According to Indian lore, the origin of the name Tahquamenon is attributed to the water's amber color, which is the result of leaching of tanic acid from the cedar and hemlock swamps that feed the river. The Tahquamenon is special in many ways.
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The Tahquamenon Falls are actually two different waterfalls on the Tahquamenon River. The water is notably brown in color because of tannins that are leached from the cedar swamps which the river drains. The upper falls are more than 200 feet across and drop approximately 48 feet.
Locals Call it “Root Beer Falls”This color originates from the tannins that leach from the cedar swamp at the start of the Tahquamenon River. You might not think of walking “down” to a massive waterfall, but at the Upper Tahquamenon Falls, you have to walk down just 94 steps to reach the spectacular view.
Marcelo Galizio has taken the trip over Tahqhamenon Falls 18 times in his life, but it's his most recent trip that's earned the attention of people all over Michigan.
Tahquamenon Falls – ParadiseThe Upper Falls, at 50 feet tall and 200 feet wide, stand alone as Michigan's largest waterfalls, the most interesting and among the most accessible.
Explore this 10.2-mile out-and-back trail near Paradise, Michigan. Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 3 h 34 min to complete.
The Tahquamenon RiverIt starts from a spring near Newberry in Luce County and flows 89.1 miles to Whitefish Bay on Lake Superior. The miles of forest lands and waters surrounding the river are home to white-tail deer, moose, bear, wolves, porcupine, otters, mink, fox, coyote, beaver and dozens of bird species.
The more famous Upper Tahquamenon Falls is 200 feet across with a drop of almost 50 feet. The lower falls are about 4 miles downstream, and are, in fact, a series of five smaller falls around a small island. The Lower Falls can be a hidden gem when it comes to Tahquamenon Falls.
Tahquamenon Falls is a state park. The entrance fee at the gate is $17/vehicle or $11/motorcycle for MI residents. The fee for non-residents is $9 for a day pass or $34 for a year.
The Upper Peninsula's waterfalls are made up of sandstone and were formed over thousands of years. Much of the formation is due to how water falls over or on top of the rock that makes it up. Water erodes the rock over time and can create ridges and falls and a water basin by wearing down soft rock.