Returning to Tahquamenon Falls State Park from Whitefish Point, we found a crowded parking lot at the Upper Falls. Luckily, an area was reserved for people camping at the park and we fit perfectly.
We arrived just in time to join a ranger-led tour. She was a tree enthusiast and pointed out a 400 year old Eastern Hemlock. A very slow growing tree, we could still get our arms around it. As usual, we learned far more following a ranger than we would have on our own.
A rainy spring and summer was good for waterfall lovers. Usually only flowing at 2,000 gallons per second, the flow was over 10,000 today! That compares to 30,000 peak flow in the Spring. She also talked a little about what loggers did in the area, including unsuccessfully dynamiting the Upper Falls to make it easier to float trees down the river. These are the second largest Falls East of the Mississippi by volume of water. Tanins in the water make it red and earned the nickname of “root beer falls.”
A short drive away, the Lower Falls were interesting, but not as high. An easy hike on a section of the “North Country Scenic Trail” took us past five sets of Falls along with lots of people enjoying the cool water.
We moved to the River Mouth campground, site 37, tonight.
Wanted to be closer to the open skies over the Lake. We’re going to stay up until after dark hoping to see the northern lights. Last night was supposed to be the best, but we’ll try anyway.
Like one would suspect from the name, there is a view of the mouth of the river as it winds into Lake Superior.
Cooked dinner at Whitefish Bay, across the road from the campground for a water view. We can see Lakers in the distance as they head towards the locks in Sioux Saint Marie.
Our bug bites from Virginia are finally healing. Hope we don’t get too many new ones tonight.
Beth waiting patiently for the sunset.
The sky was red looking back over the park.
Okay, it is after eleven o’clock and the sky still isn’t dark enough to see stars. The birds are finally heading in to roost, and we will do the same.
Learned in the morning that we had made the right call for last night. The Northern Lights hadn’t made an appearance even after the sky reached full darkness.