THE “ROOT BEER” FALLS
One of Michigan’s true treasures, Tahquamenon Falls has captivated visitors for generations. Whether you’re visiting to see leaves changing colors, the gushing spring runoff, or to witness a winter wonderland in January, Tahquamenon is a must-see attraction. With unbeatable sights and sounds, the falls are one of the Eastern Upper Peninsula’s most popular destinations. However, did you know how to properly say the name of the Midwest’s largest set of waterfalls? It is pronounced “Tuh-KWAHM’-in-uhn.” Aside from pronunciation, here are seven things you may not have known about Tahquamenon Falls State Park.
THE STATE PARK
The Tahquamenon Falls State Park encompasses a total of 46,179 acres of land making it Michigan’s second-largest state park. It trails only the robust Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park’s 59,020 acres, but is more than four times as large as the Wolverine State’s third-largest state park, Emmet County’s Wilderness State Park.
There are many things to do inside the park no matter which season it is. In spring and summer, most activities include hiking, biking, fishing, bird watching, sightseeing, and camping. The fall season is the most picturesque as the color change among the trees creates the perfect scenery for photography. Come wintertime, you can enjoy cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and snowmobiling. If you enjoy the idea of hiking, take the four-mile trail down to the lower falls.
At the park there is also a restaurant, gift shop, and their very own brewery and pub in one building. Open year-round but closed in late fall and early spring. Please feel free to call ahead for these hours at (906) 492-3415.
THERE IS ACTUALLY 2 WATERFALLS
The more famous Upper Tahquamenon Falls is 200 feet across with a drop of almost 50 feet. The lower falls are about 4 miles downstream, consisting of a series of five smaller falls flowing around an island. Find your way around the many miles of beautiful hiking trails here.
YOU CAN RENT A BOAT
Did you know that you can rent a boat at the Lower Falls and row over to the islands in the middle of the river? This adventure enables you to hike even closer to the Lower Tahquamenon Falls and will allow you the opportunity of hopping in the refreshing water at your leisure.
IT’S THE 2ND MOST VOLUMINOUS WATERFALL IN THE EASTERN US
In the peak of Spring runoff, the Upper Tahquamenon Falls has over 50,000 gallons of water rushing over the brink per second. This makes it the second most voluminous waterfall east of the Mississippi River behind only Niagara Falls! The average flow during the year is close to 7,000 gallons per second.
LOCALS IT “ROOT BEER FALLS”
Did you know that locals call Tahquamenon Falls the “Root Beer Falls?” They call it this because of the rich brown color of the waterfall and the white frothy foam as the water crashes down 48 feet, giving it the distinct look of root beer. The dark brown color in the water is nothing to worry about. This color originates from the tannins that leach from the cedar swamp at the start of the Tahquamenon River.
