Munising and Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore Waterfalls Winter to Spring

Northern Michigan Waterfalls

Northern Michigan has some amazing waterfalls scattered throughout its vast expanse of wilderness and park areas.  Last December (2013) I visited Munising for a couple of days after Christmas to snowshoe at Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore and visit a few of the Munising, Michigan area waterfalls.  With plenty of snow on the ground and cold temperatures coming in, we got some pretty breathtaking and up close views of the waterfalls in their frozen or nearly frozen state.  (This was prior to the polar vortex moving south.)

Of course, after the winter we had with snow and cold, I started to wonder what these same waterfalls would look like in the spring months.  So off I went on Memorial Day Weekend 2014 back up to the Munising area to find out.  With spring being cold and seeming to come in late, some waterfalls still had ice at the bottom and even Lake Superior still had ice.  It was pretty amazing to see.  But all the waterfalls were flowing briskly and providing another view of nature's beauty.

Laughing Whitefish Falls

Laughing Whitefish Falls State Park is just west of of the Munising area.  It's a smaller state park with a nice trail that you can take to get to the waterfall.  In the winter the road to this park is not maintained and you do need to park out near the main road and go by foot.  If you have the right amount of snow, you can easily make it into a beautiful snowshoe hike.  In the summer, it's a quick walk from the parking lot to the falls.  You can also connect from this trail to the North Country Trail if you want to extend your hike for a few more miles or a few more days.

Laughing Whitefish Falls, December 26, 2013

Laughing Whitefish Falls, May 26, 2014

Wagner Falls

Wagner Falls is located just before you get into Munising on M94.  You can park along the road and take the short path that will lead you to the falls.  

Wagner Falls, December 28, 2013

Wagner Falls, May 24, 2014

 Munising Falls

Munising Falls is amazing in the winter.  The ice fall is big.  And even with the ice, you can still hear the water that is cascading down inside the waterfall.  Munising Falls is a short drive from Munising and is at the entrance to Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore before you get to Sand Point.  In the winter, the stairs that lead up to the higher level views of the waterfalls are roped off.  But if you visit at that time of the year, you'll notice that doesn't stop people from going up and even behind the waterfall for a close up view.

Munising Falls, December 26, 2013

Munising Falls, May 24, 2014

Miners Falls

Miners Falls is within the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore area.  In the winter it's a bit more of a challenge to get to as the roads within Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore are not maintained and you will need to park ~3 miles from Miners Falls.  Snowshoes again are the perfect way to get to the falls and to continue on and explore the park.  In summer you can drive to the parking area for the waterfall and hike the short .6 miles to the waterfall.

Miners Falls, December 27, 2013

Miners Falls, May 25, 2014

Miners Castle and the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore Superior shoreline

No trip to Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore would be complete without a trip to Miners Castle.  Even in the winter when it requires backcountry snowshoeing along Miners River and through the wilderness forest.  And no, there are not any trails that lead from Miners Falls to Miners Castle - we went a little of course and navigated our own way.

Miners Castle, December 27, 2013

Miners Castle, May 25, 2014

These are just a few of the many waterfalls in Northern Michigan.  They're definitely worth a visit and even worth the challenge in winter.  Snowshoe in and you'll have these places all to yourself, along with the beauty of winter and nature all around you.

I encourage you to break away and explore these beautiful places.  And for this post - there is no better quote from John Muir that describes how I felt when visiting these places both in winter and in spring.

"The snow is melting into music."  John Muir

Ice Age Trail - Blue Spring Lake Segment Field Editor

Documenting the Ice Age Trail

This year I volunteered to be a Field Editor to help with the preparation of the 2014 Ice Age Trail Guidebook.  Volunteers select a segment of the 1,000 mile Ice Age Trail, take previous notes and maps into the field with them to review and do research on the segment they have.  In the end they'll add comments, updates, interesting facts and photos of the segment they're editing.  It's a really great opportunity for those of us that love the Ice Age Trail to slow it down and experience it in a different way.

Blue Spring Lake Segment

Lucky for me I was able to grab the Blue Spring Lake Segment to edit in the Southern Kettle Moraine State Forest section that included the one last piece of Ice Age Trail I hadn't yet hiked in the Southern Kettle area.  I had hiked from both ends of it previously, but had never hiked the middle piece of the trail I was going to edit.  So this turned out perfect for me.

Ice Age Trail - Blue Spring Lake Trail Segment

This section of the trail covers just over 7 miles of trail one way.  In order to completely and accurately take notes and compare to previous documentation, I decided to split it in two hikes and take my time.  Plus it allowed me to bring my dogs along for the hikes.

Day 1 - Hiking Young Rd to Horseriders Campground

On a perfect spring day with cooler temperatures, the dogs and I were off to start our documenting and editing of the Blue Spring Lake Segment of the Ice Age Trail and hit up the one section of the Ice Age Trail in Southern Kettle Moraine State Forest I hadn't hiked yet.  We drove to the western edge of the segment and hiked the 4.2 miles of trail that this section covered (1 way - 8.4 miles round trip).  This section of the trail includes lots of hills, hardwood forest and some pretty great points of interest.

