Upper Falls
Michigan • 8 ft
By Armen Suny · Last verified Oct 2026
LiDAR & 3D terrain
Photo Credits (5)
Difficulty
Moderate
Trail Length
1.6 miles
Trail Type
Out And Back
About Upper Falls
Upper Falls is a long, split slide where the Sturgeon River leaves the slate box canyon below Canyon Falls, near Alberta in Baraga County. It is about 8 feet high and empties into a swampy area at the far end of the canyon. It is reached from the Canyon Falls roadside park on US-41 by the Canyon Falls trail and an unmaintained path along the canyon rim.
The Setting
Upper Falls sits at 1,253 feet within Sturgeon, Michigan (Ottawa) Wild And Scenic River Study Area, in the foothills of Michigan. The falls drop 8 feet.
Height: 8 feet
Trail & Hike Details
Trail Description
From the roadside park, follow the crushed-rock trail along the Sturgeon River to Canyon Falls. Past the maintained area, an unmaintained footpath continues along the edge of the slate canyon, past a narrow chute used as a cliff-jumping spot, and ends at Upper Falls about 0.3 mile beyond Canyon Falls.
What to Expect
The falls drop a gentle 8 feet. Dogs are welcome.
Accessibility
The trail is not wheelchair accessible. Uneven terrain and elevation changes require steady footing.
Frequently Asked Questions
🐶 Are Dogs Allowed at Upper Falls?
✅ Dogs are allowed
Leashed dogs are allowed on the Canyon Falls trail; keep them away from the canyon edge.
Are There Any Fees or Permits Required?
🆖 No fees required
🏊 Is There Swimming at Upper Falls?
❌ Swimming is not allowed
When to Visit
Late spring after snowmelt for the strongest flow; summer and fall for easier footing.
Seasonal Access
The best time to visit is Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter.
Safety Information
The path past Canyon Falls runs along the edge of a steep slate canyon with no railings. Stay back from the rim, especially when rock is wet or icy, and keep children close.
Current Water Conditions
These readings come from the USGS gauge on Sturgeon River, 4.4 miles away, not on Upper Falls's own stream. Use them as a sign of whether the area is running wet or dry.
107 ft³/s
Current discharge — how much water is flowing
About average for this time of year
Based on 86 years of record
4.22 ft
Water depth at gauge
7-Day Discharge Trend
What does this mean for your visit?
Flow is about average for this time of year.
About This Gauge
7-Day Flow Outlook
Based on the USGS gauge STURGEON RIVER NEAR SIDNAW, MI (7 km away).
Today
Low
109 cfs
6/10Tomorrow
Moderate
114 cfs
5/10Thu
Moderate
120 cfs
5/10Fri
Moderate
123 cfs
5/10Sat
Moderate
117 cfs
6/10Sun
Low
115 cfs
6/10Mon
Low
126 cfs
6/10Best window: Today — low flow, mostly sunny (trip score 6/10).
Best time of year: this gauge typically runs highest from late March to early June, 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 Covington hit peak flow. We only send when conditions are worth the trip — no weekly newsletters, no spam.
Is Upper Falls Frozen?
Updated about 8 hours agoNot frozen highs above freezing lately 1 more freezing day forecast
Upper Falls is not frozen right now; highs have been above freezing. Yesterday ran 51°F to 29°F. 1 freezing day are forecast, so ice may start to form.
- Days below freezing
- 0 of the last 14
- Current cold streak
- 0 days
- Freezing days ahead
- 1 of the next 7
- Flow
- 113 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 shows the creek losing roughly 27 feet through Upper Falls over a long run of ledges. Only part of that is the waterfall, which is listed at 8 feet; the rest is the canyon carrying on downstream. Elevation at the pin is about 1,255 feet.
Both above and below, the ground is gentle; the falls are the one abrupt step in an otherwise easy-going creek. Facing west, the falls glow in afternoon and evening light.
Drag to compare. The dot marks the waterfall. The frame is about a mile across.
- Ground elevation
- 1,255 feet
- Measured by 1-meter lidar
- Drop at the falls
- About 27 feet
- Change in ground height within ~250 feet of the falls
- Faces
- West
- Glows in afternoon and evening light.
A slice through the lidar ground surface, from above the falls to downstream (heading west).
Elevation data: USGS 3D Elevation Program. Aerial imagery: USGS The National Map. Public domain.
Location & Access
Getting There
Drive about 10 miles south of L'Anse on US-41. The Canyon Falls roadside park is on the right (west) side, just north of the Sturgeon River bridge.
Get Directions on Google MapsParking
Park in the Canyon Falls roadside park lot on US-41. The park is open seasonally.
Elevation
1,253 feet above sea level
Coordinates
46.620215° N, -88.499579° W
Land Management
Managed by USFS
Visitor Tips & Gear
Wear sturdy shoes for the rocky, unmaintained section beyond Canyon Falls. Bring insect repellent in summer.
Where to Stay
Champion Vacation Rental with Fire Pit!
UP Escape in the Pines
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
9.4 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
Canyon Falls on the same trail, Bacco Falls on Bacco Creek, Ogemaw Falls and Plumbago Falls nearby, and the Sturgeon River Gorge Wilderness downstream.
Cities near Upper Falls
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