Are there fees or permits required for Lower Falls?

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

Is swimming allowed at Lower Falls?

No, swimming is not allowed at Lower Falls.

Nearby gauge (East Branch Salmon Trout River) · 16 ft³/s · About average

Lower Falls

Q: Are dogs allowed at Lower Falls?

No, dogs are not allowed at Lower Falls. The land is private and closed to the public, so there is no public dog access.

Michigan

By Armen Suny · Last verified Oct 2026

LiDAR & 3D terrain

Also For 18 other waterfalls also named Lower Falls, see below

No public access

Lower Falls isn't open to the public. There's no public trail or parking, so please don't trespass or park at neighboring properties. See public waterfalls nearby.

These falls are on Huron Mountain Club private land, which is closed to the public. There is no public trail or viewpoint.

Photo Credits (5)

naql CC BY 2.0 · Flickr

joeldinda CC BY-NC-SA 2.0 · Flickr

naql CC BY 2.0 · Flickr

LadyDragonflyCC - >;< CC BY 2.0 · Flickr

Billy Wilson Photography CC BY-NC 2.0 · Flickr

About Lower Falls

Nearby Falls Worth Visiting

Mulligan Falls (40 ft) lies 9.1 miles to the south.

Mulligan Falls

Frequently Asked Questions

🐶 Are Dogs Allowed at Lower Falls?

❌ Dogs are not allowed
The land is private and closed to the public, so there is no public dog access.

Are There Any Fees or Permits Required?

🆖 No fees required

🏊 Is There Swimming at Lower Falls?

❌ Swimming is not allowed

When to Visit

spring summer fall winter

Seasonal Access

The best time to visit is Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter.

Safety Information

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

Current Water Conditions

Updated about 1 hour ago Barely Flowing

These readings come from the USGS gauge on East Branch Salmon Trout River, 3.1 miles away, not on Lower Falls's own stream. Use them as a sign of whether the area is running wet or dry.

16 ft³/s

Current discharge — how much water is flowing

About average for this time of year

Very Low Low Normal High Very High

14 15 22 32

Based on 21 years of record

1.64 ft

Water depth at gauge

43°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 43 degrees F, expect numbness within minutes. Mineral content is typical.

Water Quality

145 µS/cm

Conductance

Dissolved minerals in the water

About This Gauge

EAST BRANCH SALMON TROUT RIVER NEAR DODGE CITY, MI

USGS 04043244

3.1 miles from waterfall

Drainage: 10 sq mi

Altitude: 1,025 ft

7-Day Flow Outlook

Based on the USGS gauge EAST BRANCH SALMON TROUT RIVER NEAR DODGE CITY, MI (5 km away).

High confidence

Barely Flowing right now

16 cfs

→ Holding steady

Today

Barely Flowing

16 cfs

5/10

Tomorrow

Low

19 cfs

4/10

Thu

Low

22 cfs

4/10

Fri

Low

21 cfs

4/10

Sat

Low

21 cfs

4/10

Sun

Barely Flowing

19 cfs

5/10

Mon

Barely Flowing

16 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 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 Big Bay hit peak flow. We only send when conditions are worth the trip — no weekly newsletters, no spam.

Is Lower Falls Frozen?

Updated about 8 hours ago

Not frozen highs above freezing lately north-facing, shaded

Lower Falls is not frozen right now; highs have been above freezing. Yesterday ran 52°F to 35°F.

Days below freezing: 0 of the last 14
Current cold streak: 0 days
Freezing days ahead: 0 of the next 7
Flow: 16 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.

1-meter lidar measures about 96 feet of descent through Lower Falls, a steep tiered drop rather than a single free fall. The brink sits at about 665 feet above sea level.

The ground changes about 119 feet in the 500 feet above the falls and 35 feet in the 500 feet below. Facing northwest, the falls stay mostly shaded, with soft, even light all day.

Aerial photo of the same ground around Lower Falls near Big Bay, Michigan, for comparison with the lidar view

LiDAR bare-earth terrain around Lower Falls near Big Bay, Michigan, showing about 96 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: 665 feet; Measured by 1-meter lidar
Drop at the falls: About 96 feet; Change in ground height within ~250 feet of the falls
Faces: Northwest; Mostly shaded, so the light stays soft and even all day.