The draw here is the moment the sound reaches you before the water does. People plan whole days around falls like Memorial Falls: a walk through the woods, cold spray at the base, and a quiet spot to sit for a while.
Geology and background
What makes Memorial Falls special
Memorial Falls are two similar waterfalls in adjacent gorges on small streams near Munising, Michigan. The larger falls drop approximately 40 feet. There is a cave behind both falls, and a small natural arch in the sandstone between the two gorges near the top of the falls. Two falls, two caves and an arch in one small place: that is the whole appeal.
The water here is changeable. The level coming over the falls can vary greatly depending on snow melt or rainfall, and the smaller of the two falls is often dry. Come after rain or snowmelt and both falls are running; come in a dry spell and you may find only one.
These are two of the less-advertised and less-maintained falls in the area. They are reached by a trail from a residential street above the falls, with another trail leading to the bottom. They belong to the Michigan Nature Association, and Tannery Falls is very close by.
The falls sit in sandstone, and the rock shapes what you see: a cave behind each fall, and a small natural arch in the sandstone between the two gorges near the top. The two gorges run side by side on small streams, which is why the falls look alike and why the arch could form between them.
Navigate by coordinates rather than by name. Map apps often send waterfall searches to the wrong parking lot or the far side of the stream. Download an offline map before you lose signal. The trail starts from a residential street above the falls, so follow the coordinates rather than looking for a signed trailhead.
Best time and crowds
Go after rain or snowmelt. The flow varies greatly with snow melt and rainfall, and the smaller fall is often dry, so recent weather is your best guide. No stream gauge is linked to Memorial Falls. Expect the most water in spring, and the least in a dry spell.
These are less-advertised falls, and the trailhead is unlikely to be crowded. Even so, an early start is the best way to have the viewpoint to yourself.
Safety
Stay on marked trails and behind railings. Wet, mossy rock near the brink is the most common cause of serious injury. Never climb the cascade or stand at the top edge, even when the flow looks gentle. The caves behind the falls are tempting: do not enter them if the rock is wet or the water is high. Plunge pools hide cold water, strong currents and submerged logs.
What to bring
Shoes with real grip
A rain shell for the spray
Water and a snack
An offline map or screenshot
A dry bag for your phone
A bag to pack out trash
Practical tips
Check recent rain or snowmelt before you go: the smaller fall is often dry.
Look for the small sandstone arch between the two gorges near the top.
Screenshot the directions and these coordinates before you leave town.
Pair it with Tannery Falls, which is very close by.
Waterfalls mark a change in the ground beneath a stream: a fault, a glacier-cut valley wall, or a band of hard rock the water cannot wear down as quickly as what lies below it.
Water flow and seasons
No stream gauge is linked to Memorial Falls yet, so recent rain is your best guide. The weather panel on this page adds up the last three days of rain at the fall.
Flow tends to peak in spring with snowmelt and seasonal rain, and again for a day or two after a big storm. By late summer smaller falls can drop to a thin ribbon.
The trail and the viewpoint
We do not have a trail length for Memorial Falls yet. Some falls are a few steps from a parking area, others take a real hike, so check the park or a trail app before you set out.
Swimming is not listed. Treat the plunge pool as off-limits unless signs say otherwise: the water at the base is colder and stronger than it looks.
Facilities and amenities
We do not list a park for this fall, which often means a small trailhead or roadside pull-off with few or no facilities.
Plan as if there is no drinking water and no phone signal at the falls themselves. Use the restroom and fill your bottles before you start walking.
Fees, permits, and opening hours
No entry fee is listed. Parks may still charge for parking or day use, and federal lands often accept an annual pass instead.
Most falls are reachable from dawn to dusk. Gates, seasonal road closures and timed-entry permits are the usual surprises, so check the managing agency on the day.
How to get to Memorial Falls
Memorial Falls is in Michigan. For the last stretch, navigate by coordinates (46.41735, -86.62725) rather than by name. Map apps often send waterfall searches to the wrong parking lot or the far side of the stream.
The final approach is usually the hardest part: narrow roads, small trailhead lots that fill early, and a walk that can be ten minutes or several hours. Download an offline map before you lose signal.
Our Michigan waterfalls page maps every fall in the state, which helps when you are planning a route.
For the fullest flow, visit Memorial Falls in spring or within a couple of days of heavy rain. For easier footing and warmer air, early summer is the compromise.
Light matters for photos: the base of a fall is often in shade by midday, and an overcast day evens out the bright water against dark rock.
Crowds and timing
Weekday mornings are the quietest. On summer weekends, popular falls can fill their parking by mid-morning, and the viewpoint becomes a queue.
Holiday weekends and the first warm days of spring are the busiest of all. If the lot is full, do not park on the road shoulder: it is the most common reason for tickets and towing at trailheads.
How long to spend there
Without a listed trail length, plan for half a day: enough time to find the trailhead, walk in, spend an hour at the water and walk out without rushing.
If there are other falls nearby, they are often on the same road or trail system. Two or three in a day is very doable.
Where to stay near Memorial Falls
We do not recommend specific places to stay. The links below search for hotels and campgrounds around Memorial Falls on Google Maps, so you can compare drive times from the trailhead.
Stay on marked trails and behind railings. Wet, mossy rock near the brink is the most common cause of serious injury.
Never climb the cascade or stand at the top edge, even when the flow looks gentle.
Plunge pools hide cold water, strong currents and submerged logs. Only swim where it is allowed.
In canyons, rain upstream can raise the water in minutes. Leave if the water turns muddy or starts to rise.
Leave no trace: pack out trash, stay off fragile moss and plants, and keep drones grounded where they are banned.
What to bring
Shoes with real grip
A rain shell for the spray
Water and a snack
An offline map or screenshot
A dry bag for your phone
Cash for parking
A bag to pack out trash
Practical visitor tips
Screenshot the directions and these coordinates before you leave town.
Wear shoes you do not mind getting wet: spray reaches further than you expect.
Keep your phone in a zip bag near the base.
Pack out everything, including food scraps.
Tell someone where you are going if the trail is long or remote.
Frequently asked questions
Where is Memorial Falls, Michigan located?
Memorial Falls is in Michigan. Its GPS coordinates are 46.41735, -86.62725.
What kind of waterfall is Memorial Falls, Michigan?
Its form (plunge, cascade, horsetail and so on) is not listed yet.
How tall is Memorial Falls?
Its height has not passed a source check yet, so we do not show a number or include it in tallest lists.
How much does it cost, and when is it open?
No fee is listed, though parking or day-use fees may apply. Most falls are open dawn to dusk; check the managing agency for seasonal closures.
Is Memorial Falls good for families?
It depends on the trail, which we have not confirmed. Check the length and terrain first, and keep children well back from wet rock and the edge.
How do I know if it is flowing?
No gauge is linked, so use the last three days of rain in the weather panel: more rain usually means more water.
The bottom line
Memorial Falls is worth a detour, especially after rain. Check the flow before you go, start early to beat the crowds, and stay well back from the edge.
Waterfalls nearby
One fall rarely fills a day. These are within about 40 miles.
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