Tahquamenon Falls State Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Tahquamenon Falls State Park |
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IUCN Category V (Protected Landscape/Seascape)
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Tahquamenon Falls is the centerpiece of the park (upper falls pictured).
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 Tahquamenon Falls State Park
Location in Michigan
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| Location | Chippewa County and Luce County, Michigan, United States |
| Nearest town | Paradise, Michigan |
| Area | 46,179 acres (186.88 km2) |
| Elevation | 702 feet (214 m) |
| Established | 1947 |
| Visitors | 500,000 (in 2010) |
| Administrator | Michigan Department of Natural Resources |
| Website | Tahquamenon Falls State Park |
Tahquamenon Falls State Park is a huge park in Michigan, USA. It covers about 46,179 acres, making it the second-largest state park in Michigan. This beautiful park is famous for its amazing waterfalls, called Tahquamenon Falls. It's located near a small town named Paradise.
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Discover Tahquamenon Falls State Park
The park follows the Tahquamenon River as it flows towards Lake Superior. The river creates the stunning Tahquamenon Falls. These falls are split into two main parts: the Upper Falls and the Lower Falls.
What Makes the Falls Special?
The Upper Falls is a single, powerful drop of about 50 feet (15 meters). The Lower Falls are a series of smaller cascades and rapids. During spring, when snow melts, the river flows incredibly fast. It can send as much as 50,000 gallons (189,000 liters) of water over the falls every second! This makes the Upper Falls the second-largest waterfall east of the Mississippi River, after only Niagara Falls.
The Tahquamenon Falls are sometimes called "Rootbeer Falls." This is because the water has a golden-brown color. This color comes from natural plant materials, called tannins, that drain into the river from nearby cedar swamps. In winter, the ice around the falls often looks green and blue, which is a cool sight!
Exploring the Park
Most of Tahquamenon Falls State Park is wild and undeveloped. But it still has more than 22 miles (35 kilometers) of hiking trails for you to explore.
Hiking and Trails
The famous North Country Trail passes right through the park. This trail is part of a much longer hiking path that goes across several states. If you want to hike between the Upper and Lower Falls without walking back, there's a special shuttle service called the Tahqua Trekker. It runs during certain times of the year.
Activities and Camping
You can easily reach the Upper Falls from the visitor center parking lot using a paved walking trail. At the Lower Falls, you can rent row boats and canoes to get a closer look at the cascades.
The park also has five campgrounds with a total of 350 campsites. This means lots of space for families and friends to stay overnight and enjoy nature.
How to Get There
Around 500,000 people visit Tahquamenon Falls State Park each year. Many visitors drive in on the park's only paved road, M-123. This road connects to Interstate 75 at exit 352.
Nearby Attractions
While visiting the park, you can also check out other interesting places nearby. The Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum is at Whitefish Point. You can learn about shipwrecks in the Great Lakes there. Also, the Point Iroquois Light and Museum is at Bay Mills on Whitefish Bay. It's a historic lighthouse with a museum.
