Guide to Hiking Laughing Whitefish Falls - Waterfalls in Upper Michigan
An Incredible Waterfall and Hiking Trail Near Marquette, Michigan.
If you are looking for waterfalls in the upper peninsula of Michigan or a fun day trip from Green Bay, Wisconsin, Laughing Whitefish Falls will not disappoint. I feel like I say that all the time with all of these locations, but it's so true. Every place I share here is something I think is worth visiting and curated for their own reasons. I feel like the structure of these falls are really unique to the Midwest. Laughing Whitefish Falls is one of the tallest falls in the upper peninsula and is technically classified as a slide waterfall. It is 100ft from top to bottom. And to be honest, the photos of this place don't do it justice.
I remember running across this location when spotting a post on Instagram. I'm the kind of person that when I see a location on Instagram, I immediately add it to my google maps saved locations called "Want to Go" within the mobile app. It's a great function to have handy if you're ever traveling and forget about places to check out when you're traveling or need some inspiration for a road trip.
Let's jump into all the facts about this place so you can hit the road and visit for yourself!
View from staircase at Laughing Whitefish Falls in May 2018
Directions to Laughing Whitefish Falls
These falls are located just 30 minutes outside of Marquette, MI within Laughing Whitefish Falls State Park. It's not that far off of highway 41 and just north of highway 94. Most of the roads are well maintained until you get close to the park entrance. It turns into mostly gravel and hard clay/dirt road, but no one should have any problems accessing the park. It's also only a 30 minute drive from Munising, where the Pictured Rocks are located. So it's a nice stop if you're doing a UP road trip.
Parking at Laughing Whitefish Falls.
The parking area is a simple driving loop lined by woods and a few large boulders. After a rainfall, it could be muddy, so be prepared with the right footwear. Be courteous and park along the edges so others can find a place to park. We were the only ones at the falls the entire time we were there in the middle of May, so I wouldn't get too worried about it being busy.
Restrooms Near the Parking Area
There is one outhouse that is easily accessible near the parking area and well maintained by the state parks department. It is not heated and does not have running water. In the summer you also have access to a manual well pump to access ground water.
The best time of year to visit Laughing Whitefish Falls
I've only been here twice. My first time was in the middle of May 2018 and my second time was in early July of 2018. Based on my experience and from what I've researched, the springtime is your best bet to catch these falls at their full viewing potential. That's mostly because of the massive snow melts that the area provides. You might be able to catch some higher volumes of water pushing through the falls after a heavy rainfall though. In the middle of summer, the green canopy from the trees and ferns along the forest floor create a beautiful environment though. I'm really interested to view this area in the all as well. The falls may be slow, but the hike in would be beautiful with autumn colors.
How accessible are the views at Laughing Whitefish Falls?
I would plan to spend 2 hours here if you want to take your time and enjoy the scenery. Once you leave the parking lot, it's only a 0.6 mile hike to the top of the waterfall. For the most part the trail is flat with some moderate declines and inclines. While I would like to say that the views are very accessible for everyone with the incredible viewing deck and awesome staircase to the bottom, unfortunately it wouldn't be easy or possible for someone with a walking disability or wheelchair to access the top viewing deck. And even if they got there, it's a lot of steps to the bottom.
(Note - When I visited here for the second time in July 2018 they had the stairs closed off for reconstruction. I would Imagine that by now that all the decks and stairs are fully replaced and look amazing.)
There are three viewing decks. One at the top, one right by the first fall drop, and then at the bottom of the slide section of the falls. As the trees and leaves grow in through the summer, the views of the falls along the stairs may become more difficult to see as you make your way down. Keep in mind that going down the steps is easy. Coming back up, is another story for some people. I could see it being problematic for small children or the elderly. It's a lot of steps!
Top Viewing Deck - The view from here is where your experience of Laughing Whitefish Falls begins. It takes your breath away. I couldn't believe how high up you are from the bottom of the falls. Rails are very safe and you can get some pretty cool shots from there. Cool to see the water falling right past you.
Middle Viewing Deck - This is the first deck once you make your way down the stairs. You'll notice that it is probably about 10 degrees cooler since you are in the shade, close to the mist of the falls, and near the cliffside. It's a really cool view of the falls right on the side of them. Again, very safe and stable railing.
Bottom Viewing Deck - Way at the bottom, it's kind of a small but decent viewing spot. Little benches are there as well to take a break if needed. The best view here is when you hop onto the shoreline to look right up the falls. You can climb up and over the railing to get to the shoreline. Be careful getting down, it's about a 3-4 foot drop down. So you might need to give a friend a hand to get up or down from the deck. The shoreline is fairly accessible, and if you wanted to, you could walk into the water because it is fairly shallow.
Best time of day and places to take photos at Laughing Whitefish Falls.
