Presque Isle River Waterfalls & Picnic Area

Photography by James Marvin Phelps

Manabezho Falls

Many people enjoy the waterfalls along this river on the park's far western edge more than anything else on their Upper Peninsula vacation. Much of the charm is the cascading river and the huge hemlock. The first waterfall is just 750 feet from the parking area; the last is about a half mile away. In their highly recommended Guide to 199 Michigan Waterfalls, the Penrose family, who seldom indulge in superlatives, say, "This is one of the most beautiful stretches of river in the entire Upper Peninsula."

Presque Isle River in the Porkies.

The Presque Isle (locals say "Presk AISLE") Campground is at the river's mouth. Within a mile's hike of the parking areas are waterfalls that stand out for their beauty and variety. (It's just a short drive to the beautiful, easily accessible Greenstone Falls, See above.) An attractive boardwalk along the river's west bank makes the walk safer for anyone concerned about unsure, possibly slippery footing. Children should be under control at all times by the waterfalls.

A picnic area is at the very end of County Road 519. A swinging bridge, fascinating to children. crosses at the river's mouth where it empties into Lake Superior. This is a busy place during spring steelhead and fall salmon runs. From the parking area, say the Penroses, "a short walk leads to a network of stairs which drops to a trail. Just before the trail reaches the river, a boardwalk branches off to the right. [Return here later, but first] continue on the stairs to a suspension bridge. Just above it [is] a fascinating unnamed falls. . . . There the force of the powerful river. . . creates miniature whirlpools along the banks. The spinning action of the water has carved perfect half-circles into the stones which line the bank and polished them to a glossy black. . . . The best views of this effect come from the bridge."

Dan Urbanski

The riverside hike to the Presque Isle River waterfalls is a wonderful walk through a forest of mature hemlocks, white pine, and maples.

Now go back and take the boardwalk upstream about 200 or 250 yards to the first overlook at MANABEZHO FALLS. To reach the second overlook at the brink of the falls, go upstream 150 yards more, up one stairway and down another. At the falls, the Penroses say, "a thick band of white, rushing water, which spans the 150-foot-wide river, drops about 20 feet over a rock shelf. The largest section is tinged with gold, and its heavy flow creates a blanket of foam which trails downstream."

In another 100 yards, MANIDO FALLS is "a mass of white water" as it "descends over a network of gradually declining rock steps, then drops over a ledge of stone." Look up and down the river to see traces of the adjoining falls.

The boardwalk ends at Manido Falls. Then the rugged East/West River Trail goes another 1/4 mile to reach NAWADAHA FALLS, a 15-foot tumble across many rock steps that creates "a blanket of white foaming lace." To see the falls best, you need to take a side spur down to the river. Footing can be tricky here. The Porcupine Mountains Companion reports that the pool below Nawadaha Falls is "a good place to try for rainbow trout and brookies."

Here you are almost at South Boundary Road. If you want to hike a 2-mile loop and revisit all thel on the river's east bank, cross on the bridge here. The trail, occasionally rough and hilly, passes some very large old-growth pine, hemlock, and cedar. It ends at the parking lots by the swinging bridge at the river mouth.

Nawadaha Falls wheelchair acceess is now possible from a short level trail behind the Presque Isle campground office. It is off County Road 519 coming from Wakefield and the south. The campground office is about 1/8 mile north of South Boundary Road, well before the picnic area at the Presque Isle River mouth. Trail starts behind office.

These falls, close to CR 519, are off South Boundary Road some 30 minutes southwest of the Visitor Center. 18 miles north of M-28, they are closer to Wakefield. Park in the lot at the end of the road. (906) 885-5275. Wheelchair access: picnic area, Nawadaha Falls. Recreation passport required: $10/year for Michigan residents, $8/day or/$29 a year for others.
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