I started keeping my waterfall record in May 2009, though I had been visiting waterfalls for some time before that. The first waterfall I ever visited was Tahquamenon Falls in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, way back when. After that, I really didn’t see many waterfalls until 2006. Even then, the love of waterfalls didn’t really kick in until 2007. After that, I started traveling more, and waterfalls became a focus of my wanderings. I discovered that where there are waterfalls, there are many other cool, unexpected things.
It helps that I love traveling. I love flying and airports. I love exploring the earth beneath me (and far above me). I love the amazing diversity of America’s landscapes, from the cloudy but green Pacific Ocean, to the rugged Mountain West to the water-centric Great Lakes region.
When I’m not traveling elsewhere, I’m often still exploring Michigan. I love looking for and identifying wildflowers, especially those found in Michigan. I’m at the mercy of the season when visiting other states, but here in Michigan, I’m around for all four distinctly dramatic seasons.
In my spare time, I’m teaching others. I’m a scientist by nature, which defines how I view waterfalls, wildflowers, and the world around me. I got my Bachelor’s degree in chemistry in 2006 at Michigan State University. In 2010, I finished my Master’s degree in chemistry at Central Michigan University. I’ve focused on teaching chemistry at the college level. I’ve been working at Delta College and am a full-time instructor in the chemistry department.
In 2022, I married my best friend of 7 years, Mike, and we live in Saginaw, Michigan. In 2023, we adopted Mike’s first (and Jon’s fifth) dog, Lincoln. As of 2025, we’ve celebrated 10 years of annoying each other lovingly…and lovingly annoying each other.
I hope you’ll find my blog useful. I decided to start it after searching for many waterfalls and either discovering that the directions were either incomplete or rather poor. I’ve tried to be more descriptive when I feel it will help you find the waterfall you’re searching for. I don’t go for ranking waterfalls, as I think ranking waterfalls is WILDLY subjective. Just because a waterfall is tall or wide does not mean it is automatically better than the smallest of waterfalls.
I have given you what I believe is my assessment of the difficulty of the hike to the waterfall, if there is one. I have to admit that is still subjective, as I’ve discovered myself. A moderate hike in one state does NOT necessarily correlate to a moderate hike in another state. The “moderate” hike to Seven Falls dealt with annoying ups and downs, while the “moderate” hike to Alamere Falls in California was surprisingly enjoyable. I’ve tried to give you my general feeling about the accessibility.
A note about safety: Sometimes, paths/trails change. This can either be for the better or for the worse. Use your better judgment when following ANY directions to waterfalls. If something doesn’t seem “right”, then turn around. It’s better to miss a waterfall than to miss the use of your legs…
Also, follow all posted signs, especially ones that are there for your safety. If there’s a sign indicating private property, do not proceed without permission.
If you know of any updates about trails or property lines, please do not hesitate to inform me. I will always post comments that are related to new information AND attempt to update the directions based on that information.
Waterfall Record 