Both times that I have been here have been around noon or so and that is probably the worst time to get photos here. I would shoot in the early morning or a few hours before sunset to get the best light. Shooting from the top of the falls can be difficult unless you are at the top viewing deck since the sun will be behind you, but that top deck is a great spot for a group portrait with tall landscape behind you. Otherwise, my favorite spots to shoot are from the middle viewing deck or from the bottom of the falls. Beware though, in the middle of a bright sunny day it can be tough to shoot since the white water becomes so bright from all that sunshine!
Bring a wide lens. It's really hard to capture the whole thing if you're running around with a zoom, 35mm or a 50mm. But it doesn't mean you can't capture cool photos with any other lenses.
Recommended Footwear
You can get away with wearing athletic shoes or old sneakers when you visit. If you're looking to climb around the falls, a good pair of hiking shoes or hiking sandals will be your best bet. Trails are in pretty good shape, so you'll be good if you ended up just bringing a pair of sandals or flats.
Rest areas and stops along the trail
As you make your way towards the falls, you will come across benches every so often. This is great if you bring along grandparents or anyone with physical issues to take a rest before reaching the viewing deck of the falls. Their also just good spots to bond and talk about nothing with a friend or loved one.
Hiking with kids at Laughing Whitefish Falls
I think this is a super cool place to bring kids to. The viewing decks allow anyone of any size safely view the falls from the top to the bottom. If you have little ones that like to run around, just make sure you keep an eye on them. The area around the falls has potential to be dangerous if they try to climb a railing or try to swim above the falls. I would also be careful if you head to the bottom and try to climb along the slide of the falls. I'm sure it can be slipper and I would hate to see someone fall. Even an adult.
Dogs are allowed, but must be on a leash
It appears that this park is specifically managed by Indian Lake State Park, so you will need to make sure your dog is on a leash, even if you arrive and no one is around. Most state parks require dogs to be leashed, so just be kind and preventative of any issues in case other dogs arrive or the DNR shows up and asks you to leash your dog.
Swimming (Not Really Possible)
The river is pretty shallow. You could try to wade in the water at the bottom of the falls, but it's really rocky. Not really a place where you want
Camping at Laughing Whitefish Falls (Not Allowed)
Unfortunately you are not allowed to camp overnight on this specific property. I'm sure there are plenty of other camping areas not for from this location though.
Fishing on the Whitefish River
While I have not gone fishing there myself, I can only imagine that you could catch steelhead and brook trout along the river. I can't seem to find much more information on fishing this specific river. If you're in the area, I would ask local sportsmen or fishing shops what they know about the area.
Connected to the North Country Trail System
When I came here in the spring, the route for the North Country Trail was flooded with water from the spring melt. By July it was dry and in good condition. I did not have time to hike this trail within this area, but I want to definitely explore it when I come back next time. About halfway through the falls you will see this sign you see pictured above no your left. It runs 1.35 miles along the river. So it would be a about a 3 mile hike if you take it to the end of the park and back to the parking lot. I'm not 100% certain on the terrain, but I will update this post when I finally explore it.
The history and geology of Laughing Whitefish Falls.
I love the history of places. I've been doing some digging online, and I can't seem to find much about this location's history beyond the info you find on location, but here is what Wikipedia had to say about the formation of the area:
"Laughing Whitefish Falls is formed by an abrupt limestone escarpment of the Laughing Whitefish River, which flows northward into Lake Superior. The escarpment is shaped so as to draw out the cascade into an unusual fan-shaped wall of water. The falls is located within the Escanaba River State Forest. Foot trails connect the falls to the North Country Trail, which runs through the north end of the park."
When you arrive at the parking lot there is an awesome sign to get you up to speed on the trail system, how to get to the falls, and quick history lesson of the area. Here is what the sign says:
Laughing Whitefish Falls Scenic Site was established in 1965 thanks to a donation from the Celotex Corporation of 100 acres, including the 100 foot waterfall. Additional land was acquired through the years by exchanges and purchases bringing the park total to 960 acres.
In 1976, 360 acres within the site were dedicated by the State of Michigan Legislature as a Natural Area under the Michigan Wilderness site by permanently protecting the site's magnificent sandstone outcroppings, ancient forests, and impressive plant diversity.
Respecting the area and preventing invasive species
Just like when you visit any other state park or spend time in nature, please try leave it cleaner than you found it. If you bring snacks or drinks with you, please utilize trash bins when accessible. From what I recall there was a small trash can in the bathroom and there may have been one near the parking lot, but you might not be able to count on it.
Using refillable water bottles or reusable food containers is a great way to prevent garbage collecting with you on your trips! The less single use plastic we have in our lives, the better!
Near the parking area, at the beginning of the trail, you will find a boot brush and this sign to remind you to clean your shoes to prevent invasive species from spreading and causing problems. So be kind and wipe your boots! You can help make a difference in small ways like this.
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