Day trip
Some of Michigan's best waterfalls sit within an easy drive of your cabin door. Use Lake Gogebic as your home base, pick a route for the day, and go chase water.
Interactive map
Tap any pin for the river it's on, how long the walk is, how far it is from the resort, and a link that opens driving directions on your phone. The orange pin is West Shore Resort.
About 1 hour 10 minutes from the resort
Five waterfalls strung along one 14 mile road north of Bessemer, ending at the Black River Harbor on Lake Superior. It is the easiest full day of waterfall hopping in the Western U.P.
Black River
A wide waterfall split down the middle by a shelf of conglomerate rock. The longest walk of the five, and the quietest.
Black River
The showpiece of the byway and the easiest one to reach. A paved path leads to a barrier free overlook, and there are restrooms at the lot.
Black River
A 34 foot drop through a narrow conglomerate canyon. Shares a parking lot with Potawatomi, so most people see both in one stop.
Black River
The river slides over broad sandstone slabs here. A long stairway down means fewer people at the bottom.
Black River
The tallest fall on the byway, roughly 40 feet, and the one most likely to throw a rainbow in afternoon sun. Reachable from the Black River Harbor side too.
About 1 hour from the resort
Three big waterfalls on one loop trail with boardwalks and stairs, right where the Presque Isle River meets Lake Superior. Pair it with a Porkies day and add Lake of the Clouds.
Presque Isle River
A wide, powerful curtain of water and the biggest of the three. Closest to the river mouth and Lake Superior.
Presque Isle River
A staircase of ledges just upstream from Manabezho, viewed from the boardwalk that ties the loop together.
Presque Isle River
The upstream fall of the three, seen through hemlock from an overlook. Quieter than the other two.
40 to 55 minutes from the resort
The two most famous falls in the area, both an easy drive east of the lake and both worth the trip on their own. Good option for a half day.
Middle Branch of the Ontonagon River
The one you have probably seen on a postcard. A wide 50 foot cascade with a boardwalk running the length of it and a picnic area above.
Middle Branch of the Ontonagon River
A long angled slide of water under an old railroad trestle. Well marked trail from the roadside park.
About 1 hour 15 minutes from the resort
A longer drive west, best combined with Little Girls Point and a picnic on the big lake.
Montreal River
A deep gorge where the Montreal River drops roughly 40 feet just before reaching Lake Superior. Dramatic, and usually uncrowded.
Before you go
Snowmelt in May and rainy stretches in October put the most water over the rock. Summer falls are gentler but easier walking.
Stairs, roots, and wet rock are the norm. Trail shoes or boots beat sandals on every one of these trails.
Potawatomi Falls and Bond Falls both have barrier free viewing areas, which makes them the friendliest stops for strollers and anyone who would rather skip the stairs.
Save your directions before you leave the cabin. Once you are on the byway or in the Porkies, expect to lose signal.
Drive times are rough estimates from the resort and trail conditions change with the season. Check with the Ottawa National Forest or Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park for current closures before a long drive.
