Queen Anne's Falls
Few people visit Queen Anne’s Falls, tucked away from the main tourist stops of the Copper Country . This tall cascade over blocky chunks of volcanic is unique to the Keweenaw and fits in more with the rugged drops of the Huron Mountains far to the south. The creek drains some large expanses of swamp around Copper City before pouring over this sudden waterfall, surrounded by thick woods, and then flowing gently down to Trap Rock River below.
Directions
Copper City is a small little town a few miles northeast of Calumet, just off the main drag of US-41. The main road is actually 3rd Street, which connects to the town to 41. Head down one block to 4th Street and park near Allouez Street, which is on the west side of town. A convenient utility pull off sits here with a few meters.
Near the parking area an unmarked dirt road with a narrow wire across loops below the town to the old dump. Follow the dirt road around the bottom of the field and take the ATV trail near the small piles of trash into the woods. This trail leads southeast through the woods into a small meadow. Bear right here to the far corner and cut through the woods. Slaughterhouse Creek is just beyond the treeline and the the falls a short distance downstream.
Photographs
Visits
Seen in February, April and November.
- the creek overflowing
The creek was overflowing. Excited I headed downstream, knowing that the main waterfall was going to look spectacular. The crest of the waterfalls reminded me of just how jagged the rocks next to Queen Anne's Falls was, and there was still a lot of snow along the river, so I looped far to the east before easing down the river banks. When I reached the base of the falls I looked up and wonder. The cool mist raised by the roar rushed forward at me and coated my glasses. This, this was worth it.
- frozen, under a crunchy crust
Reaching the meadow above the falls was easy. Getting to the top of the frozen waterfall was not. The snow was a bit crunchy on top from recent warm days and every time I broke through my shins bruised against that layer. And I broke through with every step. By the time I reached the top of Queen Anne's Falls they were crying in protest. I quickly saved the coordinate and retraced my footsteps.
- snow piled over the rocks
Queen Anne's Falls was an interesting set of drops, sliding and plunging around the fractured blocks, peeping out from behind the snow in a mad dash downstream. A convenient bend in the creek below the waterfall let me look back and get some decent angles; the piles of snow and structure of the rock made it hard to see the entire feature, though it was still a pleasant winter sight. While this drop is not on many tourist lists and is a bit hard to reach, Queen Anne's Falls was definitely one of Keweenaw's best waterfalls.
Comments
9 comments
Visited here today. On the way there got confused about the ATV trail so from the dump just bush wacked to the creek and generally followed it downstream (not recommended as lots of tag alder to go through). Once we got to the falls and explored a bit, we found an ATV just to the east of the falls and decided to follow it and see where it got us. While the trail does head out towards Haltunen Rd., it eventually comes out in the meadow you describe. So if a person wanted to, they could follow that same ATV trail the entire way from the dump to the falls.
*ATV trail that is, -east of the falls
Hi Shane, thanks for the extra info! Yes, I've bushwhacked in before too, had a lot of trouble near the upstream beaver dam. Got more than a little muddy back there. Glad you ended up finding the falls.
Actually, the clearing Jacob speaks of is a bit northwest of the dump on Haltunen. I do think following the trail to the right of the gate to the dump Shane speaks of is the shortest and easiest route(it is marked private, but you will be off that property in 30 seconds). I believe the original directions are a bit off, from the utility area, the path heads southEAST into the woods.
Thanks Mark - I've changed it the directions to southeast.
The clearing I referenced is at the end of the path, right before the falls. There is that large one outside of town, the one that almost looks like an old baseball field with a bit of imagination, though I don't know near enough history of this town to claim that for sure.
Shane is correct though, the atv trail from the dump leads right to the falls. Only problem is technically starting out on private property, although all paths probably cross private property that just is not posted as such....
The falls is on private property. You are not allowed access.
Can also approach Queen Anne's from the west. Park along 3rd street(aka Allouez-Copper City Rd) just west of town where the atv trail crosses. Follow the atv trail south past the large pond on the left. There will be an obvious side trail(not a two track, decent dirt road)that splits off to the left(all other side roads go right). follow it southeast to the creek and falls. There are side trails but keep yourself heading southeast. Advantage of this route is when you get back to atv trail, continue south a bit further until the trail crosses Scales Creek and scramble down on the left side and find Scales Creek Falls, a nice 18-20 foot straight drop falls with numerous 2 foot drops below it. And you though Queen Anne's was little known....
Thanks for tip about Scales Creek Falls, Mark! Wish I had seen this post before I visited Queen Anne's Falls Sep 29, '17, the flow was better then.
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