Potawatomi Falls

Potawatomi Falls is one of a spectacular string of waterfalls along the Black River as it races toward Lake Superior through the Ottawa National Forest in Gogebic County, near Bessemer in the western Upper Peninsula. Here the dark, fast Black River drops over rugged rock ledges in a broad, powerful cascade, one of the highlights of the celebrated Black River National Forest Scenic Byway.

Reached by short trails and stairways from the byway, Potawatomi Falls sits amid a cluster of named falls — Great Conglomerate, Gorge, Potawatomi, Sandstone and Rainbow — that together make this one of the finest waterfall corridors in the Midwest. With boardwalks, overlooks and connecting trails (part of the North Country Trail) winding through deep forest above the river gorge, the Black River falls reward waterfall lovers with drama and abundance in a wild U.P. setting.

Potawatomi Falls is reached by a short trail and stairways from the Black River Scenic Byway, with overlooks of the powerful cascade and connecting trails to neighboring falls. Hiking the trails that link the string of Black River falls — part of the North Country Trail — is a highlight, along with photography and taking in the river gorge. The nearby Black River Harbor on Lake Superior adds a beach, picnic area and more trails for a full day of exploring.

Spring snowmelt sends the most thunderous flow over the falls. Summer offers lush forest, full trails and easy access to the whole string of Black River falls. Fall is spectacular, framing the cascades in brilliant color — one of the U.P.’s premier autumn waterfall drives. Winter turns the falls to ice and the byway largely inaccessible. Soft or overcast light is best for photographing the powerful cascades.

The Black River and its falls take their character from the wild, forested copper-and-timber country of the western Upper Peninsula. The string of falls and the river corridor were preserved within the Ottawa National Forest, and the Black River National Forest Scenic Byway and its network of trails, stairways and boardwalks were developed to give visitors access to the waterfalls and the Lake Superior harbor at the river’s mouth.

Potawatomi Falls plunges over the ancient, resistant bedrock of the western Upper Peninsula — rock formed over a billion years ago in the Lake Superior basin’s deep geologic history. The Black River has carved a rugged gorge through this hard rock, creating the string of falls as it drops toward Lake Superior. The dark, tannin-stained water and the old, erosion-resistant rock give the cascades their dramatic character.

The deep northern forest of hemlock, maple and birch along the Black River gorge shelters black bear, white-tailed deer, porcupine and a rich community of woodland birds, while the river corridor draws mergansers, kingfishers and bald eagles. The cool, oxygenated river supports aquatic life, and the wild Ottawa National Forest setting makes the area excellent, if rugged, wildlife country.

The Black River falls lie within a rich tract of northern hardwood and hemlock forest in the Ottawa National Forest, with the spray zones of the cascades supporting mosses, ferns and lichens on the wet rock. The free-flowing river and its gorge form a healthy riparian ecosystem within the protected forest. Keeping to trails, boardwalks and stairways protects the fragile gorge vegetation and steep, erosion-prone banks.

The string of Black River waterfalls, with Potawatomi among the most impressive, is one of the most celebrated waterfall corridors in the Midwest and a centerpiece of the western U.P.’s reputation as a waterfall lover’s paradise. The Black River Scenic Byway and its falls draw photographers and fall-color seekers from across the region, anchoring the outdoor identity of the Ironwood and Bessemer area.

Potawatomi Falls is reached from the Black River National Forest Scenic Byway (County Road 513) north of Bessemer in Gogebic County, with a parking area and short trails and stairways to the falls and overlooks. Connecting trails link it to the neighboring Black River falls and the North Country Trail. The byway continues to Black River Harbor on Lake Superior. The falls are within the Ottawa National Forest; check the U.S. Forest Service for conditions.

The U.S. Forest Service preserves Potawatomi Falls and the Black River corridor within the Ottawa National Forest, managing the trails, stairways and boardwalks to protect the gorge, its vegetation and the steep banks. Visitors help by staying on designated routes, keeping off the fragile rock and vegetation, packing out everything, and respecting the wild river setting. Protecting the gorge preserves both the scenery and visitor safety.

Stay on the trails, stairways and overlooks — the river gorge edges are steep, rocky and dangerous, and the wet rock is slippery. Keep well back from the edges and the fast, cold water, especially during high spring flows and with children. The stairways are steep; watch your footing. In winter the trails are icy and largely inaccessible. Wear sturdy footwear and bring water for the trail network.

Potawatomi Falls lies within the Ottawa National Forest; follow U.S. Forest Service rules. Stay on trails, stairways and overlooks; climbing into the gorge or on the falls is prohibited and dangerous. Pets should be leashed. Pack out all trash. Collecting is restricted. Camp only in designated sites. Check the U.S. Forest Service for current access, conditions and any seasonal closures of the byway.

The neighboring Black River falls — Great Conglomerate, Gorge, Sandstone and Rainbow — are all linked by trail along the byway, which ends at Black River Harbor on Lake Superior with its beach and picnic area. The towns of Bessemer and Ironwood, the Porcupine Mountains, Lake Gogebic and the western U.P.’s many other waterfalls are all within reach, making the area a waterfall-rich destination.

Hike the connecting trails to see the whole string of Black River falls — Potawatomi, Gorge, Sandstone, Rainbow and Great Conglomerate — in one outing, and continue to Black River Harbor on Lake Superior. Come in spring for volume or fall for spectacular color. Wear good shoes for the stairways, stay back from the dangerous gorge edges, and use Ironwood or Bessemer as your base.