Laughing Whitefish Falls

The Upper Peninsula is home to waterfalls; many waterfalls in fact. Unofficially, there are as many as 300 different waterfalls peninsula-wide. Some are small and off the beaten-path, while others are large and impressive. Out of the entire state of Michigan, all but one waterfall is located in the U.P. Honestly, how amazing is that? It's just one more thing that makes the Upper Peninsula all the more special.

While growing up in Alger County, I was close by to many of Upper Michigan's most spectacular waterfalls. One of them is the Laughing Whitefish Falls in western Alger County, near the community of Sundell. It is located along the Laughing Whitefish River and provides for spectacular picture-taking opportunities. For those wishing to view this particular falls, if you're traveling along M-94 in western Alger County, watch for the large brown signs pointing you in the right direction. You'll then travel along North Sundell Road for approximately five to ten miles until you reach the end of the paved portion of roadway. Continue traveling straight on the now gravel section of road until you see the entry sign to the Laughing Whitefish Falls. You'll travel a bit more until you reach the parking area to the falls.

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources has gradually improved the area around the trailhead to the falls over the years. The trail itself has also been greatly improved, with a firmer gravel surface and better bridges going across small streams and rivers. The trail is approximately a mile to the top view of the falls. From the top view, you can view the river as it gradually meanders to the edge of the river before it transcends down a steep ledge. It also provides a great view of the Laughing Whitefish Falls Valley, which is a great spot to view fall colors when they're at peak conditions.

The view from the bottom of the falls is just as fascinating as from the top. After a heavy rainfall or the spring runoff, the falls can be rushing downwards into the river valley. The viewing platform at the bottom does not provide for a lot of room if you have a big crowd, so one group could check out the bottom view of the falls while the other group takes a peak at the top. The stairway from the top of the falls to the bottom is comprised of many steps. There are benches and platforms along the way to take a breather if you need one. All in all, the Laughing Whitefish Falls is only one of the U.P.'s most spectacular waterfalls. If you're in the area of Western Alger County, be sure and check it out.