Are there fees or permits required for Forty Foot Falls?

No, there are no fees required to visit Forty Foot Falls.

Is swimming allowed at Forty Foot Falls?

No, swimming is not allowed at Forty Foot Falls.

Nearby gauge (Salmon Trout River) · 5 ft³/s · About average

Forty Foot Falls

Q: Are dogs allowed at Forty Foot Falls?

No, dogs are not allowed at Forty Foot Falls. No dog rule is published for this private land.

Michigan • 40 ft

By Armen Suny · Last verified Oct 2026

LiDAR & 3D terrain

Before you go

The falls are on private land; a waterfall guide reports the owner welcomes respectful visitors. The last several miles are rough, rocky, muddy two-tracks with no road signs, so a Jeep or truck is recommended.

Photo Credits (1)

guano CC BY-SA 2.0 · Flickr

Difficulty

Easy

Trail Type

Out And Back

About Forty Foot Falls

Forty Foot Falls, also known as Cliff Falls, is a 40-foot-high cascade more than 100 feet long on the Cliff River in remote northwestern Marquette County, east of Skanee. It is on private land, and a waterfall guide reports that visitors are welcome as long as they respect the area. The falls are about 7 miles from the nearest paved road, reached by rough two-tracks.

The Setting

Forty Foot Falls sits at 1,083 feet in the foothills of Michigan. The falls drop 40 feet.

Height: 40 feet

Trail & Hike Details

Trail Description

A short trail leads from a small pull-off to the top of the falls and down to the bottom. There is a campsite with a grill at the top of the falls.

What to Expect

The falls drop 40 feet.

Accessibility

The trail is short and relatively flat, but the surface may be uneven. Contact the managing agency for accessibility details.

Frequently Asked Questions

🐶 Are Dogs Allowed at Forty Foot Falls?

❌ Dogs are not allowed
No dog rule is published for this private land.

Are There Any Fees or Permits Required?

🆖 No fees required

🏊 Is There Swimming at Forty Foot Falls?

❌ Swimming is not allowed

When to Visit

spring summer fall

Spring and early summer are the best times to visit, as the waterfall flow is typically strongest during these seasons.

Seasonal Access

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

Safety Information

Water temperature is currently 42°F — cold enough to cause numbness quickly. Avoid prolonged water contact and use caution near the falls.

Visitors should exercise caution near the waterfall, as rocks can be slippery. Be aware of changing weather conditions, and avoid visiting during heavy rain or icy conditions.

Current Water Conditions

Updated about 2 hours ago Barely Flowing

These readings come from the USGS gauge on Salmon Trout River, 5.7 miles away, not on Forty Foot Falls's own stream. Use them as a sign of whether the area is running wet or dry.

5 ft³/s

Current discharge — how much water is flowing

About average for this time of year

Very Low Low Normal High Very High

4 5 8 12

Based on 21 years of record

0.38 ft

Water depth at gauge

42°F

Very cold

Expect numbness within minutes

7-Day Discharge Trend

What does this mean for your visit?

Flow is about average for this time of year. Water temperature is very cold at 42 degrees F, expect numbness within minutes.

About This Gauge

This gauge is on a nearby waterway and may not reflect exact conditions at the falls.

SALMON TROUT RIVER NEAR BIG BAY, MI

USGS 04043238

5.7 miles from waterfall

Drainage: 7 sq mi

Altitude: 1,101 ft

7-Day Flow Outlook

Based on the USGS gauge SALMON TROUT RIVER NEAR BIG BAY, MI (9 km away).

High confidence

Barely Flowing right now

5 cfs

→ Holding steady

Today

Barely Flowing

5 cfs

5/10

Tomorrow

Barely Flowing

6 cfs

3/10

Thu

Low

7 cfs

4/10

Fri

Low

6 cfs

4/10

Sat

Low

6 cfs

4/10

Sun

Barely Flowing

5 cfs

5/10

Mon

Barely Flowing

5 cfs

5/10

Best window: Today — barely flowing flow, mostly sunny (trip score 5/10).

Best time of year: this gauge typically runs highest from mid March to late 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 Skanee hit peak flow. We only send when conditions are worth the trip — no weekly newsletters, no spam.

Is Forty Foot Falls Frozen?

Updated about 8 hours ago

Not frozen highs above freezing lately north-facing, shaded

Forty Foot Falls is not frozen right now; highs have been above freezing. Yesterday ran 51°F to 33°F.

Days below freezing: 0 of the last 14
Current cold streak: 0 days
Freezing days ahead: 0 of the next 7
Flow: 5 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.

Here the descent is spread out: 1-meter lidar measures about 92 feet of drop through Forty Foot Falls, stretched along the creek rather than stacked in one wall. That is more than the listed 40 feet because the gorge keeps dropping below the falls themselves. The brink sits at about 1,085 feet above sea level.

The whole reach is steep: about 112 feet of descent in the 500 feet above the falls and another 65 feet in the 500 feet below. The falls face northwest and stay mostly shaded, with soft, even light all day.

Aerial photo of the same ground around Forty Foot Falls near Skanee, Michigan, for comparison with the lidar view

LiDAR bare-earth terrain around Forty Foot Falls near Skanee, Michigan, showing about 92 feet of drop, a long cascade, facing northwest

Aerial LiDAR bare earth

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

Ground elevation: 1,085 feet; Measured by 1-meter lidar
Drop at the falls: About 92 feet; Change in ground height within ~250 feet of the falls
Faces: Northwest; Mostly shaded, so the light stays soft and even all day.

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

Drive east on Skanee Road to its end and continue east on unpaved Erick Road, reaching the Huron River bridge and Big Ericks Falls at 1.3 miles. Stay on the largest road, bearing right, and at 4 miles turn left onto Northwestern Road for 2.2 miles. Where the main road turns south, take the small two-track to the left and follow it northeast about 2.5 miles, staying right and passing the Cliff Falls Hunting Club.

Get Directions on Google Maps

Parking

There is a small pull-off near the falls; you can hear the falls from the road.

Elevation

1,083 feet above sea level

Coordinates

46.832778° N, -87.973611° W

Visitor Tips & Gear

Bring insect repellent during the summer months, as mosquitoes can be prevalent. Wear sturdy shoes, as the trail may have uneven terrain. Check local weather conditions before visiting, especially in spring when trails may be muddy.