Falls River Kayaking Guide

The Falls River is an approximately 5.1-mile river in Baraga County, in Michigan's western Upper Peninsula. Federal geographic records describe it plainly: the stream heads at the junction of Ogemaw and Burns creeks and flows north to L'Anse Bay on Lake Superior, just west of the town of L'Anse.

Its name is the whole story for paddlers. The Falls River drops through a series of waterfalls on its short run to the bay — Lower Falls, Middle Falls, an unnamed drop near the US-41 crossing, and Power House Falls, reported at roughly 15 feet high and 40 feet wide. A USGS gaging station sits at the US-41 crossing (46.75160, -88.45235), confirming the river's small drainage of under 50 square miles.

This is a waterfall river, not a paddling route. No float trip, mileage, or launch is documented for the Falls River, and the sequence of drops rules out any ordinary through-paddle. Visit for the falls — there is public trail access and parking near US-41 — and admire the river from the banks.

Paddling the Falls River

Not a paddling river — a waterfall destination

There is no documented paddling route on the Falls River, and its series of waterfalls — including the roughly 15-foot Power House Falls — makes a through-paddle impossible for ordinary paddlers. The established recreation here is waterfall viewing: public trail access and parking near the US-41 crossing put visitors alongside the drops. At the river's mouth, L'Anse Bay is Lake Superior water, requiring full big-water preparation and never to be treated as an extension of a river trip.

Hazards & Portages

The waterfalls are absolute hazards — never approach the brink of a falls in a paddlecraft, and do not attempt to portage around drops without a known safe route (none is documented). The river's small drainage also means flows can swing quickly with rain. At L'Anse Bay, Lake Superior's cold water, wind, and waves are the dangers.

Access & Parking

Public trail access and parking near the US-41 crossing (46.75160, -88.45235) serve waterfall viewers — these are hiking access points, not kayak launches. No paddling put-in is documented for the Falls River.

Map

Reference point only — the marker shows the approximate location of the Falls River near L'Anse. No paddling launch is documented here.