Tahquamenon

The park has moved and improved the access point below the falls. The did this for folks that put-in here to go down the river, but it work well for those of us going up the river to run the lower falls.

Curious what makes it a 5.3? Looks like a clean approach with landmarks into a rolling lip into a large pool.

Doug: Not sure where Matt Jackson got the 5.3 rating. I haven't run the falls, but his description is correct, though at lower flows it is shallow above the drop. I think there would be a chance of turning if you weren't in the deepest water.

Very good level. River left of the big island, everything was runnable and not boney. The first drop could be run on the left center or right center. the drop by the platform was powerful, but fun. you could also run to the right of the small island instead of the platform drop. At lower levels, it is too rocky.

River right of the big island might have been possible, but we didn't try it. River left has a double drop and below the first drop is a flat shelf. Maybe it was a foot deep. Even though there was a lot of water, this would have been a hard landing. On the far right, the double drop is broken up a bit and maybe you could slide over the rocks, but there wasn't a lot of room for error. Probably nothing too serious if you didn't make it, but...

Ran the lower falls left of the island. Right of the island would have been too shallow. The play spot wave above the island was fine. Tom's Challenge was a bit too shallow. Each time I got caught on the lip and had to 'scoot' myself over. The third time I got stood up as the bow hit the flat limestone in about a foot of water. Not the best level. But, the Viewing Platform falls was fine. Plenty of water going over with no problems. The Run Out Rapid was also too shallow. Not a deep enough channel anywhere and had to do some hand pushing.

Marcelo Galizio runs the Upper Falls.

From an online description: Have you ever wondered what it would be like to kayak over Tahquamenon Falls? It’s only a 51-foot drop, no big deal, right? Marcelo Galizio came to the U.P. from Brazil with his eyes set on Tahquamenon. He’s made numerous first descents over waterfalls 50 feet and higher. He’s also spent five years as a an experienced guide and spent some time guiding in the Upper Peninsula this summer.

Left of the island was sweet. Still a little shallow just about the first drop. You tend to scrape just before you go over, which takes your momentum. Right of the island still seems to be too shallow for a smooth landing. Maybe it needs to be closer to 1,500?

Upstream of the island is a river wide ledge. You can get to this by hiking up the main trail. It is fairly shallow as the river widens above the island. The deepest route is on river left, though you can probably slide over in a number of places. There is a small playspot on river left below the ledge.

Going on the left side of the island, there is a ledge drolp. On the right side of the ledge there is a slight 'point' that provides you the best opportunity to land out from the hole at the bottom.

Video of Doug Tom running Tom's Challenge

Doug running the viewing platform ledge, 2nd drop, river left of the main island.

Tom going over last stretch of white water at the lower falls. This is the run out below Viewing Platform Rapids. After the Viewing Platform rapid, there is a short stretch of a few small ledges and some rock garden. At lower levels, it is a bit shallow.

If you take the right side of the island, there are consecutive 6' ledges.

Pictures from near the put-in for the Lower Falls. Looking upstream at Double Drop, which is river right of the island. On the far right of the picture, you can just see the boardwalk for landing the row boats. This is also where you take-out to walk to the far end of the island to put-in. A photo of park interpretive sign show an areal photo of the lower falls. A photo of the viewing platform and Viewing Platform rapid.

The upper falls are spectacular in autumn.

The Upper Falls (Picture 1). The ledges of the river-right side of the island at Lower Tahquamenon Falls (Picture 2).