Lake Superior

All posts tagged Lake Superior

Beaver River Falls, Minnesota

Posted by waterfallrecord on August 28, 2012
Posted in: Lake County, Minnesota. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , . Leave a Comment

I visited Beaver River Falls over two years ago, so when I started trying to think back, I couldn’t seem to remember a whole lot about the falls.  And then it came to me, glimpses of the falls…

I do distinctly remember it was very easy to visit Beaver River Falls.  It is essentially a roadside waterfall, found along the Beaver River in Beaver Bay.  There is a large, circular parking area directly adjacent to the river and falls, though there weren’t many people there.  As I got out of my car, I remember thinking that this was a really beautiful waterfall, and yet it was equally….frustrating?  There were a number of different segments to the falls, and it wasn’t simple to try and photograph the whole falls.  So what you end up with is a number of pictures showing what would be interesting waterfalls by themselves, but you lose the totality of the impressive whole.  And yet, it is fun to explore both upstream and downstream, trying to find the best vantage point to capture at least part of the falls.  I ended up with at least two different views of the falls, and there may have been even more that I did not post.

Directions:
1) This is a very easy waterfall found directly off of MN-61.  If you’ve headed northeast from Duluth, you’ll be driving along MN-61.
2) In the town of Beaver Bay, you’ll find a large circular parking area directly next to the Beaver River.  You’ll know you’ve gone too far if you go over the Beaver River bridge on MN-61.  Turn around if you do, or visit on your return.
3) From the parking area, it’s just a few feet to the falls.

Accessibility: 10/10

Where in the World is Beaver River Falls?: map

A lower portion of Beaver River Falls

An upper portion of Beaver River Falls

Lower Aguasabon Falls, Ontario

Posted by waterfallrecord on July 12, 2012
Posted in: Ontario, Thunder Bay District. Tagged: , , , , , , , , . Leave a Comment

Near the town of Terrace Bay, you can find the relatively tall Aguasabon Falls.  Searching around, I had read that there may be another falls further downstream on the Aguasabon River.  I remembered that it was supposed to be near the beach/shoreline, and so I tried to figure out someway to see if the falls were there and also easily accessible.

Well, they are easily accessible, though maybe not obvious.  It took me a little extra time to find them, considering that at one point I ended up along a road that was clearly not leading to a beach area.  I backtracked, and found the sign that was indicating the beach (or maybe it was to the docks).  I followed that sign, and after a short but winding drive, I ended up at the beach. Looking upstream, the falls were in sight.

I decided to explore a little bit.  There was a trail that ran parallel to the river, but that did not lead to any closer views of the falls.  Instead, the best way to get closer to the falls is to walk VERY close to the river.  There are enough rocks and sand that this is not difficult to do, and you will end up standing in front of the falls.  The total drop on the river at this point is larger than it first appears.  I’d guess it’s probably 15-20′, though no single drop is that tall.  If you decide to visit Aguasabon Falls, take the time to visit its smaller relative.  Even if the falls don’t excite you, you’ll still be rewarded with beautiful views of Lake Superior.

Directions:
1) From Transcanadian Highway 17 in Terrace Bay, turn right onto Lakeview Drive (assuming that you are headed east initially).
2) Almost immediately turn left onto Cartier Drive.
3) Drive a short distance to Beach Road.  There should be a sign indicating a golf course in that direction.  Turn left onto Beach Road.
4) Drive to the very end of Beach Road.  You should be at the mouth of the Aguasabon River, and from there, the falls are in view.

Accessibility: 10/10 (you can see the falls from the parking lot), 8/10 to get a closer view

Where in the World is Lower Aguasabon Falls?: map

Lower Aguasabon Falls in late April 2012

Middle Gooseberry Falls, Minnesota

Posted by waterfallrecord on June 29, 2012
Posted in: Gooseberry Falls State Park, Lake County, Minnesota. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , . Leave a Comment

When I think about waterfalls, I don’t often think about individual favorites, but often groups of falls within proximity to each other. And Gooseberry Falls State Park is a perfect example of this. It might not be my favorite set of falls, but there are a number of them on the Gooseberry River, AND they are surrounded by a number of other beautiful waterfalls along the North Shore of Minnesota.

Middle Gooseberry Falls is somewhat difficult to separate from its relative, Lower Falls. I believe there might be a way to “hike” down to the base of Middle Falls to get a better view, but I’m not 100% sure. Instead, you can get a pretty complete view of both Middle and Lower Falls together from a viewpoint further downstream. I don’t remember if the view was from the north bank of the river or while crossing the river on one of the bridges. Both falls together are impressive. Gooseberry Falls State Park is pretty popular, though, so choose your visit wisely. In early May, it was bustling, so I can’t imagine the summer months!

