Easily Accessible Waterfalls at Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore

Sponsored Content Disclosure: Content on our website may be sponsored or contain affiliate links (which means we could earn a commission when you click a link on our website and buy something). As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. To read our full sponsored content disclosure, please click here. 

Michigan’s Upper Peninsula (UP) is renowned for its vast array of more than 300 waterfalls. The breathtaking Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, located along the northern edge of the UP, is one of its prime tourist destinations and offers many opportunities to see gorgeous falls.

When we first started planning our trip to Pictured Rocks, we were a bit concerned that most of the best sights would only be accessible via long, arduous hikes. The UP is largely remote and undeveloped, which is a huge basis for its appeal. However, we aren’t very skilled hikers, so it was important for us to know ahead of time what was easily accessible to the casual explorer.

While it’s true that Pictured Rocks offers numerous options for those looking for a great hike (such as the 10-mile Chapel Loop trail), we were pleasantly surprised to find there are ample opportunities to experience this beautiful natural wonderland without having to trek very far from your vehicle. So, you definitely don’t have to be a seasoned hiker to experience the beautiful sights at Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. Visiting these Upper Peninsula waterfalls will leave you breathless, but not out of breath!

Pictured Rocks offers a number of short hikes that clock in at less than a mile or two roundtrip—including some of the more scenic waterfalls. If you are interested in more easy hikes, definitely check out the Day Hikes at Pictured Rocks page by the National Park Service and continue reading the list below!

In our humble opinion, Elliot Falls is one of the most photogenic waterfalls along the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, despite it being one of the smallest. That’s in no small part due to the picturesque Miners Beach it flows onto. This dainty little waterfall is located at the eastern end of Miners Beach, about 10.5 miles east of Munising. The waterfall can be accessed either via walking along the Lake Superior shoreline or taking a lovely trail through the jack pine forest that grows along the edge of the beach.

The shoreline walk can be a bit strenuous, as you will be walking through soft sand, but it should take less than 15 minutes to walk from the boardwalk steps to the east end of the beach. The trail takes about 10 minutes to walk and can be accessed by heading east at the top of the stairs that lead down to Miners Beach. We would allow about an hour for the entire trip, with time for taking photos and enjoying the views.

It’s best to visit Elliot Falls after a heavy rainfall, as the falls frequently dry up to a mere trickle. The waterfall itself is very small, especially compared to the other raging waters of the Upper Peninsula. However, the area where it is located boasts a gorgeous outcrop of sandstone that is very pretty and peaceful to take in. We love watching the waves roll in under the early evening light. This is one of our favorite stops at Pictured Rocks!

Miners Falls is probably one of the images that come to mind when you think of Upper Peninsula waterfalls. It’s a raging, striking waterfall—and a must-see when visiting Pictured Rocks. The trail to Miners Falls is about 1.2 miles roundtrip, so allow about 30 minutes to complete it, so allow yourself about an hour to give you time to stop and enjoy the scenery. The dirt and stone trail ends with a boardwalk and viewing platforms. Visitors must take 64 stairs from the upper to the lower platform, so prepare to climb. Other than the stairs, this is a very easy waterfall to view.

Miners Falls is easily Pictured Rocks’ most powerful waterfall, with gushing water that cascades 50 feet over a sandstone cliff. It is a spectacular waterfall to behold. We love the view of this majestic falls from the viewing platform. We have seen numerous photographs of the falls from its base, and you may notice visitors climbing down into the gorge. However, travelers must do this at their own risk, as the designated trail does not go down that far. As always, we advise other visitors to follow posted signage for their safety as well as the preservation of Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore.

The lovely Munising Falls is located right in the city of Munising on the western end of Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. If you take Washington Street until it turns into Sand Point Road, you will find a spacious and fully paved parking lot as well as a Visitor Center and well-marked trail. The hike to Munising Falls is about 0.4 miles roundtrip. The 800-foot trail from the parking lot is nicely paved and easy to walk.

