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The El-Jireh Farm, East Jordan,Michigan. Pigeons huddle for warmth on the roof of this century old field-stone barn. I found many old stone structures while roaming the back roads of East Jordan and Mancelona. Some of the structures I found were: an old Gothic Czechoslovakian church clad with stone, old homesteads, and other building remnants. This winter evening photo was taken right after a fresh foot of snow had fallen. The pretty pastel sky, and fresh white snow really highlighted the beauty of this historic barn.
The Bufka Farm, Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. A picturesque array of historic buildings with colorful autumn leaves as a backdrop. This is one of many historic barns you can discover while cruising the 116 miles of scenic M-22's countryside. When fall colors are peaking you'll want to have your camera with you for this scenic drive. The Bufka farm is located in the northern part of Sleeping Bear Dunes on the west side of M-22
The D.H Day Farm, Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. This barn is located just south of the Glen Haven Historic Village. Built in the 1880's, this barn is one of the most photographed in Michigan, and for good reason. It is one well cared for majestic structure, and an iconic landmark. Like the Bufka barn, fall colors are fantastic here. Be sure to drive the maple tree-lined Day Farm Road just south of the farm.
Old Barn and the Milky Way, Vestaburg, Michigan. The Miky Way towering above an old weathered barn in Montcalm County Michigan. I don't know the history of many of the barns I've photographed, but if barns could talk? Maybe they'd tell stories of the families that lived there, harvest times, or the many storms they withstood. This old barn is near a homstead my parents once owned many years ago. My mother used to call this area "The rolling hills of Vestaburg". This barn sits atop one of those little rolling hills.
A Rustic Old Barn in Upper Michigan. While driving the back-roads of the Ottawa National Forest near Sidnaw, Michigan, we discovered this old barn sinking into the spongy forest floor. I believe it was built by immigrants to the Sidnaw area. I've read that these settlers built their barns with hand-hewn log cabins attached. This old structure is fun to photograph, and really speaks to the history of this area. I wonder how hard winters were here for folks back in that era.
"A White Christmas" This snowy winter scene was taken on Christmas Day, 2014. We are fortunate to still have all of the beautiful historic farms and barns in Michigan's countryside. Seeing these farms is a glimpse from the past, a view you would've gotten many many years ago. This historic Michigan farm and barn is just down the road from our home here in Montcalm County.
Arched Roof Barn, Chassell, Michigan.(Keweenaw Peninsula). This barn is nestled in the back of a field along the treeline. It caught our eye because of it's interesting shaped roof. I did a little research and this is called an arched roof barn, or rainbow arch. The Keweenaw Peninsula averages more snowfall than any other location east of the Mississippi River. Many of the homes you see in that area have steep-pitched roofs because of the heavy snows. I'm guessing the barn builders back in those days, Finnish and Swedish immigrants, might've preferred this roof style for that same reason.
The Tilted Barn, Riverdale, Michigan. Driving around the heartland of Michigan you’ll notice that many of the old barns have seen better days. Each year I see them tilting a little more, losing a few more boards, and sadly falling into disrepair. Old barns like these are symbolic to the agricultural heritage of Michigan. My mother asked me to photograph this one, and I'm glad I did as it collapsed the following spring. On a positive note, many of these old barns find new life as reclaimed lumber
Thanks for taking the time to read my blog. I highly recommend checking out all of my Michigan photo galleries, links are at the top of this page. Prints, canvas wraps and image licensing available. If you have a moment, pleas feel free to share via the social media buttons provided.
Thank you very much!
-John
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Brockway Mountain Sunset, Keweenaw Peninsula. Brockway Mountain Scenic Drive offers you one of the best fall vistas in the Keweenaw Peninsula; with amazing views of Lake Superior, inland lakes, and the surrounding wilderness valley. These overlooks are easily reached by utilizing several pull-offs along the 9 mile scenic drive just west of Copper Harbor. It is also a favorite spot to see the northern lights, as seen in the photo below. My wife and I were able to witness this beautiful display when we were camping. When alerted that the lights were going to be visible, we hurried up to the top of the mountain just in time to witness the best display of the northern lights we had ever seen.
