Why is tahquamenon red?

The Tahquamenon river was made famous in the Longfellow poem Hiawatha. 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.



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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.

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Because the headwaters of the river are located in a boreal wetland that is rich in cedar, spruce and hemlock trees, the river's waters carry a significant amount of tannin in solution (i.e., it is a blackwater river), and are often brown or golden-brown in color.

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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.

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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.

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The Tahquamenon River It 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.

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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.

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