Lower Gratiot River Falls
The Gratiot River starts in the middle of a dense forest near Phoenix and runs over 13 miles through the Keweenaw Peninsula before meandering into Lake Superior. Before making it to the big lake, water must first endure a number of rapids, waterfalls, and bends. One of those falls is Lower Gratiot River Falls, which is located a short hike from Bumbletown Road on the way to Gratiot River County Park.
The falls aren’t the largest or loudest in the Keweenaw Peninsula; however, they’re rarely crowded and worth visiting. To get to the waterfall, travel roughly 1.8 miles up Bumbletown Road from its intersection with Gratiot River Shortcut Road. There’s a two-track on the right, which you might be able to tackle depending on your vehicle, but the walk from the main road isn’t far. There’s a small parking area further up if your car could make it, and it’s an even shorter walk from there.
There are plenty of places to sit on the grass, rocks, or beach gravel to enjoy the falls. In the spring, the bugs are a nuisance but bearable.
At the time of writing, this section of the Gratiot River is a Type 1 Trout Stream. This means it’s open year-round for fishing, but there are some regulations on when and how large fish have to be to keep them, so be sure to check the rules before wetting your line. I wasn’t able to land a fish here, but I had a few bites, which I’d imagine were small trout or a pesky creek chub.
Lower Gratiot River Falls is a worthy adventure for anyone looking to check another waterfall off their list, try to catch a trout, or enjoy the serenity of nature in the Keweenaw Peninsula.
For more falls in the area, check out our Waterfall Guide.