Northern lights over Brockway Mountain Drive, west bluff scenic view
Dawn at Lake of the Clouds, Porcupine Mountians Wilderness State Park. Lake of the Clouds is one the most photographed overlooks in Michigan, and for good reason. The views from there are stunning, especially during peak fall colors. Dramatic rock outcroppings, huge stands of old growth northern hardwood forest, and of course Lake of the Clouds that is situated in the Big Carp River Valley below. This overlook is not very far from the parking area and is easily accessed and wheelchair friendly.
Carp River Valley, Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State park.
Bare Bluff, The Russell and Miriam Grinnell Memorial Nature Sanctuary, south shore of the Keweenaw Peninsula. In my opinion this is one of the best hikes in Michigan, and one of the most remote. The views from the summit are stunning, you can see all the way to the tip of the Keweenaw Peninsula. It's not easy to get to, nor is it an easy hike; but what a beautiful backcountry wilderness. Backcountry adventures like this require proper planning. Visiting this site is a great start.
Bare Bluff
Houghton & Hancock Michigan, Panoramic views of the Portage Lake Lift Bridge. This gorgeous overlook is found along the hillside trails above Hancock. We were given permission from the Quincy Mine attraction staff to access these trails, but there may be other locations to reach this area as well. This was our first time visiting this spot so we weren't that familar with the trails.
The Portage Lake Lift Bridge.
Sugarloaf Mountain Sunrise, Marquette, MI. This overlook takes a bit of effort to reach but you are rewarded with amazing views when you get to the peak. The following sites are visible: Partridge Island, Presque Isle Park, Marquette Harbor, and the beautiful Lake Superior coastline. You can also see Little Presque Isle looking to the north. A large part of the hike up has steps, and some benches. It's a moderately difficult climb taking 20 minutes or so to reach the top. The parking area for the hike is located about six miles northwest of Marquette along County Road 550.
Sugarloaf Mountain view looking north towards Little Presque Isle
Grand Portal Point, Pictured Rocks National lakeshore. If your looking for an autumn back-country experience, put this section of The North Country trail on your list. Choose day-hikes along An impressive 42 miles of Lake Superior Shoreline. Some or our favorite hikes here are The Graveyard Coast, The Coves, and The Beaver Basin Wilderness. I've written blogs on these hikes, you can find them here.
North Bar Lake overlook, Pierce Stocking Drive Sleeping Bear Dunes. Fall colors ablaze along the Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive. This spot is easily accessed, just a few steps from the pull-off along the scenic drive. The lake below is very close to Lake Michigan and connected by a small outlet. Empire Bluffs can be seen to the south, which is another must see overlook. You will need to purchase a park pass from the Sleeping Bear Dunes Visitor Center in Empire before you head there.
November Gales at Empire Bluff Michigan
Thanks for taking the time to read my blog. I highly recommend checking out all of my Michigan photo galleries, links are at the top of the page. Prints, canvas wraps and image licenisng available. If you have a moment, please feel free to share this post via the social media share buttons provided.
Thank you very much!
-John
Winter in the heartland areas of Michigan are truly beautiful. There's no road salt applied to the unpaved back-roads so they stay white, snowy and scenic much longer. This photo was taken on the road we live on in rural Montcalm County; it was the morning after a winter storm had dropped several inches of fresh snow. The drooping snow-laden pine boughs made it seem as though I was driving through a tunnel.
These horses were enjoying themselves running in the fresh powdery snow. I stopped to photograph them for a few minutes and they seemed intrigued by that, but then they wanted to show off their running skills. It was very peaceful to watch. Horses are incredibly resilient and adapt to Michigan's snow and cold quite easily.
The road crews are always busy clearing snow from the main roads first after a snow storm, so we get to play in it with our 4-wheel drive vehicles for a day or two until the back-roads get plowed. Many people in the country carry tow-straps and shovels in their cars and trucks - so if you do slip off into the ditch it doesn't take long at all and someone is there to help.
I think we are fortunate to still have all of the beautiful historic farms and barns in Michigan's countryside. Seeing these farms is a glimpse from the past, it's the same view you would've gotten many many years ago. This historic Michigan farm and barn is just down the road from our home here in Montcalm County. The snowy winter scene was taken on Christmas Day, 2014.
Pigeons huddle for warmth on the roof of this Century old field-stone Barn. I've seen many old barns in my Michigan travels but this one is by far the most interesting and unique. Everywhere I went on the back roads in the East Jordan area, I discovered old structures built from field-stone; an old Gothic Czechoslovakian church clad with stone, old homesteads, and other structures.
