There are many natural wonders in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, hiking to Laughing Whitefish falls is indeed, one of them. It’s long cascading water provides a spectacular sight for this state park scenic site. The Laughing Whitefish River has cut a sandstone gorge that supports a nearly impenetrable wilderness on its way to Lake Superior. The waterfall is a magnificent example of what eons of water do to carve a landscape, breathtaking in scope.

At about 100 feet in length, this is one of the largest waterfalls in the Upper Peninsula. Located off from M-94, turn down Sundell Road and go for 2 miles, it turns dirt after a half-mile, and the marker sign will point the direction to the parking area. There is no camping here. This is a scenic site only.

The hike in is only a half-mile making it a full mile round trip. The walk is reasonably easy through a nice forest of maples, white pine and cedars. In no time, the hiker is standing at the pinnacle of the falls, a trail wanders off to the west and continues north. This is a spur from the North Country Hiking Trail (NCT). After a short 2 mile hike, it intersects with the NCT. Conversely, for NCT hikers, this is a short jaunt off the main trail to see one of the spectacular U.P. sights. The North Country Hiking Trail crosses the entire state of Michigan with many of the prettiest places in the U.P. along the trail.

View from the Top

At the top of the waterfall is a well built stairway to the bottom and observation platforms along the way provide for the best viewing and a rest on the way back up. It is 137 stairs to the bottom which provides views of the entire cascade. The falls are surrounded by the walls of the river gorge, thousands of years in the making.

There are a couple of places to picnic and grill in the parking lot, but there are no trash cans so all garbage must be carried out. Dogs are allowed but must be leashed and any left behinds by the dog must be picked up and carried out. Domestic canine diseases can be transmitted into the wild.

It Gets Personal

Over the years I’ve visited here many times.  Early in the year is often best for viewing the falls. During spring thaw, the water is at its height and the falls are rushing to its capacity. Later in the year, late July and early August, the water tends to be at its lowest. In winter, the falls create beautiful ice formations. The only access in the winter is by hiking or snowmobile and the machines must only go as far as the parking lot.

A few years ago, before there was a North Country Trail and spur to the falls, I decided to hike straight into the basin and see if I could make it to Deerton which is where the river leads. There were no trails so I bushwacked into the thick wilderness. It was rough going to say the least. Thick tag elders lined the Laughing Whitefish River making every mile exhausting work. Eventually I made it, spending an extraordinary night on Peter White Lake which the river runs through. It is private property now.

Fortunately, much of the area can be seen without the grueling effort I put into it., Established hiking trails now provide access where before there was none. Taking some time to see more than just the falls can be rewarding but if one has a time crunch, getting to see the falls takes little time at all and it’s worth every step.

For more information on Laughing Whitefish Falls, click here.

Not enough? click here.

All writing and photography by Mikel B. Classen. If you liked this article, you might like my book Points North.