I did the Nawadaha Falls hike + more waterfalls in the Porcupine Mountains 🌳 Upper Peninsula Michigan travel blog

Hi there!

The waterfalls of Porcupine Mountains State Park are located in the Presque Isle area of the state park. This can be considered the quieter side of the park.

And Nawadaha Falls is one of the Presque Isle River waterfalls!

If you’re looking for a relatively short and easy journey to get to waterfalls, Nawadaha Falls can be it. 

A few pictures from the hiking trail below, but first…

Basics about the trail to Nawadaha Falls

This can be considered among the easiest waterfalls to see in the Porcupine Mountains.

If you were to go directly to the Nawadaha Falls overlook and back, it’s a pretty leisurely stroll on flat ground. There are also other spots along the river that you may want to go to for a different viewpoint of the waterfalls.

The time it will take you to walk to Nawadaha Falls will likely be less than 5 minutes.

But you might want to spend some time taking in the views at the waterfalls, or resting at the overlook bench listening to the sounds of the river and waterfalls!

After you’ve taken in the views of Nawadaha Falls, you can keep also keep walking to see more waterfalls. 

You can very well just hike to Nawadaha Falls and it will make for a nice nature walk. Many people also visit 2 more waterfalls alongside a visit to Nawadaha Falls.

The trailhead is located in the Presque Isle scenic area of Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park.

For reference, the drive time to the Nawadaha Falls trail from Lake of the Clouds (a popular attraction on the other side of the park) is around 45 minutes.

If Nawadaha Falls is the only waterfalls you want to visit, your destination for google maps can be Presque Isle State Campground. You won’t actually go to the campground, but this is a good reference point for google maps.

As of October 2020, the location for Nawadaha Falls on google maps is wrong. If it’s showing you that Nawadaha Falls is located south of South Boundary Road, that is wrong. It is actually to the north.

By setting your destination as the campground, you will come across the Nawadaha Falls trailhead as you near the campground.

If you are interested in hiking to see all 3 waterfalls, you may also consider starting from the Presque Isle River Waterfalls Loop Trailhead that’s located right off the main road next to the bridge. There’s room for a few cars to park off the side of the road here.  (The main road is called S Boundary Road and Forest Trail 117 on google maps.)

If you’re looking for a picnic spot after your waterfall hike, you may also consider parking at the Presque Isle day use area. (See map below.)

Map of Nawadaha Falls (and other waterfalls)

For reference, here is a map of the Presque Isle Scenic Area that includes Nawadaha Falls!

Parking near the trail to Nawadaha Falls

If you are interested in starting near Nawadaha Falls, then there is a small parking area located right near the direct trail to Nawadaha Falls. 

Another map! This time with the pinpoint of the trail to Nawadaha Falls. “YOU” is the location of the parking lot.

You’ll see the trail start location from the road.

Toilet near the trail to Nawadaha Falls

There’s a basic no-flush toilet located right at the Nawadaha Falls trailhead.

No swimming at Nawadaha Falls

Per the State of Michigan Parks and Recreation, there’s no swimming allowed at Nawadaha Falls or any waterfalls in Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park.

🌳🐻

And now…

PHOTOS for a little bit of what to expect on the trail to Nawadaha Falls!

I went to see to Nawadaha Falls in July 2020. Pictures are from that time. I took the shortest path to get to Nawadaha Falls.

From the overlook, you can see the river, and there’s an obstructed view of the waterfalls. Once in the area, you can walk around to get a little bit of a different viewpoint of the waterfalls too.

And then once you’ve taken in the views of Nawadaha Falls, you can head back, or keep on hiking to see more waterfalls in the Porcupine Mountains!

And that’s a bit of what it’s like on the hike to Nawadaha Falls!

The 3 Presque Isle River waterfalls in the Porkies:

• Nawadaha Falls
• Manido Falls
• Manabezho Falls

Top spots in the Porcupine Mountains:

• Lake of the Clouds
• Escarpment Trail

More waterfalls in the UP:

• Tahquamenon Falls
• Pictured Rocks waterfalls

HAPPY NATURE WALK TO SEE NAWADAHA FALLS!