O Kun de Kun Falls is a 25-foot plunge waterfall on the Baltimore River in Ontonagon County, Michigan, where the river pours off a sandstone ledge in Ottawa National Forest. The North Country Trail passes right by it, and the falls are a popular short hike from US-45 north of Bruce Crossing.
The falls
The Baltimore River drops over a sandstone ledge in several curtains that change with the flow. The water is often a creamy brown, a color shaped by a clay plain laid down about 9,500 years ago. In 2024 lidar measurements indicated a drop of about 25 feet, while various guidebooks give figures between 15 and 20 feet. Historical records also designate the falls as Baltimore Falls, though some recent government topographic maps misplaced them.
Getting there
The trailhead parking area is on the east side of US-45, about 8 miles north of Bruce Crossing. A gravel spur leads to the North Country Trail, which runs north along the river over stretches of boardwalk, most of it installed during 2019. The walk spans 1.3 miles one way, rated moderate. The trail rolls through the woods and steepens close to the river, with a few soft, muddy spots remaining in spring or after rain. The site is in Ottawa National Forest, run by the USDA Forest Service.
When to go
Flow is strongest in spring, and autumn brings color and fewer insects; black flies are active in summer. In winter the falls freeze into a curtain of ice, and the US-45 trailhead is usually plowed. It is a busy trail that sees many visitors each day.
On site
The best view of the main drop is from a suspension footbridge just below the falls, and there is a small campsite nearby. When the water is low, visitors can carefully step into a hollow behind the ledge. The rock is slippery, requiring careful footing. A steep spur leads to a smaller drop, Konteka Falls, a short way upstream.
History and name
The falls are named for O Kun de Kun, also called Konteka, an Ojibwe chief of the Ontonagon area who lived from about 1760 to 1859.
Nearby
Upper O Kun de Kun Falls is about 0.3 mile up the Baltimore River. Sandstone Falls is about 3 miles away, and Plover Falls and Lower Plover Falls are about 3.3 miles away. Ontonagon, the nearest town, is about 17 miles away.
Distances are straight-line.