Popular Michigan Waterfall Trail Shut Down After Storm Damage
Heavy rain and melting snow have caused major damage to a trail leading to one of Michigan’s favorite waterfalls. About 75 feet of the Munising Falls trail at Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore collapsed on April 28, making the waterfall completely inaccessible to visitors.
“Due to the damage, there is currently no safe path to the 50-foot waterfall”, officials explained. “Travel in the area is strictly prohibited until further notice.”
Safety concerns
The National Park Service has closed the entire Munising Falls area indefinitely because of safety concerns and to protect the natural environment, writes Detroit Free Press.
The beautiful waterfall is located in Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, just east of Munising along Sand Point Road. Normally, visitors can reach the waterfall by walking along the 800-foot paved trail that follows Munising Creek through a canyon.
Park officials have not announced when repairs will begin or how long they might take.
Weather forecast and park conditions
For those planning to visit other national parks, it’s important to check the weather forecast and park conditions before you visit, advises the National Park Service. “Keep your distance: View wildlife safely, such as two city buses away from bears,” they recommend for visitor safety.
Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore welcomed over 910,000 visitors in 2023, slightly fewer than in previous years. The park’s highest visitor count was 1.3 million people in 2021.
