Power House Falls
Michigan • 15 ft
By Armen Suny · Last verified Oct 2026
LiDAR & 3D terrain
Photo Credits (5)
Difficulty
Easy
About Power House Falls
Power House Falls is a 15-foot drop on the Falls River just south of L'Anse in Baraga County, the largest of the many falls on that river. It is named for the old power house that stands beside it, and a small park sits at the falls.
The Setting
Power House Falls sits at 840 feet in the foothills of Michigan. The falls drop 15 feet.
Height: 15 feet
Trail & Hike Details
Trail Description
The falls are a short, easy walk from parking at a small park beside the river. No measured trail length is published.
What to Expect
The falls drop a gentle 15 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 Power House Falls?
❌ Dogs are not allowed
No dog rule is published for the park at the falls.
Are There Any Fees or Permits Required?
🆖 No fees required
🏊 Is There Swimming at Power House Falls?
❌ Swimming is not allowed
When to Visit
Spring and early summer are the best times to visit, 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 40°F — cold enough to cause numbness quickly. Avoid prolonged water contact and use caution near the falls.
Do not enter the old powerhouse building. Rocks near the falls can be slippery, and water levels and currents can be dangerous during heavy rain or snowmelt.
Current Water Conditions
These readings come from the USGS gauge on Falls River, 0.2 miles away, not on Power House Falls's own stream. Use them as a sign of whether the area is running wet or dry.
28 ft³/s
Current discharge — how much water is flowing
Lower than usual for this time of year
Based on 12 years of record
4.26 ft
Water depth at gauge
40°F
Dangerously coldRisk of cold shock
7-Day Discharge Trend
What does this mean for your visit?
Flow is lower than usual for this time of year. Water temperature is dangerously cold at 40 degrees F, avoid prolonged contact. Mineral content is typical.
Water Quality
Conductance
Dissolved minerals in the water
About This Gauge
7-Day Flow Outlook
Based on the USGS gauge FALLS RIVER NEAR L'ANSE, MI (0 km away).
Today
Moderate
28 cfs
8/10Tomorrow
Moderate
27 cfs
8/10Tue
Moderate
27 cfs
8/10Wed
Moderate
26 cfs
8/10Thu
Moderate
30 cfs
5/10Fri
Moderate
28 cfs
6/10Sat
Moderate
30 cfs
5/10Best window: Today — moderate flow, mostly sunny (trip score 8/10).
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 L'Anse hit peak flow. We only send when conditions are worth the trip — no weekly newsletters, no spam.
Is Power House Falls Frozen?
Updated about 17 hours agoNot frozen highs above freezing lately north-facing, shaded
Power House Falls is not frozen right now; highs have been above freezing. Yesterday ran 37°F to 31°F.
- Days below freezing
- 0 of the last 14
- Current cold streak
- 0 days
- Freezing days ahead
- 0 of the next 7
- Flow
- 29 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 bare-earth surface loses about 42 feet through the falls, but gradually, the profile of a cascade rather than a plunge. The falls are listed at 15 feet; the extra comes from the ravine that continues below the base. The ground at the falls is roughly 840 feet above sea level.
The ground changes about 30 feet in the 500 feet above the falls and 23 feet in the 500 feet below. The falls face northwest and stay mostly shaded, with soft, even light all day.
Drag to compare. The dot marks the waterfall. The frame is about a mile across.
- Ground elevation
- 840 feet
- Measured by 1-meter lidar
- Drop at the falls
- About 42 feet
- Change in ground height within ~250 feet of the falls
- Faces
- Northwest
- Mostly shaded, so the light stays soft and even all day.
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
From US-41 about 1 mile south of L'Anse, turn west on Power Dam Road and follow it about a mile. Where the road crosses the railroad tracks it branches; follow the sign for the falls.
Get Directions on Google MapsParking
There is a place to park at the small park by the falls.
Elevation
840 feet above sea level
Coordinates
46.737100° N, -88.444333° W
Visitor Tips & Gear
Visit during spring or after rainfall for the best water flow. Bring insect repellent during summer months, as mosquitoes can be present. Wear sturdy shoes as the trail may have uneven terrain.
Where to Stay
UP Escape in the Pines
Champion Vacation Rental with Fire Pit!
Whole home, private lake, sauna, WFH office
Tiny Woodland Cottage Retreat with Yard in Pelkie
Browse vacation cabins and private rentals nearby
Unique outdoor stays — tents, yurts, and treehouses
Rent a campervan or RV for your waterfall road trip
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Nearby Campground
Sturgeon River Gorge Wilderness
14.6 miles away · 0 sites
The Wild and Scenic Sturgeon River rushes out of the northern portion of this wilderness, over the 20 foot volcanic outcroppings of Sturgeon Falls, and through a gorge that reaches 350 feet in depth and a mile in width. Throughout this rugged, steep Wilderness, the Sturgeon and Little Silver Rivers and their tributaries have carved falls, rapids, ponds, oxbows, and terraces. Stunning views are possible from the eastern rim of the gorge. Except for a few naturally bare slopes, most of the land is
Book on Recreation.govAdditional Information
Nearby Attractions
L'Anse, on Keweenaw Bay of Lake Superior, is a few miles north, and other drops on the Falls River lie upstream of the power house.
Wildlife
The area is home to a variety of wildlife, including birds, deer, and small mammals. Visitors may also encounter insects such as mosquitoes and ticks.
Cities near Power House Falls
Nearby Waterfalls
Aerial
LiDAR
Aerial
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