Konteka Falls
Sitting a short distance above the more famous O Kun de Kun Falls is a smaller waterfall on the creamy brown Baltimore River. Known as the Creamy Peanut Butter Slide by kayakers, this low but distinctive drop sits right along the North Country Trail and makes for a great side destination from the more famous area downstream. Konteka and O Kun de Kun are two spellings of one name, that of an Ojibwe chief in the Ontonagon area who lived from about 1760 to 1859, so the two waterfalls are named for the same man.
Directions
A trailhead and parking area sit on the east side of US-45, 7.8 miles north of Bruce Crossing (or just past Burma Road). Some brown signs for the North Country Trail are on either side of the trailhead. From the parking area a short gravel spur leads straight onto the North Country Trail; turn east and follow it to the Baltimore River. The falls are where the trail first dips down the river bank, a short steep scramble below the tread. Skip the gated forest road that also leaves the lot: it is not maintained for hikers, and the trail chapter asks that people stay off it. After visiting Konteka Falls you should continue down the trail to O Kun de Kun Falls.
Photographs
Visits
Seen in March, June and November.
- masked by snow
Snow masked the upper waterfall. I ventured off trail briefly, getting close to where I guessed it was, and was rewarded with waist-deep snow and only an approximate coordinate.
- thick wet snow
It was difficult to make out the path through the thick snow, though simply heading upstream took us to the falls easily enough. They were pretty yet small after O Kun de Kun and we headed back.
Konteka Falls was more of an abrupt plunge over a slab of sandstone than a slide. The river was clear with a smooth, brown bottom, and I can easily imagine how the spring melt could stir all this up and give the water a light brown hue, which could explain why kayakers call this upper drop Creamy Peanut Butter Slide.
Comments
4 comments
who in the world told you this was peanut butter falls????
This is Konteka Falls! named after the O Kun de Kun chief! walk a short distance past Konteka Falls and you come to O Kun de Kun Falls and the huge suspension bridge across the Baltimore river there.
This trail is on the North Country Trail.
Connie Julien, President PWC of the NCT
Hi Connie - oh snap! I picked up this name from a white water site. Konteka Falls is a much more beautiful name. I'll make a note to update this. Thanks!
This is the Konteka Falls, another name for O Kun de Kun, a Native American local Chief.
The best way to get to this falls is right from the parking area Trailhead for the North County Trail, get on the North Country Trail immediately from the parking area and follow the beautiful NCT with a number of boardwalks, to both these falls and on to the huge suspension bridge over the Baltimore River to continue eastbound on the North Country Trail. (Don't walk on the gated Forest road from the parking area, that FR is not maintained for hikers and can have waist high grass on it! ) Connie Julien, president of the PWC of the NCTA at this location
Nice you have the Konteka Falls listed here.
The route to the falls is incorrect.
Right from the improved trailhead off US45 for O Kun de Kun Falls is a short gravel base spur trail that goes to the North Country Trail, turn east on the NCT and follow the nice NCT all the way to the Konteka Falls which are a short steep climb down from the trail to the falls. The continue to follow the NCT to the higher O Kun de Kun Falls and the huge Suspension Bridge over the Baltimore River that has a great view of the O Kun de Kun Falls.
These Falls were named for Chief O Kun de Kun, aka Konteka (ca. 1760 - 1859), who was an Ojibwa Chief in the Ontonagon area.
Thanks, Connie Julien, President, PWC of the North Country Trail (we maintain this trail to the falls)
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