"Praga" Saint John Nepomucene Gothic Revival Church, East Jordan Michigan
Thanks for taking the time to read my blog. You can see my entire Michigan Winter gallery here, or see all of my Michigan photo galleries. If you have a moment, please feel free to share this post via the social media share buttons provided.
Thank you very much!
-John
John McCormick is a lifelong Michigan resident and has been interested in Michigan Nature Photography for over 30 years. Michigan is a beautiful place to live and photographing that beauty is his absolute passion. To follow his recent work be sure to "like" his Facebook page.
"North Windows" Lake Superior Cave[email protected]
Michigan-based photographer John McCormick shares some imagery of the beautiful caves & coves found along Michigan's Lake Superior shoreline.
The photo below was taken in the area known as "the-coves". It's gorgeous there, the water in Lake Superior is so clear. These beautiful little coves that have been carved by the lake look like places you might see in the Caribbean; we call it "Michigan's Caribbean".
"Grand Sable Dawn" (Log Slide) Grand Sable Dunes - Pictured Rocks National lakeshore"Grand Sable Dawn" (Log Slide) Grand Sable Dunes - Pictured Rocks National lakeshore.
It's amazing what the power of Lake Superior can do to the shoreline. This cave found near AuTrain Point has windows & pillars carved into to it with a beautiful view looking north. At sunset the light fills the cave which gives it a stunning glow..
The following ice cave photos were taken along the historic and beautiful Grand Island shoreline. When we get a very cold Winter here in Michigan, Lake Superior can freeze Munising Bay over making it possible to cross the ice to the island. Always check with the locals first for information regarding the ice conditions, and where to cross. It's an amazing thing to see, ice curtains over 30 feet tall and hidden little caves to find and explore. Ice cleats, snowshoes, or ice crampons are a must; along with a warm pair of boots.
In this panoramic, I was able to get a shot of a person standing inside of this beautiful cavern. Sand Point on the mainland of Munising, is seen in the distance.
I set my camera on timer to get a shot of myself exploring this amazing ice cavern
"Wildflowers" Au Sable Lighthouse Pictured Rocks National LakdshoreSunrise at Michigan's Au Sable Point Lighthouse
This little cave I found "blew my mind". The frozen column of blue-green ice appeared as though the icy waters of Lake Superior had been pouring down from above and it had froze that way.. Simple stunning, and pretty scary being in there too!
Back to the warmer months. This is another image captured near AuTrain Point West of Munising. If you like to kayak, this is the place for you. When my wife and I were taking these photos we saw smoke rising from the forest along the shore and then the sounds of Native American hand-drums and song. It was a very memorable experience.
Lake Superior Sea Cave near Munising, Michigan
Sunny Cave Five Mile Point Lake SuperiorTropical looking Lake Superior cave
Waves battering the rugged shoreline of Lake Superior on a very windy Autumn day.
Stormy Autumn day on Lake SuperiorBig waves on Lake Superior Upper Michigan
One of the most visited and easily accessed coves is Miners Castle in the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. In this shot, the sun is seen going down over Grand Island in the distance.
Sunset at Miners CastleStunning sunset photo at Michigan's Miners Castle overlook.
Pictured Rocks national lakeshore, near Munising, Michigan
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"North Windows" Lake Superior Cave[email protected]
Crystal clear water glimmering on a sunny Summer day.
Crystal Clear waters of Lake Superior in Upper MichiganCrystal Clear waters of Lake Superior
Thanks for taking the time to read my blog. You can see my entire Lake Superior caves & coves gallery here. Check out my Pictured Rocks gallery if are interested in seeing much more of my work taken along Lake Superio. See my home page for links to all of my Michigan galleries, or if you happen to be interested in buying a print, canvas, or if your interested in licensing an image.
If you have a moment, please feel free to share this post via the social media share buttons provided.
Thank you very much!
-John
John McCormick is a lifelong Michigan resident and has been interested in Michigan Nature Photography for over 30 years. Michigan is a beautiful place to live and photographing that beauty is his absolute passion. To follow his recent work be sure to "like" his facebook page.
Michigan-based photographer John McCormick shares his story of exploring Michigan's South Manitou Island, Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore.
