Michigan OutdoorsNOW

Waterfall routes

Michigan waterfall hikes with the route attached

A useful waterfall-hike list should tell you how much hiking is attached to the falls. These routes pair waterfall features with published route mileage rather than treating every roadside cascade as the same trip.

By Chris Izworski · Official route sources checked August 28, 2026

Trail Truth standard

Route facts first. Current conditions second.

Every mileage number on this page comes from the National Park Service, Michigan DNR or U.S. Forest Service source linked on that route. The live planner can then add road routing, current weather, DNR access changes and mapped route metadata when you open a place. A published route length is not a statement that the trail is open or suitable today.

13verified route choices
5Michigan destinations
0.5–10.5 mipublished mileage range
3official source systems

Route shapes in this set: 5 loops, 5 out-and-backs, 3 point-to-point routes and 0 trail networks. These counts describe the verified catalog on this page; they are not estimates of every trail in Michigan.

Hiking areas represented
Pictured Rocks National LakeshorePorcupine Mountains WildernessTahquamenon Falls State ParkOcqueoc Falls
0110.5 mi

Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore

Chapel Loop

loopchallenging

Forest, Lake Superior cliff-top trail and beach approaches

  • Chapel Falls
  • Chapel Rock
  • Lake Superior cliffs
  • Mosquito Falls
NPS lists the full Chapel Loop, including Mosquito Falls, at 10.5 miles.
Check this area now →National Park Service route source ↗
024.5 mi

Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore

Mosquito Beach via Mosquito Falls

looprugged

Lowland forest, rough/muddy tread and Lake Superior shoreline

  • Mosquito Beach
  • Mosquito Falls
  • sandstone shoreline
NPS lists the loop at 4.5 miles and describes the trail as usually muddy and rough.
Check this area now →National Park Service route source ↗
031.2 mi

Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore

Miners Falls Trail

out-and-backeasy

Gently rolling gravel and dirt path with stairs to the lower platform

  • Miners Falls
  • northwoods forest
  • viewing platforms
NPS lists the walk at 0.6 mile each way, or 1.2 miles roundtrip.
Check this area now →National Park Service route source ↗
049.6 mi

Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park

Big Carp River Trail

point-to-pointchallenging

Escarpment descent, river valley and old-growth forest

  • waterfalls
  • old-growth forest
  • Lake Superior
Michigan DNR lists the full Big Carp River Trail at 9.6 miles.
Check this area now →Michigan DNR route source ↗
0510.5 mi

Huron-Manistee National Forests

Manistee River Trail

point-to-pointchallenging

Narrow river-bank trail with forest, seeps, tributaries and suspension-bridge access

  • Manistee River views
  • spring-fed waterfalls
  • tributary creeks
USFS lists the Manistee River Trail at 10.5 miles and the combined NCT/MRT loop at 22 miles.
U.S. Forest Service route source ↗
065.1 mi

Tahquamenon Falls State Park

River Trail

point-to-pointrugged

Difficult river-and-forest trail connecting Lower and Upper Falls parking areas

  • Upper Falls
  • Lower Falls
  • Tahquamenon River
  • forest
Michigan DNR lists the River Trail at 5.1 miles one way, rates it difficult, and gives a 3-6 hour average time.
Check this area now →Michigan DNR route source ↗
070.5 mi

Tahquamenon Falls State Park - Lower Falls

Island Trail

loopeasy

Short island trail at the Lower Falls

  • Lower Falls
  • Tahquamenon River
  • island
Michigan DNR's Lower Falls hiking map lists Island Trail at 0.5 mile.
Check this area now →Michigan DNR route source ↗
086 mi

Ocqueoc Falls

Ocqueoc Falls Bicentennial Pathway — 6-mile loop

loopmoderate

Hardwood forest pathway around Michigan's Lower Peninsula waterfall country

  • Ocqueoc Falls
  • Ocqueoc River
  • hardwood forest
Michigan DNR states that the Ocqueoc Falls Bicentennial Pathway has four loops ranging from 3 to 6 miles; this profile represents the published 6-mile maximum loop option.
Check this area now →Michigan DNR route source ↗
102 mi

Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore

Mosquito Falls Trail

out-and-backmoderate

Lowland and mixed forest to a series of short rock-shelf cascades

  • Mosquito Falls
  • Mosquito River
  • hemlock forest
NPS lists Mosquito Falls at 2.0 miles roundtrip from the Chapel/Mosquito trailhead.
Check this area now →National Park Service route source ↗
126.2 mi

Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore

Chapel Rock and Chapel Beach

out-and-backchallenging

Forest trail through Chapel Falls to Lake Superior shoreline

  • Chapel Falls
  • Chapel Rock
  • Chapel Beach
  • Lake Superior
NPS lists Chapel Rock and Chapel Beach at 6.2 miles roundtrip from the parking lot.
Check this area now →National Park Service route source ↗
133 mi

Ocqueoc Falls

Ocqueoc Falls Bicentennial Pathway — shortest loop

loopmoderate

Hardwood forest pathway around the Ocqueoc River and waterfall area

  • Ocqueoc Falls
  • Ocqueoc River
  • hardwood forest
Michigan DNR states that the Bicentennial Pathway has four loops ranging from 3 to 6 miles; this profile represents the published shortest 3-mile option without inventing a separate loop name.
Check this area now →Michigan DNR route source ↗

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Related hiking questions

Long hikes in Michigan with route mileage you can inspect→Michigan hikes around 10 miles→Easy short hikes in Michigan→Rugged Michigan hikes that deserve real planning→Full-day hikes in Michigan→

Creator and method

This is part of Chris Izworski’s Michigan outdoor decision-tool network.

The search page keeps official route facts separate from live planning signals so mileage, weather, access and uncertainty are not blended into one opaque recommendation.

Chris Izworski profile →More projects →