I started keeping my waterfall record about 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.
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 judgement 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.
The Waterfall Record 
Thanks for the list … this will be a great resource for my next waterfall hiking vacation. I hope that you come back to Minnesota … Cascade, Gooseberry and Tettegouche are really great, however, you have missed some of my favorites on the North Shore. (Check out Caribou in the Spring, High Falls Grand Portage, and Temperance)
I hope to visit the North Shore again soon. I have visited Caribou Falls (one of my favorites in MN) and High Falls on the Portage River. I just haven’t posted them yet, but they’re coming!
Can you please tell me if the road to Presque Isle falls is paved? Riding a Harley and handling isn’t the best on gravel! Thanks!
Are these the Presque Isle Falls (Manabezho, Manido, Nawadaha Falls) in Michigan? If so, yes, the road to those falls are paved. I’m not aware of any Minnesota Presque Isle Falls…
Hi, nice to meet you !
Greetings: I have also visited water falls in the UP of Michigan and would like to exchange experiences on e-mail. Please respond. Kovacs
First of all love your blog. I too think waterfalls are amazing, great blog and awesome photos.
I haven’t really been to any of the places on your list, but it looks like a lot of fun. If you’re looking for a new place to explore, go to hawaii. Although I haven’t been on any other hikes outside of the islands, so I don’t have any other off island hikes to compare it too. But I honestly believe it’s very different environment that’ll be a good experience for you to explore.
I was planning on visiting Hawaii just a few months ago, and then some things came up during the summer that prevented me from visiting. I was really disappointed, but that just gives me a reason to keep wanting to head out there. I’m hoping that I’ll be able to head out the next time I have vacation time!
Well before you do come, check out this blog http://www.unrealhawaii.com/, this is what inspired me to explore the islands and go hiking more.
Hello
I am enjoying your blog!! thank you for sharing!
Would like to discuss licensing one of your images for limited commercial use. Could you please contact me via email?
Although I don’t think I’ll ever get any use out of the information and tips your blog provides, I enjoy the smart writing and the often great photos. I guess I also just like waterfalls – we don’t really have any where I live.
Anyway, thank you for doing this.
Nice site!
Amazing job on this webpage, wasnt too useful to me today but very inspiring. Northwest PA has some great falls too =) Freedom Falls, Toby Creek Falls, Angel Falls, and some others
I’m planning to do waterfalls in northern WI in about a week. Thanks for all the detail you’ve put into these entries. Sure saved a lot of time and effort for me! Any idea where the best place to see the perseid meteor shower might be? I’d like to visit somewhere that is dark enough…I live in Milwaukee and we won’t see anything if I stay here for that.
I’m glad I could help! Almost anyplace north of Green Bay (drawing a horizontal line across the state) will allow you to see meteor showers. The skies become absolutely amazing because of the very low light pollution throughout the whole region.
I found your blog while looking for hiking trails in my home county in Pennsylvania. I am trying to share my love of hiking and discovering interesting and beautiful areas close to home with my children. Visited Swatara falls in NE PA today thanks to your information. Have you been to Ricketts Glenn in PA? I hope to get there in the late spring for hiking and camping. Many beautiful waterfalls there.
Very interesting blog, waterfalls are wonderful …. I greet.
I love the idea of a waterfall record and wish I had stumbled on your blog years ago! These days, with limited mobility, I seek out roadside waterfalls and those with an easy walk and a round trip of a mile and a quarter or less. But, I love seeing the beautiful falls in the woods. I haven’t checked out all the falls you have kept a record of, but I’m guessing you have been all over Transylvania County in NC with 200-300 waterfalls. We went to so many beauties in the 80s and 90s.
You have been very busy. I started my waterfall guide (http://taiwanswaterfalls.com/) in 2011 and have been to about 75 in Taiwan. Let me know if you are ever in Asia. There are some great ones here that I plan on visiting. Kirk
I have a picture of a falls I visited (either Peterson or Interstate Falls, but as it was almost a year ago that I visited, I don’t remember the specific directions (it was a guided tour) we took to get to it, so I am not sure which falls it is. Would you be able to identify the falls if I sent you a picture? I tried sending a link to the picture in the website detail below. It is affiliated with the album: https://flic.kr/s/aHsm3T4vX3 Feel free to verify my other waterfall captions are correct (if that interests you), but no obligation. I’m sure you’re busy teaching chemistry classes. Thanks for the neat site!
Hi, I might be able to identify it. I see one waterfall in there that is likely Interstate Falls, and you might have a picture of Peterson Falls there also, not sure though. And thanks for the compliments, not very busy until August when classes start again.
Your blog is really nice and I appreciate the quality photos… especially the Lower Potato Falls which cannot be seen without wading the river (which I have not, and being 83 I’m not up to that)… please look at my website listed below and let me know if you would approve of my listing of your Lower Potato Falls on my site… I would give you full credit and a link to this blog if you like… the only pix you can get now is thru the trees and they have grown so much you cannot get any good pix at all!
Absolutely feel free to use it!
Hi, I really enjoy your love of waterfalls and appreciate your helping others to enjoy them, too. Unfortunately, some beautiful places are being “loved to death”. I grew up and still live by Hamilton Falls Natural Area, Vermont. When I was young, the land was privately owned but was eventually sold to the State of Vermont for better protection. With the information from the internet, many thousands of people have “found” this little spot in the forest. The State of Vermont is now restricting parking on W. Windham Road to 4-6 cars. People who are able to walk should park at Jamaica State Park , 48 Salmon Hole Lane and walk to the Natural Area. This restricted parking helps improve a dangerous safety issue…many people over the years have fallen at this waterfall. Rescue vehicles need access to reach gravely injured people. 30 cars blocking the road, like we see on a normal sunny weekend in July, make it impossible for Rescue to do their job. Last summer the situation was so bad that WCSD deputies were stationed out here. There is very limited parking on W. Windham Road on Natural Area land. There is no other parking on West Windham Road. If you could update your site to include these directions, it would be very helpful to this beautiful, fragile site that is so deserving of our protection. Thank you for your help.
Hello, this is a beautiful site. I wish I could find your name and contact info. somewhere. I am reading an old book from 1883 and it contains many sketches of waterfalls that you have photographed and it is so great to compare them to your modern day photos. I would live to share them with you. All the best!
Tricia
Love* not live 👍