My wife and I spent a couple of days exploring South Manitou Island two summers ago, and I've been wanting to share a few photos we brought back. One of the things we wanted to see was this shipwreck, the "Franciso Morazan". This old cargo ship has got to be the eeriest looking scene on the Great Lakes. The colony of nesting cormorants give it that "extra creepy appeal".
In 1960, risking late season Great Lakes weather, the ship was caught in a late November storm and ran aground about 300 feet off the southwest shore of South Manitou Island.
"Wreck of the Franciso Morazan" South Manitou Island Sleeping Bear Dunes
The photo below of the South Manitou Lighthouse was taken from the passenger ferry as we were arriving to the island. Find yourself a seat on the port side to get a better view and photo of it. The ferry service operates from the historic Fishtown Dock in Leland, Mi. It's the only access to the island other than private boats. The trip takes about 1½ hours.
South Manitou Island Lighthouse
There are three back-country campsites on the island and our plan was to camp at the Weather Station Campground, which has 20 sites and is a 1.3 mile hike from where the ferry docks. That location got us to within 13/4 miles of the shipwreck that I had planned to photograph at sunset. The beach is absolutely gorgeous out there, very peaceful and remote experience. We spent the entire afternoon swimming and exploring it. We only saw two other people all day, you can see them in this photo enjoying a swim.
Another one of our plans was to see the island's historic lighthouse. You can climb the 117 steps to the top for a stunning view of Lake Michigan and the Manitou Passage. There's lots of trails for exploring; hike to the old cemetery in the interior of the island or explore the stand of giant cedar trees on the southern end.
Evening light at South Manitou Island Lighthouse
Old weathered boat house on South Manitou Island
When we arrived at the island the rangers told us that poison ivy was well established there. I was super cautious on our hikes making sure I didn't brush up against any of it as I am highly susceptable. Well, after a long day of exploring we arrived back at the campsite and my wife wanted a campfire. At this point I had shorts on and it was getting dark, but, we "had" to find some firewood in the forest. I found plenty of firewood, but guess who forgot all about the poison ivy? It took me three weeks to get rid of it; the rangers nailed it, lot's of poison ivy on that island. My wife likes to tell that story... :) Some ivy along the path in this photo.
Thanks for taking the time to read my post. You can see all of my Sleeping Bear Dunes gallery here. if you're interested in other areas of Michigan you can see all of my galleries here. If you have a moment, please feel free to share this blog via the social media share buttons provided.
Thank you very much!
-John
John McCormick is a lifelong Michigan resident and has been interested in Michigan Nature Photography for over 30 years. Michigan is a beautiful place to live and photographing that beauty is his absolute passion. To follow his recent work be sure to "like" his facebook page. To see all of his Michigan photo galleries, purchase prints, or to license an image, use the links at the top of this page.
Michigan-based photographer John McCormick shares some tips for exploring the "Beaver Basin Wilderness" - Michigan's Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore.
Of all the places within the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, the area designated as the "Beaver Basin Wilderness", is not to miss if you want a true back-country experience in one of the best locations of the park. In part 1 of this series I talked about the eastern areas, areas between Grand Sable Dunes and Twelvemile-Beach. This post will be focusing on the Lake Superior shoreline between Spray Falls on the west to Beaver Creek outlet on the east.
To begin your hike for this trip, start at the Little Beaver Lake campground. We most often do day-hikes on our trips, but there are several back-country campsites if you're wanting to do a pack-in trip. You can also camp right at Little Beaver Lake, on a first-come first-serve basis. This first photo of Little Beaver Lake was taken on its north side where the trail intersects with the Beaver Creek or Big Beaver Lake trail.
Little Beaver Lake - Pictured Rocks National Lakehsore
Following the Beaver Lake trail east, you will soon see the stunningly clear water and beautiful views of Beaver Lake. The trail follows its shoreline for a bit before reaching Beaver Creek. On our last hike, upon reaching the creek we took off our hiking-boots and waded for awhile. The water here is also remarkably clear and the bottom is sandy. The photos below, a view of Beaver Creek, then, our son Mike crossing this really cool a-frame log footbridge. Also in the photo is my wife Shelly, taking her boots off to play in the water. The third photo is where the Bever Creek flows into Lake Superior.
