Agate Falls Scenic Site — Attraction in Interior Township

Agate Falls Scenic Site in Trout Creek, Michigan, is a nature lover's paradise with breathtaking waterfalls and a variety of outdoor activities. 🏞️

🌊 The highlight of this site is Agate Falls, one of Michigan's most picturesque waterfalls. Standing nearly 40 feet high, it offers a mesmerizing view as the Ontonagon River cascades over terraced sandstone. There's an observation platform accessible via a half-mile trail, and the experience is made even more thrilling as you pass through a tunnel under M-28 and admire the overhead railroad trestles.

🚗 For those who prefer a more relaxed visit, the Michigan Department of Transportation roadside park nearby provides parking, picnic areas with grills, and clean vault toilets. It's generally open from early May to late October, making it a great spot for a summer picnic.

🏍️ Adventure seekers will find excitement here too, as the Sidnaw-Bergland SB ORV Route and Snowmobile Trail UP8 crosses the river via a steel trestle bridge, offering fantastic views of the falls. So, bring your off-road vehicle or snowmobile for some thrilling exploration.

🌳 Nature enthusiasts will appreciate that the site is open year-round for trail access, although trails and boardwalks aren't maintained for snow and ice. So, whether you're into hiking, snowmobiling, or just enjoying the beauty of Agate Falls, this spot has something for everyone.

Overall, Agate Falls Scenic Site is a must-visit destination in Michigan, combining natural beauty with outdoor...

This is a great park, that could be better with a few additions and some serious work.

The parking area is nicely kept, with plenty of spots. There are restrooms, picnic tables and grills, some informational signage, river views, and a few trails here. The real draw is Agate Falls, one of the most beautiful waterfalls I've ever seen.

The park could use a playground area, and a few gazebos or shelters would definitely add to the draw.

The trail to the falls is nice, but the viewing area is almost entirely blocked. There are much better views from the beach, but the climb is somewhat hazardous.

Some things that would help immensely:

The viewing deck needs trees cleared.

The climb down to the beach needs to be made safer (there used to be a staircase).

Some of the foliage around the beach should be cleared to give extra space.

This could be made into a grand destination with some work. I think a restaurant/convenience store/ice cream parlor would do well here, and maybe even a hotel nearby, if the work were to be put into this location to build it up.

A great place to stop and stretch your legs, have a picnic, and get some great views! Well worth visiting!

The map marker is in the wrong location, there were signs saying "Private property, no trespassing," so I'm attempting to move the location to the park side...

A spectacular Michigan waterfall surrounded by what may be the most poorly designed park in the state.

The main parking area is across the road from the falls, which requires a walk through a tunnel, down a short trail, and to the end of a boardwalk, but from that location, the falls are barely visible.

The best viewpoint is an obviously shoreline area below the falls. Except during very high flows the lower location is safe, but MDNR maintains no trail down to the lower area. That means the unofficial trails are severely eroded and causing significant damage that would be avoided with an official trail and staircase.

Even more unusual is that the boardwalk trail goes under a rails-to-trails bridge. The bridge provides a nice view of the river, but there is no easy way to get to the bridge except to climb a steep trail that is also severely eroded.

The falls get 5 stars. The state of Michigan gets 1 for the...