Directions:
1) From MN-61, turn into the entrance for Gooseberry Falls State Park.
2) Head to the parking area for the visitor’s center, where you will be able to easily access the falls. There does not appear to be a fee to enter this park.
3) Follow the trail down to the first group of falls, which includes Lower and Middle Falls.

Accessibility: 10/10

Where in the World is Middle Gooseberry Falls?: map

Both Middle and Lower Gooseberry Falls in May 2010

Rainbow Falls, Ontario

Posted by waterfallrecord on June 27, 2012
Posted in: Ontario, Thunder Bay District. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , . 1 comment

I took a short weekend trip to Thunder Bay at the end of April, and one of my goals was to try and hit a number of waterfalls along the Trans-Canada Highway.  Many of the interesting waterfalls are found along or near the main highway.  Rainbow Falls is some distance west of the Schreiber/Terrace Bay area, and on my initial journey east, I actually passed the park the falls are located in, Rainbow Falls Provincial Park.  The signs seemed to indicate that it was a campground entrance, but in reality it was the entrance to the park.

It ended up that I turned and started driving back west the same day.  I then turned into the signs I had originally passed.  Since it was the end of April, the park was actually “closed”, to my surprise.  You could turn onto the main road in the park, and park your car in a small area near the main gate…But the gate was actually closed to prevent anyone from driving further into the park.

In this case, I just decided to start hiking along the main road.  Normally, you would be able to drive down this road, and get much closer to the falls.  The hike along the main road doesn’t add a considerable amount of time to your journey, and it is relatively enjoyable.  Once you get to the parking area designated for the falls, you can begin exploring.  There are numerous parts to the falls, though the whole set of drops cannot be photographed easily.

Stairs lead you up and down near the falls.  This is very nice, but may also limit your ability to explore portions of the falls.  In late April, this specific falls seemed to be flowing pretty well, and so that may have been a very good thing that visitors were unable to deviate.  The falls are interesting, but in the end, you may be frustrated by the inability to capture the “whole” falls, or really the complexity of the falls.

Directions:
1) The falls are relatively easy to find, as they are right off of the Trans-Canada Highway (Highway 17).  They are not too far west of Schreiber, which is a small town.  They are a more significant drive from Thunder Bay.
2) If you are headed west on the Trans-Canada Highway, the entrance to the park will be on your right.  As I said, I think the sign also indicates a campground.
3) Depending on the time of year, the gate to the road leading closer to the falls may or may not be open.  There may be a fee to enter, though there was no gate attendant and I don’t remember there being a self-pay station.

(Note:  I support state and provincial parks, and have no problem paying for entry into parks.  Ontario, though, often does not have gate agents, and instead has self-pay kiosks.  Entry into many of the parks in Ontario is at least $5.50 for an hour or two, and the kiosks I’ve visited only accept coins…Therefore, plan on bringing a lot of change!  It’s a slight annoyance, I guess.)

Accessibility: 9/10 (stairs!)

Where in the World is Rainbow Falls?: map

The lower portion of Rainbow Falls in April 2012, with some barely-visible portions of the falls.

The uppermost portion of the falls.

Caribou Falls, Minnesota

Posted by waterfallrecord on February 26, 2012
Posted in: Lake County, Minnesota. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , . Leave a Comment

Caribou Falls in May 2010

I haven’t posted about any waterfalls in a while, and I figured I’d decide to post one of my favorite waterfalls in Minnesota.  I visited this waterfall in May 2010, and really did find it to be impressive.  I hadn’t posted on this falls because I choose waterfalls randomly.  One or two other waterfall enthusiasts had mentioned that I should visit this falls, and I completely agree that if you haven’t seen Caribou Falls, go and visit it.

The hike to the falls deals with some uphill and downhill portions, followed by a set of stairs.  I don’t think anybody realizes what a treat they’re in for.  The falls are partially hidden from view until you pass this one corner, and then boom!

When I visited, I was almost all by myself, but it was extremely peaceful!  There were two other people there, and I thought it was so cool that they had brought their lawn chairs, and were sitting at the end of the stairs just enjoying the falls.  I just had such fun exploring all of the different view of the falls.  I’m under the impression that the falls are taller than they appear.  There is a 2nd drop that is visible in this picture, but I believe that it may go back even further.  I also think that the falls has such a unique drop pattern.  It almost falls at a diagonal.

