Sable Falls In UP: A Sublime Northern Michigan Woodland Waterfall

A magical space

Photographs fail to capture the real beauty of these falls, which tumble down 75 feet (almost 23 meters), ledge after ledge, small pool after small pool. A flat image just doesn’t convey the 3-dimensional scope of the dancing water, flowing from deep in the heart of the forest.

The secluded nature of Sable Falls lends it a mysterious feeling. The constant churn of the plunging water leaves the area smelling like fresh rain. In the winter, Sable Falls can freeze into a glorious ice sculpture. There’s a fairy-tale quality here; it’s the kind of place where you’d expect to see a unicorn step out of the undergrowth to take a drink from the pooling water, or to watch fairies flit around the banks at dusk. Anything seems possible in this mix of water, woods, and stone.

Conveniences

While Sable Falls has a secluded feel, it’s also easy to get to. The park is just 1 mile (1.5 kilometers) west of Grand Marais on Alger County Road H-58. The park entrance and trailhead are clearly marked. A modern parking lot and restroom facility are welcome conveniences. A grassy area with picnic tables means you can picnic here. Dogs are allowed in the parking and picnic areas, but not on the trails. The park, as part of the greater Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, is open 24 hours, seven days a week, all year long.

A shady path to the falls

From the restrooms, a trailhead sign marks the way to Sable Falls. The path meanders through a shady forest before descending down to the creek’s level.

The falls themselves are only 500 feet (0.15 kilometers) from the trailhead. This path is actually part of the North Country Trail, which stretches from New York State to central North Dakota. After the falls, one can continue north along this trail for about 10 minutes (0.6 miles or 0.96 kilometers) and arrive at the Grand Sable Dunes, a sand dune beach that’s great for wading or sunbathing or skipping stones.

It’s worth the climb

While getting to the park itself is easy, those with mobility limitations will find the falls inaccessible. The trail has not been modified to be chair accessible, and the viewing platform lies at the base of a 169-step stairway.

But for those who can manage stairs, the view of such lovely falls is well worth the climb back up. The steps lead visitors down, with great views of the forest and the babbling Sable Creek below. Climbing back up is not a bad way to work the thighs and glutes, or to tire out restless children. People often take the opportunity to shoot photographs of the lovely setting while they pause to catch their breath.

Sable Creek is idyllic

Once down the stairs, the path leads along Sable Creek. It’s a pleasant little water course, with lots of rocks to tumble over. And while the path’s railings keeps visitors from straying into the undergrowth, there are plenty of places to get right down into the creek.

The spectacle of Sable Falls

Cascading down 75 feet (22.8 meters) of sandstone, Sable Creek has been slowly carving its way through the dense forest and soft rock bed. The effect is breathtaking. It takes a while to soak it all in, because the visual interest is so complex. Everywhere, there are more little details to notice, and all of it works together to form a tapestry that delights the eyes and ears. Here is Mother Nature showing off in a dance of water, earth, and time.