Cliff Falls
(AKA 40-Foot Falls)


 

Water Source
 
Location
12 miles west of Big Bay, Marquette County, Michigan
Size
40 foot drop in several stages
 
Directions
1. From Marquette
A. Go north on Wright Street on the north edge of Northern Michigan University in Marquette continue north on Sugar Loaf Avenue/Co. Rd. 550 for about 24.4 miles to Co. Rd. 510 (about 2.5 miles before Big Bay). Turn left (south) onto Co. Rd. 510 and go about 3 miles to Triple A Road, shortly after Co. Rd. makes a sharp left. Turn right (west) onto Triple A Road and follow it for 13.3 miles to Ford Road just before triple A Road turns sharply left (south). Turn right (north) onto Ford Road (there was a small sign with "Big Erics Bridge-Huron Bay Tavern"). Ford Road is a fairly wide- sandy 2-track road. Go on Ford Road about 4.5 miles to the trail road to Cliff Falls on the right.
 
B. Turn right onto the trail road (there will be a other trail road heading left back to the main road) and go .5 miles past a small building on the right. Continue another .4 miles past a cabin on the right with a sign reading "Cliff Falls Hunting Club". Continue another .3 miles to a beaver pond on the left. Just beyond the beaver pond the road forks - take the right fork about .9 miles to the top of a hill and a foot trail on the right. (Please note: these directions are old and some of the markers may no longer be there.)
 
2. From Baraga
A. From US 41 in L'Anse, take Broad Street to Skanee Road (Main Street) then go east out of L'Anse on Skanee Road about 18.5 miles to a fork in the road. The right fork is Eric Road, the left fork is Portice Road. Take the right fork, Eric Road past Big Eric's Bridge State Campground at 1.1 miles and continue straight ahead across the bridge and follow the main road (Big Bay Road) about 6.7 miles to a trail road on the left.
 
B. Then follow part B from the directions above, except you turn left onto the trail road instead of right.
Trail
There is a foot trail from the top of the hill on the right down the hill about 75 feet to the river at the top of the falls.
 
Other Information
I was at Cliff Falls on 12 October, 1992, on 12 October, 1998.
 

Return to Waterfalls in Marquette County I

Home Frogs Waterfalls Little Lulu Grandson Ryan

  Page last updated 22 Jul 2006.
Email comments to
dmmaki@MichelesWorld.net