Gorge Falls

Ottawa National Forest
Near Bessemer MI

Gorge Falls, one of five waterfalls on the Black River before it empties into Lake Superior, is the result of a natural dam blocking the flow of the river. The flow wraps around the west side of the obstruction crashing with a fury almost 30 feet below. The Black River Gorge is beautiful in its own right, all of which makes the drive up here well worth while.

How to get to Gorge Falls:

• From US-2 in Bessemer, head north on N. Moore St to St Johns Rd (about 0.7 miles).
• Turn left and go to Black River Rd (about 0.5 miles).
• Turn right on Black River Rd which becomes the Black River Harbor Pkwy (County Rd 513).
• Follow this road, through North Bessemer and Auvinen Corner, to the waterfalls access road (it will be on your right with a large directional sign – about 12.8 miles).
• Turn right, park in the paved, double-loop parking area and follow any of the trails to the waterfalls overlooks. It is an easy, 0.1 mile to the nearest observation deck.

Sandstone Falls, Gorge Falls, Potawatomi Falls and Great Conglomerate Falls are all within a few miles of each other along the North Country Scenic trail here. A little further upstream (to the south) are Algonquin Falls and Chippewa Falls accessible from a trailhead at the parking area between the two and just north of the Cooper Peak access road. See the excellent map of this area at the Michigan Interactive web site: www.fishweb.com/maps/gogebic/waterfalls/blackrv_parkway/map.html

A black-topped trail connects Gorge Falls to the viewing platform overlooking Potawatomi Falls.
Conglomerate Falls can be reached by going south (upstream about 0.5 miles).
Sandstone Falls can be reached by going north (downstream about 0.5 miles).

Photos of Gorge Falls

• Photo & Description by Michele MakiIf you’d like a copy, email Michele at [email protected]
• PictureMichigan.com Picture Gallery
• More Photos & Description at Michigan Interactive fishweb.com – [email protected]
• Photo on the American Whitewater web site

For more information about Ottowa National Forest:

• Ottawa National Forest
  E6248 US 2
  Ironwood, MI 49938
  906-932-1330
  [email protected] web site: http://www.fs.fed.us/r9/ottawa/

• Ontonagon County Chamber of Commerce
  Information Center
  Highway MI-64 and River Road
  Ontonagon
  906-884-4735
  [email protected]

See also:

• Rainbow Falls
• Sandstone Falls
• Potawatomi Falls
• Great Conglomerate Falls

Hotel and Motel accommodations, are available in the following communities:
Baraga Calumet Cedarville Escanaba Hancock Houghton Iron River Ironwood Ishpeming	Mackinaw City Manistique Marquette Menominee Munising Newberry Norway Paradise Sault Ste Marie Wetmore