I don’t think I’m being very poetic here, and I should be in order to express the beauty of Caribou Falls…but oh well, just go and visit this spectacular waterfall!

Directions:
1) As you’re driving along MN-61, look for the Caribou River and the Caribou State Wayside.  If you’re headed north, the parking area will be off the road on your left.
2) As you park, follow the pretty obvious trail to the falls.

Accessibility: 7/10

Where in the World is Caribou Falls?: map

Rosebush Creek Falls, Minnesota

Posted by waterfallrecord on August 10, 2011
Posted in: Cook County, Minnesota. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , . Leave a Comment

Rosebush Creek Falls in mid-May 2010

Rosebush Creek Falls, also known as Falls River Falls, is a very photogenic waterfall that is also easily accessible.  It’s not very widely advertised, though, likely due to the fact that it’s not very tall or wide.

And yet, I think it is one of the more impressive waterfalls along MN-61 on the North Shore of Minnesota.  The iron-red colors on the rock accentuate the gently-flowing waterfall.  There are very colorful shots to be had here.  It’s almost the opposite of the waterfalls in Oregon, where the rocks are all green.  Here the rocks are red without much hint of green life on the rocks.  Stop and take a look at this smaller waterfall.  It’s likely you’ll be the only person there, and yet it’s so easy to get to.

Directions:
1) Heading southwest from Grand Marais, drive for 2 miles on MN-61.  You’re looking for mile-marker 107.
2) Around mile marker 107, you will likely see a gravel pit, and just south of that is the Falls River (also known as Rosebush Creek).  You can park at the gravel pit or you can park just north of the river on the east side of the ride.
3) From there, look for the Falls River, and right near the river, you should see a trail heading toward Lake Superior.  Follow this trail for a short distance, and you should find the falls.

Accessibility: 9/10

Where in the World is Rosebush Creek Falls?: map

Big Manitou Falls, Wisconsin

Posted by waterfallrecord on August 9, 2011
Posted in: Douglas County, Pattison State Park, Wisconsin. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , . Leave a Comment

Big Manitou Falls in May 2010 (with fresh snow falling)

Big Manitou Falls is big. It has the distinction of being one of the tallest waterfalls in the region that includes Michigan, Wisconsin, and Minnesota, and possibly even the Lake Superior watershed. At 165′ tall, it’s not shabby.

Now, the unlucky thing about Big Manitou Falls…The views really aren’t truly spectacular. There’s no obvious (or SAFE) way to get to the base of the falls, and the view from the left side of the river, while good, are not top notch. I think from the major viewpoint, you can’t get a real sense of how tall the falls are. There are trails on the right side of the river, but they don’t seem to lead anywhere important. Oh well, it’s still a nice waterfall. Check out the smaller, but equally impressive, Little Manitou Falls.

Directions:
There are multiple ways to access the falls.
A) From US-2/US-53 in Superior, head south on WI-35 for 13 miles, following the signs to Pattison State Park. The parking lot for Little Manitou Falls will be on your left (if you’re heading south), and the sign is angled in such a way that it can be hard to recognize at first.
B) If you’re coming from Amnicon Falls, which is relatively nearby, ask for directions from the park ranger. They are very helpful in letting you know which roads to avoid. Signs along the way will help you get to Pattison State Park.

Accessibility: 10/10

Where in the World is Big Manitou Falls?: map

Cross River Falls, Minnesota

Posted by waterfallrecord on June 25, 2011
Posted in: Cook County, Minnesota. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , . Leave a Comment

The lower portion of Cross River Falls in May 2010

Cross River Falls is probably one of the easiest waterfalls to visit along Minnesota’s North Shore, and it is definitely worth a visit.  It is literally feet from MN-61, and can actually be seen as you’re driving by.

The upper portion of the falls is the 2nd photo in the post, and this is the portion that can be viewed very easily.  I’m betting that the falls look best in spring as the snow is melting, though this falls is large enough that it probably exists throughout the summer.  The falls are larger than they appear in the photo.  There’s a visual illusion that’s occurring here, making it difficult to truly understand its size just from a picture.

There’s a special present hidden from sight, though.  If you look on the opposite side of the road, you’ll notice a trail that leads downhill to another portion of the river.  From there, you’ll see a second drop (photo to the right).  The second drop is narrower than the first drop, making it look equally as powerful.  It does require a little bit of effort to get to the falls, and you will have to likely do some rock-hopping to get the best view of the falls.  If you rotate 180 degrees, you’ll get some other great views of the Cross River as it approaches Lake Superior.

