Are there fees or permits required for Copper Falls?

No, there are no fees required to visit Copper Falls.

Is swimming allowed at Copper Falls?

No, swimming is not allowed at Copper Falls.

Copper Falls

Q: Are dogs allowed at Copper Falls?

No, dogs are not allowed at Copper Falls. No dog rules are published; the falls are on private land.

Michigan

By Armen Suny · Last verified Oct 2026

LiDAR & 3D terrain

Also For 2 other waterfalls also named Copper Falls, see below

Before you go

Copper Falls is on private land with no public trail or parking, and the Copper Falls Loop road is posted private. Visit only on foot with respect for the landowners.

Photo Credits (5)

Mike Sherman Michigan Artist CC BY 2.0 · Flickr

Peter Ciro Photography CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 · Flickr

joeldinda CC BY-NC-SA 2.0 · Flickr

About Copper Falls

Copper Falls is a long chain of about a dozen drops on Owl Creek near Eagle Harbor in Keweenaw County, falling close to 200 feet in total from Upper Copper Falls near Owl Lake down toward Lake Superior. The tallest single drop is about 20 feet, and the creek often runs dry outside spring melt or heavy rain. The falls sit on private land around the old Copper Falls mine site, with no public trail.

Nearby Falls Worth Visiting

Eagle River Falls (40 ft) lies 4.8 miles to the west. Also nearby: Jacobs Falls (20 ft, 1.9 mi).

Eagle River Falls Jacobs Falls

Trail & Hike Details

Trail Description

There is no public trail. Visitors who have reached the falls bushwhacked up or down the creekbed through thick brush near Eagle Harbor Cutoff Road.

What to Expect

Steep, brushy creekbed with a series of plunges and chutes over volcanic and conglomerate rock. Flow is strong only during spring melt or after heavy rain.

Accessibility

Not accessible; there is no trail.

Frequently Asked Questions

🐶 Are Dogs Allowed at Copper Falls?

❌ Dogs are not allowed
No dog rules are published; the falls are on private land.

Are There Any Fees or Permits Required?

🆖 No fees required

🏊 Is There Swimming at Copper Falls?

❌ Swimming is not allowed

When to Visit

spring summer fall

Spring snowmelt or right after heavy rain; the creek is often a trickle or dry by summer.

Seasonal Access

The best time to visit is Spring, Summer, and Fall. Winter access may be limited.

Safety Information

Water temperature is currently 43°F — cold enough to cause numbness quickly. Avoid prolonged water contact and use caution near the falls.

Steep, brushy terrain and slick rock along the creek; old mine features exist in the area.

Current Water Conditions

Updated 32 minutes ago

These readings come from the USGS gauge on Pilgrim River, 29.2 miles away, not on Copper Falls's own stream. Use them as a sign of whether the area is running wet or dry.

69.45 ft

Water depth at gauge

43°F

Very cold

Expect numbness within minutes

What does this mean for your visit?

Water temperature is very cold at 43 degrees F, expect numbness within minutes. Expect crystal clear visibility and excellent dissolved oxygen levels. Mineral content is typical.

Water Quality

11.8 mg/L

Dissolved Oxygen

Excellent

Supports aquatic life

1.5 FNU

Water Clarity

Crystal clear

Excellent visibility

267 µS/cm

Conductance

Dissolved minerals in the water

About This Gauge

This gauge is on a regional waterway. Conditions at the falls may differ, especially after local rain.

PILGRIM RIVER AT PARADISE RD NR DODGEVILLE, MI

USGS 04043016

29.2 miles from waterfall

Drainage: 20 sq mi

Altitude: 600 ft

7-Day Flow Outlook

Based on the USGS gauge PILGRIM RIVER AT PARADISE RD NR DODGEVILLE, MI (47 km away).

Moderate confidence

Roaring right now

173 cfs

→ Holding steady

Today

Roaring

173 cfs

9/10

Tomorrow

Roaring

195 cfs

6/10

Thu

Roaring

244 cfs

6/10

Fri

Roaring

236 cfs

6/10

Sat

Roaring

196 cfs

8/10

Sun

Roaring

173 cfs

9/10

Mon

Roaring

166 cfs

9/10

Best window: Today — roaring flow, mostly sunny (trip score 9/10).

Best time of year: this gauge typically runs highest from early March to mid May, peaking in April.

How we calculate this

This is a transparent outlook, not a precise forecast. We take the waterfall's current flow strength (how it ranks against its historical normal for today, from the nearest USGS stream gauge), carry that ranking forward along the gauge's seasonal curve, and nudge it for forecast rain. Confidence is highest for the next day or two and falls further out. Always check official conditions and your own judgment before visiting — high flows can be dangerous.

Know when to go.

Get a free email alert when waterfalls near Eagle Harbor hit peak flow. We only send when conditions are worth the trip — no weekly newsletters, no spam.

Is Copper Falls Frozen?

Updated about 8 hours ago

Not frozen highs above freezing lately

Copper Falls is not frozen right now; highs have been above freezing. Yesterday ran 47°F to 34°F.

Days below freezing: 0 of the last 14
Current cold streak: 0 days
Freezing days ahead: 0 of the next 7
Flow: 173 ft³/s

Winter safety. Frozen falls are the one waterfall trip with a documented injury pattern: falling ice, and ice-glazed rock and trail. Wear microspikes, keep well back from the base and from overhangs, and never walk out on ice over moving water.

Estimate from Open-Meteo daily temperatures at the falls, the LiDAR-measured facing direction, and the nearest stream gauge. It is a likelihood, not a report from the trail. See every frozen waterfall in Michigan.

Weather Forecast

The Terrain, Seen by LiDAR

Aircraft-mounted lasers measured this ground to within inches. Trees and buildings are digitally stripped away, leaving the bare shape of the land the water has carved.

The ground through the falls loses about 64 feet in steep steps rather than one leap. The ground at the falls is roughly 991 feet above sea level.

The ground changes about 46 feet in the 500 feet above the falls and 31 feet in the 500 feet below. The falls face northwest and glow in afternoon and evening light.

Aerial photo of the same ground around Copper Falls near Eagle Harbor, Michigan, for comparison with the lidar view

LiDAR bare-earth terrain around Copper Falls near Eagle Harbor, Michigan, showing about 64 feet of drop, a steep tiered drop, facing northwest

Aerial LiDAR bare earth

Drag to compare. The dot marks the waterfall. The frame is about a mile across.

Ground elevation: 991 feet; Measured by 1-meter lidar
Drop at the falls: About 64 feet; Change in ground height within ~250 feet of the falls
Faces: Northwest; Glows in afternoon and evening light.

Ground profile through the falls

A slice through the lidar ground surface, from above the falls to downstream (heading northwest).

Elevation data: USGS 3D Elevation Program. Aerial imagery: USGS The National Map. Public domain.

Location & Access

Getting There

The falls are along Owl Creek near Eagle Harbor Cutoff Road, east of the roadside Copper Falls Park. The Copper Falls Loop drive and nearby dirt roads are private.

Get Directions on Google Maps

Parking

There is no public parking at the creek. Eagle Harbor Cutoff Road has no shoulder, and the Copper Falls Loop drive is posted private at both ends.

Elevation

1,001 feet above sea level

Coordinates

47.430556° N, -88.195833° W

Visitor Tips & Gear

Visit only in spring melt or after heavy rain, when there is water in the creek. Do not drive on the private roads; a landowner has said polite hikers on foot are tolerated but vehicles rut the roads.