St Louis Falls
Plenty of deep little gorges line the northwest slope above Trap Rock River, formed by seasonal creeks flowing down the steep hillside. The larger (named) creeks have some truly impressive waterfalls, like Douglass Houghton and Queen Anne’s Falls. A small, unnamed creek that runs down from some swamps near Laurium forms the more humble St Louis Falls.
This waterfall, while smaller than its brethren along the slope, is still a pretty three-tiered waterfall above an old railroad grade. Each drop is about four feet tall within a deep, rocky valley still crumbling with newness around it. The creek is dry for most of the year, only running somewhat full during the spring melt. Also, there is an old car wreck about halfway down the gorge that makes an interesting side destination.
Directions
From the intersection of Lake Linden Avenue and US-41 (the first light out of Hancock on 41 that you run into in Laurium/Calumet) turn right towards Lake Linden for .9 miles. Turn left on Gas Plant Road, following it east for 1.6 miles to the old railroad grade (now an ATV trail). Park here and head left on the grade a short distance until it takes you over a deep creek gorge. Head down the gorge, preferably along the north bank, and head upstream to the falls.
The old rusty car will be right along your path. Another cool side destination sits a bit further down the grade and up a trail to the left. Within a wide open meadow with expansive views down to Trap Rock River Valley and beyond lies the decaying skeleton of an old street car.
Photographs
Visits
Seen in February, March and April.
- flowing quite a bit more than usual
This creek was flowing quite a bit more than usual. It's not a big one, a small watershed barely touching the outskirts of Laurium, so to see a decent flow that rivaled Quincy Creek was uplifting. This was the first time I had visited this one outside of snowy winter so I took some time at each drop. There are three altogether, though the bottom one is the most impressive and the top a more humble chute.
- flowing, though the water heavily tinted
The water wasn't deep and it was heavily tinted, but it was flowing. We turned a bend and saw two small waterfalls ahead under a shining sun. Jackpot. Both drops were still wearing thick mantles of snow around their tops and sides with just enough of their face showing to confirm that they were actual waterfalls; the bottom one was a plunging dome over rugged rocks that shot random little spurts out here and there, and about ten yards upstream was a more stepped drop that frothed down a four foot drop.
- hard, wet snow; no waterfall to find
Together we peered down into the woods. There would be no waterfall to find today, that was for sure. Tumbling down the hill was not as fun as it had been a month ago with Logan. The snow was hard and wet now, all chunks of hard and slush from the warm spells we've been having. Not everything was hidden down here. A few boulders stuck out, black rock against the white snow, and some trickles of water could be heard at the bottom of the gorge. And the old car wreck was starting to break free as well.
- snow up to the waist, drifts nearly to the chest
We soon hit the bottom and realized just what we had gotten ourselves into. The snow was easily up to waist in most places, with a few drifts threatening to pass my chest in height. After a long hundred yards or so I found what I was looking for. Ahead of me, just below a sharp bend and outcropping on the creek, was the sheer face of a frozen waterfall poking out from the snow. Unnamed and not marked on any maps, but the drops were here. I marked the location and planned to revisit in the spring.
Comments
4 comments
Is this the same creek that the Natural Wall is on?
No, I don't think so. I think the Natural Wall is further north up by Colony Road. Haven't been to the wall so I can confirm. It looks pretty interesting, though.
The Natural Wall is worth seeing at least once, it's quite the geological oddity.
Thanks for the heads up, Grant. I have no idea when/if I'll be up in that area again, having recently moved across the country, but hope that other visitors to this site and that area can venture over to the wall.
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