What to See in Munising - Top Sights and Attractions

Waterfall in Michigan. Munising Falls is a waterfall located in Munising in the westernmost portion of the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore in Alger County, Michigan. The falls drops about 50 feet over a sandstone cliff. With the exception of the spring thaw, the amount of water falling is relatively small. There are trails leading to multiple viewpoints around the falls.

In the winter, the falls freeze forming an ice column. Munising Falls themselves are off-limits to climbers, but ice climbing is popular in the area and there are other spots in the vicinity where climbing is allowed.

The Munising Falls Visitor Center includes displays are the natural and cultural history of the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, including early iron smelting, geology, forest history, rare and endangered species, logging and recreation. The Center is open seasonally.^[1]

Waterfall in Michigan. Memorial Falls are two similar waterfalls in adjacent gorges on small streams near the city of Munising Michigan. The larger falls drop approximately 40 feet. There is a cave behind both falls. There is a small natural arch in the sandstone between the two gorges near the top of the falls. The level of water coming over the falls can vary greatly depending on snow melt or rainfall and the smaller of the two falls are often dry. Memorial Falls are two of the less-advertised and less-maintained falls in the area and are accessed via a trail from a residential street above the falls. An additional trail leads to the bottom of the falls. The falls belong to the Michigan Nature Association. They are very close to Tannery Falls.^[3]

Waterfall in Michigan. Tannery Falls is a waterfall on Tannery Creek located near the city of Munising, Michigan. The Falls are also sometimes called the Rudy M. Olson Memorial Falls. The grave site of Rudolf Olsen can be seen on the path leading to the falls alongside a set of stairs. Tannery Creek flows behind a small residential area before reaching The falls which drop 40 feet into an impressive sandstone canyon. There is a cave behind the falls. The level of water coming over the falls can vary greatly depending on snow melt or rainfall. Tannery Falls is one of the less-advertised and less-maintained falls in the area. For a number of years, the falls were under private ownership. The land around the area was purchased by the Michigan Nature Association which created a public nature preserve that includes the nearby Memorial Falls.^[5]

Lighthouse in Munising, Michigan. The Munising Front Range Light and its matching Munising Rear Range Light replaced the ineffective Grand Island East Channel Light in 1905. These two lights combine to guide boats from the open waters of Lake Superior down the East Channel next to Grand Island into the harbor of Munising. The history of these lighthouses is documented by Terry Pepper and is not reproduced here.

The Front Range Light is located at the western edge of Munising north of M-28. At this time, the light is managed by the National Park Service, the grounds are open to visitors, but the tower is closed.

According to US Government publication, "The American Practical Navigator", Chapter 5: Range lights are light pairs that indicate a specific line of position when they are in line. The higher rear light is placed behind the front light. When the mariner sees the lights vertically in line, he is on the range line. If the front light appears left of the rear light, the observer is to the right of the range line; if the front appears to the right of the rear, the observer is left of the range line.^[6]