Ice Age Trail - Blue Spring Lake Segment Elevation Profile

It basically starts out immediately with a short hike from the road to a quick 100 foot incline up a few switchbacks to reach the Bald Bluff Scenic Overlook and Natural area.  The Bald Bluff overlook provides some great views of the area surrounding it.

View from Bald Bluff Scenic Overlook & Natural Area

After heading back down the other side of the bluff, you'll walk another 1.5 miles or so to get to the next point of interest, the Stone Elephant.  The Stone Elephant is large granite erratic left over from when the glaciers moved through Wisconsin.  History has it that the Prairie Potawatomi Indians used to visit this place often.

Personally, I'm still trying to see the "elephant" in this rock because after visiting the Stone Elephant twice now and viewing it from all angles, I can only really see a whale.  Guess I'll have to go back a third time.

The Stone Elephant

The Stone Elephant

The remainder of the hike on day 1 was a beautiful, peaceful walk through old oak forests and some pine forests.  The old oak forests included a lot of old black oak trees and in early spring, these trees were still bare or just starting to get their leaves.  It made them look so dark and almost intimidating like they were reaching out to grab you, but still regal and towering over the forest.

Old oak forest - Ice Age Trail - Blue Spring Lake Segment

After taking a short break at the Horseriders Campground for a quick drink and snack, the dogs and I turned around and walked the 4.2 miles back to the car.  Overall - this section of the trail in early spring is a winner.  Trees are growing their leaves, spring flowers are starting to bloom and the dogs and I basically had the first almost 4 miles of the trail to ourselves and on the return trip - the entire trail to ourselves until we hit Bald Bluff.

Day 2 - Hiking Horseriders Campground to Emma Carlin Trailhead

The second half of the Ice Age Trail - Blue Spring Lake Segment that I covered from the Horseriders Camp to Emma Carlin Trailhead was about 3.3 miles in length one way.  Unlike the first section we hiked that included the Bald Bluff and Stone Elephant, this section didn't include any points of interest like that.  This section instead was mostly hardwood forest with more glacial terrain of hills.  

Ice Age Trail - Blue Spring Lake Segment - Horseriders to Emma Carlin Elevation Profile

I've done this section twice before, once during a hot, wet summer and just this last winter via snowshoe.  I really like this section of trail.  In spring you'll see plenty of Mayapples (or umbrella plants).  These plants will appear and unfurl before the trees get their leaves, leaving the forest floor full of these beautiful, bright spring plants.  In the winter, this section is great for snowshoeing and getting great views of the valley floor.  The only downfall for this section is the standing water.  It's a breeding bed for mosquitoes, so if it's a hot, wet summer - bring plenty of bug spray or pay the consequences and plan to be a blood donor to mosquitoes.  

Mayapples on the Ice Age Trail

Winter on the trail - Ice Age Trail - Blue Spring Lake Segment

Now that I've documented, edited, photographed and researched it, I just need to finish pulling it all together and getting my section - the Blue Spring Lake Segment of the Ice Age Trail - done and off.  So in 2014 - watch for the new Ice Age Trail Guidebook.  And when you pick up your copy - think of me when you're reviewing the Blue Spring Segment information.

And if you want to experience it, let me know, I'd be glad to take you out on the trail and show you some of points of interest and cool little areas I found as I took my time really getting a chance to take it all and know this area unlike I knew it before.


Additional Posts -
Hiking in the First Snowfall - Northern Kettle Moraine
Winter Hiking on the Ice Age Trail - Southern Kettle Moraine & incidents with hunters

Training for Another Mountain Climb

Seems like almost every year in early spring I like to take vacations that are always adventurous.  And many times these vacations require preparation and training.  March 2012 it was climbing Mt Kilimanjaro.  April 2013 it will be climbing Mt Whitney to raise money for Big City Mountaineers.

I think one of the things I like most about taking these vacations in the early spring is the fact I have to train all winter long.  It provides me a great opportunity to dig out the winter gear and go.

Today I just wanted to share with you some of my favorite places I've gotten to this winter for training and why these places are special to me.  Maybe next time you're thinking I'd like to go for a walk or a hike some where new - you'll get to explore on of these places and find the magic in them like I do.

Mt Kit Carson (Mt Spokane State Park)

Spokane, WA

OK, so for those of you in Wisconsin - this is not near us.  But this was probably one of the best snowshoeing trips I did this winter for training.  It was a beautiful place to snowshoe and had a great view of the Spokane Valley and out toward Idaho's panhandle.

The trail starts out following a small stream that yes, even with all the snow, was still flowing in the winter.  It then follows up through the woods and provides peeks of the area all the way up.  And if you really like snow and the magic of mother nature and how she can sculpt snow with all her powers, you'll really enjoy this trip.  I saw snow that was so heavy on trees that it made the tree roll over on itself and look like a candy cane and/or snail.

