I went to Bond Falls Scenic Site + more UP waterfalls 🌳 Upper Peninsula Michigan travel blog

Hi there!

If you’re chasing waterfalls in the UP, the Bond Falls might be worth putting on your Michigan waterfalls list!

You can see the waterfalls from straight on, and you can take a walk up to the right side and to the left side to get up close and personal with the river on both sides!

More below about planning a trip to Bond Falls!

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How much time do you need at Bond Falls?

You can make this a relatively quick visit by going straight to the main waterfalls viewing areas and back (maybe 15-20 minutes), or you can spend more time here (maybe 1-2 hours) if you take your time walking the different riverside trails and spending time alongside the Ontonagon River! 

Geology of Bond Falls

According to the State of Michigan Parks and Recreation:

Bond Falls marks the boundary of two different bed rock types.

The greenish-gray rock underlying the falls is basalt, a durable volcanic rock.

The softer rock downstream is sandstone.

Want to see more of Michigan’s volcanic past?! Be sure to visit the Keweenaw Peninsula, located 1.5-2 hours from Bond Falls!

When to go to Bond Falls during your U.P. road trip

Bond Falls are waterfalls located in the western part of the Upper Peninsula.

If your Upper Peninsula tour takes you to the western UP, then a visit to Bond Falls can be a perfect part of your trip.

If you’re spending a few days in the Porcupine Mountains, then you can make it a day trip (or half day trip) to Bond Falls.

If you’re driving from the Porcupine Mountains to the eastern UP, it can make sense to stop at Bond Falls. You can also visit nearby Agate Falls scenic site which is part of a roadside park that can make for a nice picnic stop.

So if you’re driving from the west (from the Porcupine Mountains and Wisconsin side), you can add this waterfall stop to your drive on the day you are driving to east to places like Marquette, Munising, Kitch-iti-kipi, Tahquamenon Falls, and the Mackinac Bridge.

Drive times from Bond Falls to popular spots in the UP:

• Bond Falls to the Porcupine Mountains is around 1 hour
• Bond Falls to Copper Harbor is around 2 hours
• Bond Falls to Marquette is around 1.5 hours
• Bond Falls to Munising is around 2.5 hours
• Bond Falls to Kitch-it-kipi is around 3 hours
• Bond Falls to Tahquamenon Falls is around 4 hours.
• Bond Falls to the Mackinac Bridge is around 4 hours

See more ideas for where to go during your UP trip.

This is a part of the Western Upper Peninsula heritage trail

No swimming allowed at Bond Falls + the safety message!

Cost of visiting Bond Falls

This is a scenic site that’s a part of Michigan State Parks that requires the Michigan recreation passport. 

If you’re a Michigan resident, hopefully you already have the annual recreation passport, in which case it basically makes this a FREE waterfall spot!

In 2020, for Michigan residents the annual pass is around $17 when purchased at a state park. For out-of-state residents, the annual pass is around $34 while the daily pass is around $9. See current fees here.

If there’s no one at the entry gate, then there’s a self-pay station at the trailhead.

Bond Falls Outpost, picnic area, and alternative river trail to waterfalls

As a reference point, Bond Falls outpost is a small convenience store and gift shop located near the Bond Falls scenic site. (It is not a part of the actual scenic site.) If you are driving the road from the east (like coming from Agate Falls scenic site), then you will pass Bond Falls Outpost on your way to the Bond Falls scenic site. 

Right near this outpost is a small picnic spot along the river.

There’s another small picnic spot just down the road from here too.

There are also parking spots around the outpost, and then you can take a trail along a river to get to Bond Falls. These parking spots are free. 

Now…

More PHOTOS of Bond Falls

…and the road to getting there

I visited Bond Falls in July 2020, and pictures are from that time.

The spot is officially called the Bond Falls Scenic Site, and it’s a part of Michigan State Parks. Once you get near, you’ll see a sign.

Then, you’re at the Bond Falls parking lot! There is a basic no-flush toilet at the trailhead.

Trail to the waterfalls and river

From the parking lot, you’ll see the start of the trail to Bond Falls. You’ll walk less than 5 minutes and see the first waterfalls overlook viewing area!

And then from here, you can go off to the right or left.

Off to the right side for a walk along the river… (This is the side you’d be coming from if you start the trail from the Bond Falls Outpost.)

And then off to the left side from the first overlook viewing area, you come across will be more viewing areas for the main waterfalls. And then you can go further to walk along the river on this side too.

And then after you’ve had a nice stroll along the river, you can head back!

And that’s a bit of what you can see with a visit to Bond Falls Scenic Site and this part of the Ontonagon River!

See the Michigan waterfalls road trip route!

More things to do in western UP:

• Agate Falls roadside park
• Riverwalk to waterfalls in the Porcupine Mountains
• Best hike in the Porcupine Mountains
• Stops to make on the drive to Copper Harbor

HAPPY SEEING BOND FALLS IN THE UPPER PENINSULA OF MICHIGAN!