Directions:
1) Cross River Falls is found right in the town of Schroeder, Minnesota.  Schroeder is found directly along MN-61.  This can be accessed by heading north from Duluth for just over 80 miles.
2) Schroeder is a smaller town, but it is distinct, and hard to miss.  The Cross River is very clearly marked with a sign, and you should be able to see from the falls.  If you miss the falls, it is a very easy turn-around to get back to the falls.  If you are heading north, a parking area is found directly before the falls, along with information signs.

Accessibility: 10/10 (upper), 6/10 (lower)

Where in the World is Cross River Falls?: map

The upper portion of Cross River Falls

Bridal Veil Falls, Michigan

Posted by waterfallrecord on June 14, 2011
Posted in: Alger County, Michigan, Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , . Leave a Comment

I missed Bridal Veil Falls the first time I went searching for it…and I was staring right at it!  Not that I would have been able to really tell.  Bridal Veil Falls is extremely seasonal in nature.  Of the three (maybe four) times I’ve visited the falls, I’ve only seen water flowing once.  It actually baffles me that it gets so much attention compared to the more impressive waterfalls in the park.

The first time I visited, I took a picture of the cliffs, and then realized later that I had taken a picture of the spot where Bridal Veil Falls was, but there was really no water flowing.  It was “wet”, but it just looked like any normal cliff.  That was understandable, considering it was July or August, and it had dried up by then.

The second time I visited in May, and by then the waterfall had already dried up.  I was surprised it had disappeared so quickly.  The third time was the charm, and I finally saw the falls.  If you look to your right while standing at the Miners Castle viewpoint, you might be able to see the falls if they’re flowing.  They can also be seen from the Miners Beach if you’re looking at just the right angle.  To get a good photo from any of those spots, you really do need a camera that can zoom in, as you’re still some distance from the falls.

I also hiked along an unofficial trial to see if I could get a better view, starting right near Miners Beach Falls.  It was a very muddy hike, and in the end, I have to admit I really didn’t get any better views.  I did get to see some other beautiful scenery, though.  You might consider taking a cruise, but I wouldn’t bet on seeing the falls unless it’s been raining like crazy.  Take a cruise to see the much more impressive and permanent Spray Falls.

Directions:
1) Go down Miner’s Castle Road (Alger County Road H-13) passing over Miners River.
2) You’ll reach a point where you can turn left toward Miners Castle or turn right toward the Lakeshore trailhead. Head toward Miner’s Castle, and from the Miner’s Castle viewpoint, you might just be able to see the falls.
3) From the Lakeshore trailhead, you might also try heading toward Lake Superior, and if you walk down the beach, the falls will come into view at some point.

Accessibility: 10/10

Where in the World is Bridal Veil Falls?: map

Bridal Veil Falls in mid-May 2009

Split Rock Falls #3, Minnesota

Posted by waterfallrecord on May 3, 2011
Posted in: Lake County, Minnesota, Split Rock State Park. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , . Leave a Comment

Split Rock State Park is most widely known for the amazing Split Rock Lighthouse. Inside the park, though, is the Split Rock River. Along the river, there are a number of drops. As a whole, the set of waterfalls are not extremely exciting. The hike is very beautiful, but some of the drops are blocked by trees, while others are smaller. The red rock along the river is the one thing that makes the waterfalls more memorable.

This is really the first waterfall along the river that a clear view can be obtained.  There are one or two other large drops before this that are tricky to photograph, even in early spring when the trees really hadn’t started getting leaves.  The 3rd falls is wider but rather non-descript.

Directions:
1) Heading north on MN-61 along the Lake Superior shoreline, you’ll enter Split Rock State Park. The Split Rock River is very close to the southern boundary, and so you’ll see the parking area.
2) A sign indicating the Split Rock River is your best bet at identifying the parking lot for the falls. It is a smaller parking lot used frequently by fisherman. At the start of the trailhead, you’ll see a sign indicating the trail.
3) After about 0.5 miles, you’ll come to a fork in the trail. Head along the right fork, where you’ll soon come to West Split Rock River Falls. Keep heading along that trail, which goes on for a considerable distance. I only traveled about 2 miles along the trail (one-way).

Accessibility: 7/10

Where in the World is Split Rock Falls #3?: map

The 3rd drop on the Split Rock River (May 2010)