Are there fees or permits required for Mulligan Falls?

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

Is swimming allowed at Mulligan Falls?

No, swimming is not allowed at Mulligan Falls.

LiDAR bare-earth terrain around Mulligan Falls near Big Bay, Michigan, showing about 53 feet of drop

LiDAR terrain view · USGS 3DEP

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

Mulligan Falls

Q: Are dogs allowed at Mulligan Falls?

No, dogs are not allowed at Mulligan Falls. No published dog rule covers this site, and the land ownership is unclear; keep dogs leashed and under control.

Michigan • 40 ft

By Armen Suny · Last verified Oct 2026

LiDAR & 3D terrain

Before you go

Ownership of the land around Mulligan Falls is unclear, and visitors have reported it as private. The access road fords Mulligan Creek through deep sand that can trap most vehicles.

Difficulty

Moderate

Trail Length

1.6 miles

Trail Type

Out And Back

About Mulligan Falls

Mulligan Falls is a long series of small chutes and plunges on Mulligan Creek in Marquette County, at the north end of the Mulligan Plains north of Ishpeming. The creek drops about 40 feet in total over several sets of falls, each ending in a deep pool, in a steep, overgrown canyon. It is reached by rough sand roads and an unmarked walk of under a mile.

The Setting

Mulligan Falls sits at 1,398 feet in the foothills of Michigan. The falls drop 40 feet.

Height: 40 feet

Trail & Hike Details

Trail Description

No maintained trail. The easier route is about 0.8 mile each way from a small pull-off, crossing the creek on an ATV bridge and passing a hunting camp; a rougher route follows the south bank through thick undergrowth. Walk upstream about a quarter mile from the first falls to see all the drops.

What to Expect

The falls drop 40 feet.

Accessibility

The trail is not wheelchair accessible. Uneven terrain and elevation changes require steady footing.

Frequently Asked Questions

🐶 Are Dogs Allowed at Mulligan Falls?

❌ Dogs are not allowed
No published dog rule covers this site, and the land ownership is unclear; keep dogs leashed and under control.

Are There Any Fees or Permits Required?

🆖 No fees required

🏊 Is There Swimming at Mulligan Falls?

❌ Swimming is not allowed

When to Visit

spring summer fall

Spring and early summer are ideal for visiting Mulligan Falls, as the water 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 43°F — cold enough to cause numbness quickly. Avoid prolonged water contact and use caution near the falls.

Visitors should exercise caution on wet or slippery rocks near the falls. Cell phone service may be limited in the area, so plan accordingly.

Current Water Conditions

Updated about 1 hour ago Barely Flowing

These readings come from the USGS gauge on East Branch Salmon Trout River, 7.2 miles away, not on Mulligan 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

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

EAST BRANCH SALMON TROUT RIVER NEAR DODGE CITY, MI

USGS 04043244

7.2 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 (12 km away).

Moderate 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 Mulligan Falls Frozen?

Updated about 8 hours ago

Not frozen highs above freezing lately 2 more freezing days forecast

Mulligan Falls is not frozen right now; highs have been above freezing. Yesterday ran 48°F to 33°F. 2 freezing days are forecast, so ice may start to form.

Days below freezing: 0 of the last 14
Current cold streak: 0 days
Freezing days ahead: 2 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 53 feet of drop in the ground within a few hundred feet of Mulligan Falls. That is more than the listed 40 feet because the gorge keeps dropping below the falls themselves. The brink sits at about 1,398 feet above sea level.

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

Aerial LiDAR bare earth

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

Ground elevation: 1,398 feet; Measured by 1-meter lidar
Drop at the falls: About 53 feet; Change in ground height within ~250 feet of the falls

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

Location & Access

Getting There

From US-41 in Ishpeming, take County Road 573 north past the Dead River Storage Basin and cross the Dead River bridge, about 15 miles from US-41. Take the two-track to the left, follow it over Mulligan Creek for 1.1 miles, then turn right onto a sandy track and continue about 3 miles to a small pull-off on the left.

Get Directions on Google Maps

Parking

Small roadside pull-off for about four vehicles. The road fords Mulligan Creek through deep sand; a high-clearance vehicle is needed and even those can get stuck.