Wright Street Falls

volcanic rapids along Wright Street

Downstream of Forestville Dam the Dead River begins to calm down. It has a short distance to travel east to Lake Superior with one last (relatively shallow) reservoir to pass through. Before it retires, though, there is one more jagged drop over red and black volcanic rock to flow over, a tough cascade that flows next to Wright Street. This waterfall consists of a jagged set of rapids that flows under a penstock and bridge, dropping close to a dozen feet in all, and then the Dead River enters the Tourist Park area.

Directions

From US-41 in Marquette (near Target and the mall) head up Wright Street for 1.5 miles, or when the road levels out. Park on the left side of the road near a gated bridge with an angry yellow sign nearby. Cross over the bridge and follow the river to the left towards the penstock’s crossing for the main falls. Some smaller falls sit underneath the bridge.

Photographs

Visits

Seen in November.

November 14, 2008 much of the river diverted to generate power
Starting just on the other side of the penstock, tumbling over the jagged rocks, was a pretty but small set of cascades; if you add up the entire half of the upper drops there might be 10 or so feet of vertical. I expected more out of the Dead River, the river with so much distance to drop. Much of the river here was being diverted to generate power, and I suspect that much of the exposed rock would have been covered if they let it all downriver.