Munising Falls is in the westernmost portion of the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore and falls mostly within the city limits of Munising, Michigan.
It's just a quick trip out of downtown Munising on H-58, and a turn on Washington Street where it becomes Sand Point Road across the street from Munising Memorial Hospital.
The cascade's convenient location and nicely paved trail make it particularly accessible for those not up to a strenuous hike. There are also a few benches along the way for those who need to rest a bit or just want to linger and listen to the waterfalls.
It is also one of the few places in the park where you can take your pet on the trail with you.
There is a parking lot at the site and a quarter-mile trail out to the 50-foot-high waterfall.
The trail leads past an interpretive center (closed due to budget cuts when we visited in early June, although the restrooms were open at the time) and meanders along the Munising Creek. The walk was particularly pleasant on a hot day as it led through a cool sandstone canyon and through the woods with wildflowers and little mini-waterfalls along the way. The fact that the waterfalls are in a bit of a canyon means their sound echoes nicely along the trail even when you're not close enough to see them.
The trail is fully accessible to the main viewing platform, although there are a couple of sets of stairs to platforms on either side of the falls. I found the best view the day we went was at the main platform, although the high noon sun made taking photos a little tough in any case.
Munising Falls is one of the few waterfalls in the area more readily accessible in the winter, and the cascade usually freezes to form an ice column (something I'd love to see!). The frozen fall is off limits to ice climbers during the winter, though.
Munising Falls is one of nearly 200 waterfalls in Michigan's Upper Peninsulas. Check the waterfalls out with A Guide to 199 Michigan Waterfalls by Laurie Penrose.
Be sure to check out my stories about other waterfalls near Munising: Revisiting Wagner Falls in Munising, Michigan and Easy Hike to Miner's Falls near Munising, Michigan.
© Dominique King 2013 All rights reserved
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