Beaver Creek, Beaver Basin Wilderness Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore
The remaining photos were all taken along the Lakeshore North-Country Trail. To see these areas, instead of heading east at the intersection at Little Beaver Lake that I mentioned, go straight and follow the trail north towards Lake Superior. When you reach the shoreline and head west on the trail, you will come to the area known as "the-coves". It's gorgeous there, the water in Lake Superior is so clear. These beautiful little coves that have been carved by the lake look like scenes straight out of the tropics; we call it, "Michigan's Caribbean". The coves back-county campsites are in this area as well.
"The Coves" Lake SuperiorThe coves area of Pictured Rocks National lakeshore
Hiking farther west from the coves, the trail climbs until you are high above the lake on the cliffs edge. When we first started taking our boys on this hike, Shelly and I got a few extra gray hairs! In places, the trail is just a couple of feet from the edge!
There are many interesting lookouts, rock formations and vistas to see along the trail. This tall pine caught my eye while we were hiking out in late evening.
Before the trail gets too high above Lake Superior, there are some places you can get down to the shoreline and do some exploring. We found this little hidden beach a couple of years ago. It was really unique; a large group of boulders and a leaning pine tree, interesting and picturesque.
The last photo is Spray Falls, which is at the western end of the Beaver Basin Wilderness. Like I mentioned in part 1 of my, exploring Michigan's Waterfalls blog, Spray Falls plunges 70ft over the Pictured Rocks cliff edge directly into Lake Superior. These areas that I have mentioned, from the coves to Spray Falls, involve climbing some fairly steep trails in spots and is a moderate hike. Be sure to take plenty enough water and snacks.. Also remember, there are places where the trail gets very close to the edge of the cliffs. Be aware that this is an ever changing and fragile landscape. Keep a safe distance and have a fun hike.
You can download maps of the park and get other useful information here.
Thanks again for taking the time to read my blog. If you have any questions about visiting Pictured Rocks, or would like to leave a comment, please do that below. You can select public, or private. Also, I highly recommend checking out our Pictured Rocks gallery ; I have over 100 of my favorite shots in there taken in all seasons over many years of visiting the park.
If you have a moment, please feel free to share this post via the social media share buttons provided.
Thank you very much!
-John
John McCormick is a lifelong Michigan resident and has been interested in Michigan Nature Photography for over 30 years. Michigan is a beautiful place to live and photographing that beauty is his absolute passion. To follow his recent work be sure to "like" his facebook page. To see all of his Michigan photo galleries, purchase prints, or to license an image, use the links at the top of this page.
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Old Lake Superior Shipwreck[email protected]
Michigan-based photographer John McCormick shares some tips for exploring Michigan's Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore.
Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore is a very special place in Upper Michigan. We have been camping and hiking there for many years. I've decided to write a few blogs, share a few photos, and talk a little about our favorite spots.
The area encompassing the park is long and narrow, with an impressive 42 miles of Lake Superior Shoreline to explore. This first blog, part 1, will focus on the east end of the park; the area between Grand Sable Dunes and Twelvemile-Beach Campground. The sunrise shot of the "Log Slide", was taken along the Grand Sable Banks. These banks, rise to heights of up to 300ft above the shore of Lake Superior. The Grand Sable Dunes, on top of these banks, are a desolate landscape with some jack pine forests near the edges.
"Grand Sable Dawn" (Log Slide) Grand Sable Dunes - Pictured Rocks National lakeshore"Grand Sable Dawn" (Log Slide) Grand Sable Dunes - Pictured Rocks National lakeshore.
Heading East, H58 closely follows the shoreline and in a few miles you will come to the Hurricane River Campground. This fast moving little river flows out of the forest and empties into Lake Superior near the picnic area. This is an excellent place to photograph a sunset. The shipwreck image below, taken a few years ago, is titled; "Graveyard Coast". The image won second place in the Lake Superior Magazine photo contest that was held the same year. :) Anyhow, this steam ship "Mary Jarecki", at 200 feet in length, hit bottom on Au Sable Reef and went down on July 4, 1883. The ship lost its way in one of the heavy fogs that frequent the area. These shipwrecks are a reminder of the incredible power of Lake Superior.
