Tahquamenon Falls State Park

tc1,

Glad you got a site. It's been a very abnormally chilly summer around here this year and it must have discouraged a lot of campers from going to the U.P. for the Riverbend CG to be only 80% booked for Laborday weekend this close. Bringing warm clothes is very smart as you can't put them on if or when needed if you didn't take them along.

We'll be heading up to the U.P. again for 3-4 weeks about mid-September depending on the weather between now and then. About a week in Riverbend CG at Tahquamenon SP, a few days in Muskallonge SP CG on Lake Superior north of Tahquamenon, H-58 to Grand Marais and on to Munising (Pictured Rocks) and on to the Porkies for a few days, then south the Fayette SP on Lake Michigan for a day or so, then over to Indian Lake SP at Manistique CG for a couple days. May go up to Copper Harbor to Ft Wilkins for a day or two if the spirit moves us that way. Missed it last year! No schedules or reservations for us and we'll get back home when we get there! Wash clothes, do what needs to be done for a couple days, re-pack the RV and head north for a couple weeks up to the Straits area (top of the L.P.) and work our way south following the peak color back home along Lake Michigan. Life is really tough!

If I may ask? Which CG and which site did you reserve at Tahquamenon? In the Lower Falls Lower CG (Riverbend), sites 1 thru 19 would be the wetter if it rains a lot and also would be the most likely to have any skeeters as those sites are along the river. The center sites are the nicest in our opinion as they are high and dry and grassy with plenty of trees. Rivermouth and the Lower Falls Overlook CG sites are basically all alike.

If it interests you, they have a micro brewerey at the Upper Falls that makes it's brews from crops and fruit that is grown right in the area. Their blueberry beer is absolutely great and their peach beer is very good too. They make light and dark beers and ale. Food at the restaurant there is very good also.

Thanks for taking the time to reply! I got site 32 in the Rivermouth campground - there really wasn't many sites available. Without ever visiting the campground, it's hard to know which site is good.

Have fun on your trip! I can't wait till we can leisurely go wherever!

tc1,

Well, it's level and you've got 50 amp, water's right in front of your site, have some shade, and you're close to the bath house. Not too shabby! We've been in 58, 48, 30, and in 29 several times. Not many sites available? Hmmm, not quite what "Da Yooper" had posted!

The maybe bad thing is that it's about 17 miles to the falls so day trips to them and also to the Whitefish Point Museum etc. There's a grocery store and fuel in Paradise, not a big store but adequate. Paradise is a small strungout town along M-123. M-123 is a very good road. Lots of deer at times so watchout. A couple restaurants also including one that serves fresh whitefish going out of Paradise towards the falls. They have fresh smoked whitefish and usually salmon too that you can buy to take back to your site if you like such. Keep it refrigerated!

At the lower falls, you can rent rowboats cheaply to go over to the big island with neat trails going around it. The falls are on both sides of the island and small falls and rapids upstream behind the island as the Tahquamenon River splits around it. There's also a high and dry boardwalk starting above the boat rental that goes around the right side to the right side falls and has a viewing/photo deck.

This writing is making us want to leave tomorrow to go up there too!

However, we seldom go to the popular Michigan CG's during the summer as we want to keep sites open for vacation visitors and family's with kids. We can go anytime and usually always wait until the kids are back in school.

Most of all, be safe and have fun!

travelnutz wrote:
tc1,

Not many sites available? Hmmm, not quite what "Da Yooper" had posted!

Exactly the type of post that keep me from posting much on these forums. The DNR report is at 84% as of today, and I listed other nearby options showing the OP the ability to get a decent site nearby if Tahq didn't work out.

I love folks that knock others post from the comfort of their keyboard.

DaYooper,

No need to get your panties in a bunch!

If you would have taken the time to see what is actually reservable over Laborday weekend that the OP asked about, you'd see why I had written what I did.

Zero sites are available in the Lower Falls Riverbend CG unit but there is one site available in the Lower Falls upper Overlook CG unit. Site 119.

In the Rivermouth Modern CG unit with a bathhouse and electric, there are 3 available. 25, 33, and 41.

In the Rivermouth Rustic area CG unit with pit toilets only, there are 5 available. 105, 107, 108, 112, 116.

There are 277 sites total in the 3 CG's counting both camping areas in the Rivermouth CG unit. 9 sites available out of 277 total individual sites in Tahquamenon Falls SP = 3.2% actually available for individuals use and more than half of those are in the rustic area. Per my nephew who was a State Park Ranger for many years before he retired, all ADA, group, tent only, and walk-in sites are included in reserved/spoken for percentages. Very misleading at best! RV'ers can't use these sites at all unless they are handicapped and allowed to use the ADA sites.

Perhaps you may understand now as it wasn't a "knock" but rather the actual facts.

We were at Rivermouth two weeks ago. Got the last reservation site next to the bathroom and it ended up being a great site. Very wide and grassy. We didn't have any trouble with bugs during the day. Walked around at night, no bug problems, but we didn't really sit out at night. If you go to the Upper Falls, take the tour with the ranger if possible. He does a great job! Heard it cost $18 to take the rowboat over to the island at the lower falls. Can't verify as we just walked all the way round on the boardwalk and we really enjoyed that. We ate at the pub. It was nice. Went up to Whitefish point and spent several hours there. Rivermouth is less than 30 minutes from Whitefish and the lower falls. Went to Pictured Rock which was beautiful, then on to Copper Harbor. Great little town to take it easy and relax. Enjoyed Fort Wilkins and hanging out at the shoreline. Took the boat to the lighthouse. Well worth the ride. Several nice little restaurents in town. Be sure to take jackets as it was in the 50's two weeks ago.

Make sure you take your warm clothes. Drove to Houghton and back for Monday to find my daughter an apartment, and the warmest temp during the day was 54. It was a beautiful drive, and get to do it again next weekend to move her in.

Dadoffourgirls,

It's back in the mid to upper 70's now and will be all the next week. That's as far as they forecast. Those are the normal temps up there this time of year.