Little Garlic Falls
Compared to it’s big brother to the north the Little Garlic River does not have a large number of waterfalls, and the few that it holds are on the small side. What it does have, though, is the Elliot Donnelley Wilderness area that includes interesting sandstone riverbed, large pine trees, and Little Garlic Falls. The waterfall is a small, rocky slide near a large rock wall that empties into a deep pool.
Directions
Take County Road 510 north out of Marquette for about 12 miles, parking at the Elliot Donnelley Wilderness area just north of Little Garlic River. Follow the path upstream, about a 3 mile hike along a pretty little river. Alternatively you could drive just past the wilderness area and drive down Little Garlic Road, a dirt road that cross the river about 3/4 miles downstream of the falls, but the forest is well worth the longer visit.
Photographs
Visits
Seen in April.
The river made a sharp turn to the west and the little waterfall sprung into sight. And it was little, less than four feet in height. A steep rock outcropping on the river bank complicated access and with no easy way across I had to suffice with some distant views from across the lower pool. Maybe the Little Garlic, which drops close to 700' along its short length, only has this one drop on it. I didn't like that.
Comments
2 comments
A small but important correction...take County Road 550 north out of Marquette.
Spent my first year of college @ NMU during the 1981-82 school year. I can't REALLY say that I had ANY knowledge, NOR experience IN the U.P. before I applied to "Northern"!!! I only knew that I wanted to 'see' a part of this country I would otherwise have most likely missed COMPLETELY!!! And that I wanted to get far enough away from home to truly feel a sense of self-reliance that I would not have felt being close enough to 'home' to have it's 'influence' on my choices and actions. Spending about $5000 for the year at NMU (room and boarding included), was well worth it as I used to recall, "I would have paid that much for the 'experience', anyway!!!". Having been admitted 'on probation' as a result of my "1.9-GPA" out of High School, I did not fare much better during that year, but learned about 'life' AND 'The U.P of Michigan" which I NEVER would have hadd I not been accepted there. From the sharing of a room, (which being the only boy at home, with two older sister's, I always had my own room growing up), to being a 'self-determining' adult for the first time at age 18.
I wouldn't change a THING about the experience and have NEVER met another 'East-Coast' native that has experienced the U.P.!!! It has been a 'quiet mission' over the preceding 40+yyrs. to attract anyone to become interested enough to join me in na trip back to Marquette. I'll end up going alone at some point, I'm certain.
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