Tahquamenon Falls Opens New, Accessible Boardwalk to One of Michigan’s Most Breathtaking Views

I have never been to Tahquamenon Falls in person, but I have seen enough photos to understand why it is considered one of Michigan’s most breathtaking natural landmarks. The wide amber-colored water, the sheer power of the falls, and the surrounding forest in the heart of the Upper Peninsula make it feel almost unreal.

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Now, visiting that iconic spot just got a lot easier for more people.

A New Way to Experience the Upper Falls

A new 1,100-foot accessible boardwalk has officially opened at Tahquamenon Falls State Park, creating a fully accessible route to the brink of the Upper Falls for the first time.

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For years, reaching the main viewing platform meant navigating a steep 94-step staircase, putting the closest view of the waterfalls out of reach for many visitors using wheelchairs or other mobility devices.

That's no longer the case.

A Boardwalk Designed to Reveal the View

The new boardwalk replaces the staircase with a gradual, winding path through the forest, offering a more inclusive way to experience one of Michigan’s most visited natural attractions.

Along the route, visitors will find benches, interpretive signs, and multiple overlooks that reveal new perspectives of the river as it drops roughly 50 feet over the falls.

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Never-Before-Seen Views of a Michigan Waterfall

It is a longer walk than before, but it is also far more accessible and, in many ways, more immersive. The route moves through old-growth forest and opens up views that were not possible with the previous design. Visitors also have access to the park's wheelchairs and track chairs.

“With the Lower Falls boardwalk extension and island bridge project completed in 2021, and this new walkway at the Upper Falls brink, both the Lower Falls and Upper Falls are fully accessible for our visitors,” said Kristen Kosick, chief of the DNR Parks and Recreation Division.

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The project took nearly two years to complete and cost about $1.6 million, funded through a mix of state and federal dollars aimed at improving park infrastructure across Michigan.

For Many, a First-Time Look at the Brink

One of the most emotional moments from the recent ribbon-cutting came from visitors who had not been able to reach the falls in decades. 62-year-old Missy Davert, who uses a wheelchair, said she had not been down to the brink since she was a child when her father carried her.

“I thought I’d never come back down here again,” she said while sitting at the brink with her husband Ken, who also uses a wheelchair. “This is one of my most favorite places in the world. This feels like heaven. I’m just so grateful. There are no words.”