By Cliff Locke
For Part 2, click here.
The drive along M-28 is an awesome journey and stretches from one side of the Upper Peninsula to the other. I can see the remnants of old homesteads and towns that once were, but now they are just a bump in the road. I am heading to Sable Falls not far from Lake Superior, I have heard this is one of the best waterfalls in the entire area. As I drive to the falls, I think about what the locals do in the winter when they can get as much as 151 inches of average snowfall in a single season.
As I reach my destination and walk the well-marked path, I can hear the roaring of the falls. The water is tumbling over the huge rocks and cascading down, making its way to Lake Superior.
I stand in awe of what is truly a spectacular sight, it was well worth taking the time to find it!
As I make my way to Munising, I drive through the small town of Seney and decide to visit Seney National Wildlife Refuge. Much of this refuge was built by the Michigan Civilian Conservation Corps during the 1930s. It is abundant with all types of wildlife; happily still in their natural habitat.
Arriving in Munising, I book a boat tour for the Pictured Rocks. Seeing the limestone rock formations is an awesome sight. I discover that they were all made from the erosion of the waves. I watch as kayakers make their way into caves from Spray Falls that seem to come from nowhere, falling into the lake.
There are many waterfalls in this area and I can hardly wait to explore all of them. Now back in town, I head to Munising Falls. The walk is very easy and there are many spots to stop and take gorgeous pictures. As I walk the path, I notice three deer crossing ahead of me. I just stand and watch as they meander across the path without a care in the world. You would never know that I am only about a mile from town. I continue to walk and there it is, what I was there for; Munising Falls. The waterfall itself is not as mighty as the other falls in the area, but it is still an amazing and awe-inspiring sight. It drops 50 feet and as I get closer, I can see that it is possible to walk behind it! It is like I am in another world.
As I walk back to my car, I am hopeful that Miner’s Falls will be just as great. I can’t wait to get there. Walking through the forest, I imagine Native Americans walking this same path on their way to see this wonder. What did they think about it? As I get closer, I can hear the thunderous cascading water, dropping 40 feet over the limestone cliff. I stand there admiring this mighty waterfall, feeling the mist on my face.
The past couple of days chasing these Michigan waterfalls has been an experience that you have to see to believe. Nature is so beautiful! So awesome! So magnificent! I think we all get caught up in our lives and we forget to notice the small things in life. Things that cost us nothing but enrich our lives so much.
