Tahquamenon Falls State Park

Visitors enjoy the falls from an overlook.

The amber-colored waterfall.

The amber-colored Tahquamenon River and its two magnificent waterfalls are the centerpiece of this 46,000-acre state park.

The Upper Falls, the second-largest waterfall east of the Mississippi, drops nearly 50 feet and spans 200 feet. Four miles downstream is the Lower Falls, a series of five smaller falls cascading around an island. The Lower Falls can be viewed from the island, reached by rowboats rented from a park concession, or from the river banks.

The Tahquamenon River, running 94 miles from springs north of McMillan to Whitefish Bay, gets its golden hue from tannin leached from cedar, spruce and hemlock trees in swamps.

More than 38 miles of marked trails, ranging from well-groomed loops to strenuous paths, serve hikers and cross-country skiers. There are also 13 inland lakes, 24 miles of Tahquamenon River frontage, 277 campsites and more than 20,000 acres of dedicated natural area.

Fishing, canoeing, snowmobiling, snowshoeing and hunting are also popular. In winter, the golden water is transformed into rainbow colored icicles that enchant photographers.

Moose and bald eagles are occasionally seen in the park, which has one of Michigan's largest old-growth forest stands. Other residents are black bear, coyotes, otter, deer, fox and mink. A variety of birds, including pileated woodpeckers and sandhill cranes, are visible.