Duppy Falls

set of three drops in the hills of Iron County

Duppy Fall is a set of three small drops in a quick row right before Jumbo River flows out of Iron County. Each drop is over tough, weathered volcanic rock nestled between steep rounded hills. The river drains out of a swampy section upstream before flowing over this and Jumbo Falls, a few miles downstream, and then meets up with East Branch Ontonagon River.

Directions

Take NF-16 south from Kenton for about 5.1 miles. There will be two dirt drives on the right, one after another, that form a small loop off the road. The second, southern, entrance is easier to drive down, though both are seasonal and steep. Take either one down (or park and walk from the road) for a few hundred yards to a large clearing. A path leads west from here, over Slate Creek, to Jumbo River. All three waterfalls are upstream on the river.

Photographs

Visits

Seen in April and November.

April 27, 2009
The break led to a small footpath that crossed Slate Creek and wandered through a patch of tag alders on the other side. Slate Creek, that's what got me so confused on the last visit; I didn't realize that there was a creek to cross before Jumbo River. This waterfall was wide and solid, pouring down the solid rock slabs, with almost no valley to speak of. It was still surprising to see how shallow the river valley was. I stood on the forest floor next to the water mere inches above the frothing surface.
November 9, 2008
Once I reached the bottom of the hill, at a small parking clearing that seemed like the right place, I looked around for trails. The directions I was following had mentioned an obvious trail leading west from here to the river. There were a few small trails, none of which were 'obvious'. We tried two before finding a small, trickling creek surrounded by thick brush; I didn't realize at the time that the trail continued past here to the larger creek and falls.