On the Tahquamenon River in Tahquamenon Falls State Park, Upper Tahquamenon Falls drops 32 feet as a broad block waterfall in Luce County, Michigan. Spanning more than 200 feet wide, the falls are tinted amber by natural swamp tannins.
The falls
The river pours in a single vertical sheet across a ledge that averages 200 feet wide. Lidar measurements show a drop of no more than 32 feet; earlier surveys showed 48 feet, and regional listings still report about 50. Average flow measures 2,100 cubic feet per second at high water and 650 at low. Wikipedia notes flow up to 50,000 gallons per second during spring runoff and calls it the third most voluminous waterfall east of the Mississippi. Tannins leached from cedar and hemlock swamps upstream give the water its brown tint and the nickname "Root Beer Falls," with the soft water creating foam below the drop.
Getting there
The Upper Falls area is at 41382 West M-123 near Paradise. The park is open 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. year-round, and vehicles require a Michigan Recreation Passport: residents purchase it with vehicle registration, while nonresidents pay $12 a day or $42 a year. A 1/3-mile paved, accessible path and boardwalk leads from the parking lot to viewing areas. A paid seasonal shuttle links the Upper and Lower Falls.
When to go
The park is open all year. In winter the area averages 106 inches of snow, and marked trails accommodate snowshoeing, cross-country skiing and snowmobiling.
On site
In May 2026 a new 1,100-foot accessible boardwalk opened to the brink of the falls, featuring five switchback landings to replace the old staircase. Visitors can also descend 94 steps for a closer view or 116 steps into the gorge. The Fact Shack lends track chairs and wheelchairs free of charge. Swimming, wading and paddling are prohibited near the Upper Falls. Dogs must remain on a leash no longer than six feet. The North Country National Scenic Trail passes through the area.
History and name
The name traces to Tahquamenon Island in Whitefish Bay, though the exact linguistic derivation is uncertain. Henry Wadsworth Longfellow wrote of "the rushing Taquamenaw" in The Song of Hiawatha in 1855.
Nearby
Lower Tahquamenon Falls, five cascades around an island, lies about 4 miles downstream, or 3.2 miles apart. Sable Falls is about 36.5 miles away and Spray Falls about 54.8 miles.
Distances are straight-line.