Even when we visited on a rainy day, we enjoyed this shaded walk that follows Munising Creek to the falls. The creek is picturesque as it babbles along next to the trail. At the end of the trail is a large, well-kept and handicap-accessible viewing platform with a fantastic view of this 50-foot waterfall. Visitors can also take two sets of stairs to elevated viewing platforms adjacent to the falls. These provide nice alternative views of the water pouring over the sandstone cliff, though we prefer the main viewing platform at the bottom for its perfect vantage point below the falls.

Located about one mile west of Grand Marais on Alger County Road H-58, Sable Falls takes you to the Eastern end of Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. This is a great waterfall to catch on your way to or from Log Slide Overlook, as it’s only about a 10-minute drive away.

This beautiful waterfall cascades 75 feet over Munising and Jacobsville sandstone before making its way to Lake Superior. The trail to Sable Falls is only about 500 feet. We were able to walk it in less than 5 minutes. However, this trail is not handicap accessible, as it requires climbing a lot of stairs—168 to be exact.

At the waterfall area, visitors can view the falls from different angles on several platforms, or they can continue along the trail past the falls and take a short walk to see where the Sable Creek flows into Lake Superior. It’s a nice walk along the creek to a pretty beach covered with colorful rocks.

Okay, okay, so Wagner Falls Scenic Site is not *technically* part of Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, but it is a designated Michigan Department of Natural Resources park, and it’s only a 5-minute drive from the city of Munising and Munising Falls. So, this is a can’t-miss waterfall when you are visiting Pictured Rocks, and it’s definitely deserving of a mention on this list. It’s also incredibly accessible via a short walk from the parking area.

Wagner Falls is located about 1.5 miles south of Munising. The 0.1-mile trail that connects the parking area to the observation deck is lovely, nestled among old-growth pine and hemlock trees. The trail itself is a dirt and crushed stone path, along with a boardwalk that includes a few steps at the end to get the best view. We love how close the trail gets to this waterfall and how quick the walk is—it only took us about three minutes to walk to the falls!

In addition to the short hikes to waterfalls at Pictured Rocks, visitors can also take a look at a number of waterfalls from the water. We enjoyed a lovely tour with Pictured Rocks Cruises (be sure to reserve your ride well ahead of time to ensure you get your choice of day and time) and were able to see waterfalls from the comfort of our boat seats!

Bridalveil Falls is located about a half-mile northeast of Miners Beach. At a height of 140 feet, it’s Michigan’s tallest waterfall. As it flows down the side of the cliffs, this is a great waterfall to view from a cruise or your own boat or kayak. In fact, this waterfall is actually viewed best from the water, as you can really only see it from a distance in other areas of the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. This waterfall is also a seasonal site, and often disappears during dry spells, so try to catch it during wet weather! By mid-summer, it can dry to a trickle. We experienced this on our Pictured Rocks Cruise, though it was still a lovely site to see. Below you can see what it looks like during wetter conditions verses our trip during a drier period.

Another waterfall best viewed from the lake is Spray Falls. While Bridalveil Falls flows down the side of the cliffs, Spray Falls lives up to its name and gushes right over the edge of them, plunging about 70 feet into Lake Superior. We were fortunate to get a great view of Spray Falls in late June, as it doesn’t seem to be as seasonal as Bridalveil Falls.

While the other falls on our list are situated within heavy vegetation, Bridalveil and Spray falls runs over the Pictured Rocks cliffs, making for a lovely backdrop to the flowing water. Spray Falls is particularly spectacular as it rushes over the colorful rocks, giving viewers a great view of the falls as well as a uniquely beautiful photo opportunity of the waterfall with the Pictured Rocks cliffs around it. Spray Falls was definitely a highlight of our Pictured Rocks cruise, so be sure to choose this option when you book!

Helpful Links:

Waterfalls – Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore (U.S. National Park Service) (nps.gov)

Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore (U.S. National Park Service) (nps.gov)

Day Hikes – Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore (U.S. National Park Service) (nps.gov)

GoWaterfalling.com