Snow sculptures along trail up Mt Kit Carson

Mt Kit Carson - Mt Spokane State Park

The trail starts at about an elevation of 3,900 ft and ends at about 5,260 ft.  Once at the top, I took a break to take in the views, have a little lunch and head back down.  This was the perfect place to be on December 21, 2012 and end another year of adventures.

View from atop Mt Kit Carson

Ice Age Trail - Multiple Areas

Southern Kettle Moraine - State Park Headquarters

Heading west toward the Horse Riders Camp

This is a great hike.  You start off on the Ice Age Trail heading through an open field.  In the winter it can be a big expanse of white snow and during the spring, summer and fall it's full of wild flowers.  Absolutely beautiful.  And if you're lucky enough like I was this winter, I got to break trail.  Since no other human footprints were in the snow, I was able to see many of the tracks left by the natural inhabitants to this area.

You could see the field mice tracks running around on top of the snow and then where they dove under.  You could see the fox tracks on the Ice Age Trail that would go off trail when they caught the scent of the field mice.  And plenty of rabbit tracks as you got closer to the edge of the field toward the wooded area.  Nature at its best.

Following fox tracks on the Ice Age Trail

And then once you get back in the woods - peace, quiet and solitude.  Looking at the shadows of the trees on the snow, listening to the birds, eating lunch by a frozen pond.  What else could you ask for?  What a perfect place to snowshoe.  

Ice Age Trail - Southern Kettle Moraine - West from headquarters

It's Wisconsin, so for training we don't have any mountains to climb, but this was a good trail for some quick hits up and down for pushes of about 175 ft.

Southern Kettle Moraine - Ice Age Trail - Eagle Segment

Great day to get those snowshoes out and train because of the friends I had with me.  It was great getting them out snowshoeing especially since one had not done it before.  I love introducing people to the outdoors so this was a special snowshoe trip.

We had fresh snow and got to break some trail while out on the Ice Age Trail.  It was also a part of the Ice Age Trail I hadn't been on in a while so it was great to visit it again.  Another area where you get to go through some open fields where in the summer months are filled with wild flowers.  And this is Wisconsin so getting to snowshoe along the farmer's fields in the winter provides you with open views of the woods and area that Southern Kettle Moraine and these people get to call home.  Beautiful.

Ice Age Trail - Eagle Segment

Ice Age Trail - Eagle Segment

Again - not a lot of elevation to gain while training, but another 135 ft gained on this day.

Northern Kettle Moraine - Ice Age Trail - Milwaukee River Segment

Probably one of the most scenic (in my opinion) parts of the Ice Age Trail in Northern Kettle Moraine.  From the New Fane trails parking lot, you'll head through the forest and then an open field for a bit.  But after crossing the road, you're in the woods.  The first section once you cross the road is full of remnants of the glaciers that went through Wisconsin.  High hills that you'll cross over and walk between provide some amazing scenery.  

View from the Ice Age Trail - Milwaukee River Segment

I trained here by snowshoeing on one of our coldest days.  It was -4 degrees fahrenheit this day with the wind.  The second segment of this trail after crossing the next road climbs a hill and for a while follows the edge of the bluff.  From here you can see out quite a ways and even see the ski hill in Kewaskum, WI.  It really is an amazing view.  But didn't stay up here too long on this day due to the wind.  Continued on with the dogs and got back in the trees for the little protection they provide during the winter months.

Ice Age Trail - Milwaukee River Segment

Again, not much elevation gain - maybe about 200 ft from the lowest point to the highest point, but still a good area to snowshoe in.  And again, finding peace and solitude in the woods.  

Training Continues

Those are just some of the favorite spots so far this winter where I've gone snowshoeing for training, though are not the only ones.  I hope this makes you want to go out and hike or snowshoe some of these areas.  They really are a great way to explore nature and some of the natural surroundings of the Kettle Moraine areas of Wisconsin.  Our state park system does a great job of maintaining and providing this for us to use, so get out there and use it.  And if you ever need someone to explore it with - just let me know.

Longer Days, Higher Sun - Winter's Winding Down

I'm starting the feel spring in the air.  The sun's coming up earlier and going down later.  The birds are singing and I've already seen signs of the daffodil's popping up on the sunny side of my house.

I'm a little sad that winter's winding down.  Snowshoeing today I just felt like it may be one of the last of the season.  The sun was higher in the sky.  The shadows of the trees, longer on the ground.  And the birds were chirping like they were happy that warmer weather is on the way.

High sun, long shadows.  Spring is near.

An Old Proverb

Yes, winter's winding down.  But it's not going out without a fight this year.  As the old proverb says "March comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb."  And I believe this year will be no exception.  December and January we saw little snow.  February we saw snow and March is starting off with the forecast of another storm coming.

Plans are already made to take advantage of this next round of snow, as it may be the last.  The snowshoes and headlamp are ready for an evening snowshoe hike along the Milwaukee River.  Because after that, I think we'll see spring.  40 degrees and rain next weekend.  Yup, winter's winding down.