Munising Falls in Michigan Allows Nature’s Beauty to Freeze in Time

There may be no place in Michigan that's more beautiful than Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore (yes, I feel your hard stare, Sleeping Bear Dunes). Famous for sea caves, sweeping beaches, a dramatic shoreline, and gorgeous Northwoods scenery, there is much to appreciate at this unit of the National Park Service, including a stretch of the North Country National Scenic Trail.

The jumping off point for all of this is the charming Upper Peninsula town of Munising, where you'll find the park's headquarters, its best-known beach, and a gorgeous waterfall. In fact, Munising Falls is one of my favorite spots at Pictured Rocks and, if you ask me, one of the best times to visit is winter. When the temperatures dip low enough, this dramatic frozen waterfall in Michigan appears to freeze in time. Believe me, you've got to see it for yourself.

You'll find the Munising Falls Visitor Center just minutes from the center of town. It's open year-round and is the starting point for the short -- less than half a mile out and back -- and easy hike to the falls.

Although the trail is short and sweet, the Upper Peninsula is one of the snowiest places in the Lower 48, so wintertime visitors should expect a bit of a slog. Snowshoes are not a bad idea. The last time I visited, much of the snow had melted -- the gorge does receive a good amount of direct sun -- but parts of the trail were quite slippery with compacted snow and ice. I was glad to have my Yaktrax with me; when you go, I would definitely recommend bringing some kind of traction device, as well.

The waterfall is formed at the point where Munising Creek tumbles 50 feet over a sandstone cliff on its way to Lake Superior. In the winter, the falls seem to freeze from the bottom up, with the creek pouring into a cone of ice that grows taller as weather gets colder.

Eventually, the cascade itself begins to freeze, and stalactites of ice form, reaching down until they meet the ice volcano below. This incredible ice formation is one of my favorite winter sights in the Great Lakes State.

Have you visited this incredible frozen waterfall in Michigan? Note that park passes are required to visit Pictured Rocks. You can pick up an annual America the Beautiful Pass, or you can purchase a day pass at the visitor center. Check out the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore page on the NPS website for more information. And then check out Only In Your State's new Travel Planner to discover your next Michigan Adventure.