Forty-Foot Falls
Also known as Cliff Falls, this drop is a long, gentle cascade down a well-worn slab of granite nestled between huge cedars. The river breaks out in white foam on a few of the steeper pitches, but most of Forty-Foot Falls is more of a gentle slide than steep waterfall. A camping site sits right above the falls with a handy cedar bridge for crossing the deep, clear waters.
Directions
From Big Erick’s Bridge head east down Erick’s Road for 4 miles, turning left onto the Northwestern Road. Take this for 2.2 miles to a small, sandy area with relatively young pines stretching away to the right. Turn left here, driving past the Cliff Falls Hunting Club. After 1.5 miles bear right, staying with the river, and then park after an additional 1 mile. Park near the camping site and head downhill to the waterfall.
Photographs
Visits
Seen in April and July.
- snow around the falls
It was a relief to hear the falls next to the road, both as a break from the road and as an easy way to wash some of the heavy mud from our boots. After exploring Cliff Falls we sat around the upper camp and debated our options.
Forty-Foot Falls was an easy walk, sitting right next to the road, with a nice camping spot perched up by the crest. The waterfall was more a big slide than a dramatic tumble. I enjoyed climbing down the rocks, both on the banks and riverbed, and took pictures of each section individually.
Comments
7 comments
Nice photos of the falls and a good description. Looks like you were there fairly early in the season since there is still snow along the edge of the falls. I have owned that 320 acre parcel with Cliff Falls since 1991. The land is listed under Michigan's Commercial Forest Act and is therefore open to the general public for fishing and hunting. I plan to keep it open to all because the falls is a unique spot and so many have enjoyed it. I will be making some road improvements in the next year or two and will be doing a selective harvest on the area east of the river. Love your blog. Lots of good info and pics for anyone heading outdoors! I live in Champion, MI.
It's great to hear from you, Gary! I've always wondered who owned that land. Are you also part of the hunting club on that road too?
Thanks for reaching out, and much more importantly, thanks for keeping this land open for us all to enjoy! It is a very scenic area (and hopefully future visitors will respect that).
Four of us just got back from Big Bay..it was a challenge finding 40' Falls but worth it..thanks to Gary for keeping it open to public. We came up here from Morton Illinois and was a very nice long weekend.
The log foot bridge has been gone for a few years now. I plan to put in a new one, but I'm not sure when. Longyear just put a temporary bridge in near the north line of section 10 for access to harvest in section 3. It will be there for maybe 2 years. I will be improving the road into the falls this October (2016) from the Big Bay road down past the Cliff Falls Club camp and into the 40 Foot Falls. I will also be doing road work on the land east of the river in section 10. I will be marking the timber for a selective thinning and plan to harvest in 2017 or 2018. I am friends with the other land owners near the falls, but I am not any type of "club member". I'm more of a "loner"!
Oh, the foot bridge is gone? Must have been a strong melt to push it down (or maybe someone took it out on purpose. Is the old camp still set up? I wondered if people would continue to respect/use it appropriately.
Road work, eh? That's awesome! So many of these little side roads get so damaged once the logging companies are done. It was shocking to see how well some of the roads between Ives and Mountain were maintained, but I suppose that the HMC might be paying someone to upkeep those. Happy to hear what you're up to :)
Went for a visit yesterday. Since we had big storms the night before, I expected downed trees and washout (on Ford) but other than a couple of branches it was an easy drive in, and the sand was stable to drive on by Anderson Corner since it was still wet-ish and packed. Really an impressive falls, and you can drive right up to it! Not that I mind a good hike in! Appreciate your site and the fact that it still exists as a resource for all these great waterfalls.
Hi everyone, I'm one of the owners of the Cliff Falls Club, The camp that is on the way to the Forty Foot Falls.
When we are there stop in any time and chat, Gary is a great guy, he help us out more then once.
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