out beyond Munising Bay of Grand Island ... more
Munising-area Waterfalls. Avoid crowds and visit four delightful, secluded falls in and near Munising: Horseshoe Falls, a quaint private attraction; the Twin Waterfall Plant Preserve; and Wagner Falls off M-94 ... more
Munising Wi-fi Hotspots. • Chamber of Commerce has wi-fi 24/7 (can use in parking lot). 129 Munising Ave. (M-28) across from Subway. • Falling Rock Café & Bookstore has wi-fi. 104 East Munising/M-28 downtown, just east of Elm. ... more
Valley Spur Cross-Country Ski and Mountain Bike Trails. Artfully laid out, meticulously groomed, this 38-mile trail system is a favorite destination of dedicated cross-country skiers from far and wide ... more
McQuisten Recreation Area. Views from boardwalks on this beautiful pond are hidden gems for birders & naturalists. There's an elaborate playground, too ... more
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