One of the great things about camping at Hurricane River, is the fact that the Au Sable Point Lighthouse trail begins here. It's been one of our family's favorite hikes for many years. You can walk the shoreline on your way there and then on your way back, there's a beautiful trail through the woods that follows close to the shore. You can see the remains of another shipwreck along the way too. The first image shown of the lighthouse was taken in early May when the wildflowers were blooming. The second image of the lighthouse was taken in May of this year; my wife and I hiked the 1.5 miles at night to capture the Camelopardalid meteor shower and the Milky Way Galaxy. While we were shooting this, the winds picked up off the lake and you could hear this loud howling sound, that is best described as sounding like what you hear when you blow across the top of a pop bottle, only louder. I bet the light-keepers back in the day heard that quite often. The sound was coming from the curved window openings near the top of the lighthouse tower.
"Wildflowers" Au Sable Lighthouse Pictured Rocks National LakdshoreSunrise at Michigan's Au Sable Point Lighthouse
The last area of the park that I will mention in part 1 of this series, is Twelvemile-Beach & Campground. The images below were taken at different times but they were shot from almost the same spot. One is a summertime sunset, and the other a beautiful early spring day. This campground is one of our all-time favorite places to camp. The sites are large and many of them are right along the bluff above the beach. In the last image, there are thousands of footprints in the sand and only one person besides me, watching the sun go down. At this place, you will have 12 miles of "Michigan's Caribbean", to play in, If you're brave enough to go in the water!
Thanks for taking the time to read this. If you have any questions about visiting Pictured Rocks, or would like to leave a comment, please do that below. You can select public, or private. Also, I highly reccomend checking out our Pictured Rocks gallery if are interested in researching more areas of the park, or if you would like to buy a print. I have over 100 of my favorite shots in there taken over the coarse of many years, Spring, Summer, Winter and fall.
If you have a moment, please feel free to share this post via the social media share buttons provided.
Thank you very much!
-John
John McCormick is a lifelong Michigan resident and has been interested in Michigan Nature Photography for over 30 years. Michigan is a beautiful place to live and photographing that beauty is his absolute passion. To follow his recent work be sure to "like" his facebook page. To see all of his Michigan photo galleries, purchase prints, or to license an image, use the links at the top of this page.
Michigan-based photographer John McCormick shares some tips for exploring a few of the states many waterfalls.
If you’re looking for things to do in Michigan this summer, try exploring some beautiful waterfalls. This will be a great year for it! The heavy snow and below average temperatures this past winter have resulted in fast flowing rivers and raging waterfalls all across Upper Michigan this spring. My wife and I and our three boys have been exploring and photographing these gems for over 30 years and the ones mentioned here are a few of our favorites.
Some of the waterfalls are easy to find and easy to access, while others require a little more effort. The most popular waterfall to see is Tahquamenon, and it is also one of the easiest to access. There are two drops – the upper and lower. The upper falls are more than 200 feet across and plunge approximately 48 feet. Both of these waterfalls are within the Tahquamenon Falls State Park, and this area has some of the best camping in Michigan.
Tahquamenon Falls
One of the more remote waterfalls to see is Spray Falls in the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. This one is about a three mile round trip hike, starting from the trail-head at Little Beaver Lake campground. It is rated a moderate hike. Spray Falls plunges 70ft over the Pictured Rocks cliff edge directly into Lake Superior. This stretch of hiking trail is one of the most spectacular hikes in Michigan. See our Pictured Rocks gallery.
Another easy to access waterfall ‘and fun to photograph’, is Wagner Falls, just South of Munising, Michigan. It’s a beautiful scenic spot, and just a short walk through the woods. If you visit this one in the springtime, you will see Marsh Marigolds blooming along the edges of the creek just below the falls. It makes for a pretty picture! As a side trip while in the area, head over to Miners Beach just West of Munising and see the little but very picturesque, Elliot Falls, aka Miners Beach Falls.
Wagner FallsShop High Quality Fine Art Prints, Canvas...Spring time at Wagner Falls near
Munising Michigan
Miners Beach Falls , Pictured Rocks National LakeshoreThis little waterfall is hidden on the far East end of Lake Superior's Miners Beach.
Moving on from Wagner falls on M94 heading South and West you will find the little town of Chatham, MI, which is about 25 miles from Munising. Near Chatham, is Rock River Falls. This waterfall is hidden in the Rock River Wilderness Area. Getting to it involves driving on some old logging roads and then hiking a mile or so through the forest on some ‘not so well marked’ trails, but if you are looking for a back-country waterfall adventure, this one is for you. Also, Just a few miles West of Chatham, is Laughing Whitefish Falls. It’s another easily accessible waterfall and a beautiful area of the Rock River Wilderness.
