Canyon River Falls
One of Baraga County’s best-known tourist spots, Canyon River Falls is where the mighty Sturgeon River falls into a tight box canyon, then winds sharply back and forth between the layered slate walls, before pouring out into a swampy valley. A roadside park sits right of US-41 with a large parking lot and well-maintained paths along the river, over Bacco Creek, and to the main waterfall.
Beyond the maintained path another footpath springs up and makes its way further downstream. This path leads past two more defined drops, the first a narrow pour into a popular cliff-jumping spot and the lower (deceptively called Upper Falls) a long, split slide emptying out of the canyon into the swamp. The path is well traveled and easy to follow but is not maintained by the keepers of the park area.
Directions
10 miles south of L’Anse on US-41, the roadside park sits on the right side of the road just north of the bridge over Sturgeon River. Park at the park, which is open seasonally, and follow the crushed rock trail to the main waterfall. To get a better look you may need to have to climb down into the gorge onto some of the large, flat rocks parallel the river’s flow.
To view the rest of the canyon follow the footpath down the river beyond the viewing area. More drops sit deep in the box canyon, with Upper Falls far at the end where Sturgeon River empties out into a green, calm section of the river.
Photographs
Visits
Seen in April, June, July, August and December.
This was my fifth visit to this site and everything had that wonderfully familiar hue. The winds on the footpath were expected, the roots over the path to step over, and the bubbling Bacco Creek and how it curved away before flowing into the Sturgeon River all felt comfortable. Thanks to the lack of snow and my increased daring I was able to get a pretty cool angle on the main falls, too.
- snow and ice creeping in, mist icing the rocks
When I first saw the river I got a little worried, the snow and ice creeping in from the shoreline and masking most of the water. As we got closer to the falls my fears disappeared when I saw rising mist and heard the familiar roar of Canyon River Falls. Getting down to the viewing slab was difficult over the slick rocks; wet air generated by the plunging river coated layers of snow into ice, forcing me to crawl on all fours as I neared the waterfall.
Logan and I made quick time to the park, walking quickly down the path and bypassing several groups of visitors on the way in. While the small, excited puppy liked to make friends we were there to find Upper Falls, not wander around.
2 earlier visits
- swollen; over four inches of rain the night before
Canyon River Falls itself was a frothing mass of water hiding the layers of rock underneath in foam and mist. I could hear the river well before seeing it, pushing beyond its banks and rushing down the slate riverbed, and Bacco Creek was flooding the path in root beer-colored water.
- swollen waters
The main drop here is actually the beginning of a long canyon. Sturgeon River falls into a wide crack straight down the layers of slate, probably about ten feet down, before swerving right down the gorge and continuing downstream. Only side views of this drop are possible, as the opposite bank is almost an overhang and the river is tight against both edges of the canyon.
Comments
3 comments
There was a ridiculous amount of rain the night before - the ground was almost spongy.
Loved this falls and short hike. This is very serene and beautiful area. We continued downstream approx. another 1/3 mile (after the trail end) to view the higher canyon walls and tranquility of the river. I hope to return to enjoy this area again, when I can take the time to enjoy a picnic lunch. Gorgeous. Visited June 2019.
We tried this hike this past Friday (April 30, 2021), and we left speechless with the beauty and simplicity of this hike. You can def make it harder by scrambling the rocks! And we went way beyond the first fall, and followed the river- the rapids and topography are amazing. Can't wait to hike this in the summer and fall! We saw people with strollers, dogs, and picnics. All a choice on this lovely hike.
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