Tahquamenon River

The Tahquamenon River flows 87 miles in the eastern Upper Peninsula of Michigan. The headwaters are north of Newberry, Michigan; the river mouth drains into Lake Superior’s Whitefish Bay just south of Paradise, Michigan.  The Tahquamenon Scenic Byway offers phenomenal views and access to the river beginning just east of the Tahquamenon Logging Museum, north of Newberry and provides details as to the critical role logging played in the region. To see the waters up close and personal The Woods offers canoe rentals and guided tours. If you would rather sit back and ride a riverboat, Tahquamenon Train and Boat Tours offers a unique view of the Upper Falls from the south side of the river and a well scripted narration of folklore, fauna and flora.

Sculpting the region, Tahquamenon carved the Upper Falls, Lower Falls, and island. The Department of Natural Resources identifies some 67 tributaries. Tahquamenon means Our Woman in the Chippewa (Ojibwa) language.  Perhaps they refer to the nutrients the river provided to their survival  Ancient Indian lore describes a beautiful maiden that loved a man she couldn't have, so she threw herself over the Upper Falls.  Supposedly to this day her spirit, dressed in a white buckskin dress can still be seen near the falls.  Be sure to search the mist for her spirit!

As a source of fish and fresh water in the area closest to the Lower Falls, the Chippewa camped to survive the harsh winters.  In spring, the community would relocate closer to the river mouth, tap the trees for sweet syrup, trap, hunt, and fish to provide for their families. To this day Department of Natural Resources identifies the Tahquamenon Lower Falls and river mouth sections as popular Tahquamenon Area Fishing Holes continuing to serve the community as a natural food resource.

The most popular tourist stop in the Upper Peninsula is the Tahquamenon Falls State Park. Officially designated the Tahquamenon Falls State Park in 1947 by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources to preserve the magnificence of the region, today the park consists of 46,000+ acres of pristine forest.

 

There are three entrances to the park, just south east of Paradise on State Route M-123, Tahquamenon Scenic Byway. The first entrance takes you to the Lower Falls, the second to administrative offices and information and the third to the Upper Falls. Visiting the Falls in any season is extraordinary. During the summer months, July and August are the busiest. The best time to visit the falls during these summer months is early morning 7 - 10 AM or later in the evening 7 - 10 PM. There should be fewer cars waiting in line and fewer people walking the paved paths to the falls.    

 

The Upper Falls is 200 feet across and has some 50,000 gallons of water per second flowing over the brink. This volume of water cascading over the 50 foot drop designates the Upper Falls as the 2nd largest waterfall east of the Mississippi. The water has a copper color from the tannic acids in the Tahquamenon River basin from the many Beech and Birch trees.  The Upper Falls is sometimes referred to as the Root Beer Falls.

      

The Lower Falls is a series of five cascading falls surrounding an island, Tahquamenon.  During the summer months, it is possible to rent a row boat, paddle across the river, explore the island, dip your toe in the cool waters and paddle back.   A popular activity is to hike from the Lower Falls to the Upper Falls.  Often a shuttle is available for the return trip.  This trail is not paved, has tree roots, hills, twists, and turns so not for those with health concerns.

South of Paradise along M-123, the Tahquamenon Scenic Byway, and north of the bridge that crosses the Tahquamenon, there is a county road, West Tahqua Trail Road that follows the river.  There are several North Country Scenic Trail heads and small areas where you can  pull off the road and look across the span of the river.

 The river mouth is 17.5 miles down river from the Lower Falls.  In September the Michigan Canoe Racing Association sponsors a canoe race for teams of two to paddle from the Lower Falls to the river mouth. Spectators take advantage of West Tahqua Trail road to observe the race.  Tahquamenon Falls State Park offers a campground near the river mouth with boat access.  There is also a public boat ramp east of M-123 with a walkway and fishing access.

 

   

The Tahquamenon River is an incredible tributary, rich with beauty, natural resources, and history.  It served as a back drop to Hemingway's popular poem, Hiawatha.  Nearly designated as "Wilderness", the Tahquamenon River may be one of the few, true, time-travel pathways of Ojibwa, French Canadian Voyageurs, fur traders, and missionaries. Experience the Tahquamenon in Michigan's Paradise!

 

PLACES TO STAY!
 
This information is brought to you by the Paradise Area Tourism Council and their members:  Curley's Paradise Motel, Magnuson Grand Lakefront Paradise, Paradise Inn (Hotel), Paradise Shores Cabins, and Vagabond Motel. Sign up for our newsletter to stay current on activities in the area.

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