Rock River Fallsit's quite an adventure getting to this remote waterfall located in the rock river wilderness, Hiawatha National Forest. We drove five miles in on an old two track , parked and walked additional 1.5 miles or so on an unmarked trail. I have been to dozens of waterfalls in Michigan, but this was our first time to this particular falls . This falls is not huge but is now on my top five favorite Michigan waterfall list. After I photographed the falls I climbed up in them and enjoyed a refreshing shower. It didn't look like anyone had been there in awhile.
Laughing Whitefish FallsBeautiful Autumn colors at Laughing Whitefish Falls.
Farther West in Upper Michigan near Paulding, Michigan, is Bond Falls. This one has it all. Easy to access, wheelchair accessible, and one of the most spectacular to see. Don’t forget to get some ice cream at the Paulding General Store, or maybe look for the “Paulding Lights”. People have reported seeing these mysterious lights for 40 years.
Bond Falls Paulding MichiganOne of the best waterfalls in the State of Michigan. Middle branch of the Ontonagan river, near Paulding.
High quality fine art prints
One more waterfall I will mention, that gets little attention, is Ocqueoc Falls near Onaway, Michigan. This is the only recognized waterfall in Michigan’s lower peninsula. You can hike the Ocqueoc Falls Pathway that starts here and runs along the river. Also at the falls area there is a picnic area with tables and grills. This area is also wheelchair accessible.
Ocqueoc FallsMarsh Marigolds blooming along the banks of the Ocqueoc River. Ocqueoc Falls is the only recognized waterfall in Michigan's lower peninsula.
I could go on and list many, many more waterfalls to see. I do highly recommend visiting my Michigan waterfalls gallery to see over a hundred photos my favorite shots taken over many years of travels. Thanks for taking the time to read this. If you have any questions about Michigan's waterfalls, or would like to leave a comment, please do that below. You can select public, or private. If you have a moment, please feel free to share this post via the social media share buttons provided.
Thank you very much!
-John
John McCormick is a lifelong Michigan resident and has been interested in Michigan Nature Photography for over 30 years. Michigan is a beautiful place to live and photographing that beauty is his absolute passion. To follow his recent work be sure to "like" his facebook page. To see all of his Michigan photo galleries, purchase prints, or to license an image, use the links at the top of this page.
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The end of the year is always a time for reflection and resolutions for the upcoming year. Some of my plans are the typical ones; eating healthier, getting more exercise, etc.. Then, there are the fun plans like buying new camera gear, finding new places to photograph, and meeting new people on the trail.
Reflecting upon 2016, I can say that it was a great year, and not just for the photography aspect. One other great part was my wife and I were blessed with a new granddaughter. We are very happy to be grandparents.
We continued our travels throughout Michigan discovering more adventure. New hiking trails, hidden waterfalls, dazzling northern lights and scenic Great Lakes shorelines. I very much want to thank everyone that has been so supportive of my photography on social media, and to those that have purchased my work, it has been greatly appreciated.
Below are several of my favorite shots from 2016.
Please feel free to share, and Have a Very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Okun-de-Kun-Falls - The Baltimore River near Bruce Crossing, MI.
Cool under water features in Lake Superior at Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore
Sunset from inside a Lake Superior cave near Munising, MI
Northern Lights dancing in the sky above Eagle Harbor Lighthouse, Keweenaw Peninsula.
Northern Lights at Brockway Mountain overlook, Upper Michigan's Keweenaw Peninsula.
Lake of the Clouds, Porcupine Mountains Wilderness
Hungarian Falls near Hubbell, MI.
Rainbow Falls, Black River Scenic Byway
Saint Patrick Parish, Parnell, MI
"Winter wonderland" Bond Falls near Paulding, MI
"Deer Tracks" Kitch-iti-Kipi Big Springs, near Manistique, MI.
"Seasons Collide" Early snowfall in rural Montcalm County, MI.
Thanks for taking the time to read my blog. See all of my Michigan photo galleries. If you have a moment, please feel free to share this post via the social media share buttons provided.
Thank you very much!
-John
John McCormick is a lifelong Michigan resident and has been interested in Michigan Nature Photography for over 30 years. Michigan is a beautiful place to live and photographing that beauty is his absolute passion. To follow his recent work be sure to "like" his Facebook page.
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