O Kun De Kun Falls
A tall curtain falling off from a remote sandstone ledge, O Kun de Kun Falls is one of the most impressive plunging waterfalls in the Upper Peninsula. The North Country Trail runs along the Baltimore River here, with a small campsite below the falls and a long suspension footbridge spanning the river. The falls themselves have several streams flowing off the rocks, depending on the time of the year, and make a beautiful foreground to the lush green woods around them.
Baltimore River descends quickly here before meeting up with the Middle Branch Ontonagon River to the east. Several smaller drops line the river, including the upper Konteka Falls and some unnamed steps below O Kun de Kun. This spot is easy to visit and worth exploring a bit, with the campground, deep woods, and smaller drops nearby side attractions around the main waterfall.
The falls are named for Chief O Kun de Kun (about 1760 to 1859), an Ojibwe chief in the Ontonagon area. Konteka, the name on the smaller drop upstream, is another spelling of the same man’s name, so both waterfalls on this stretch of the Baltimore River carry it. That history comes from the comments below: from his great great granddaughter, an enrolled Ojibwe tribal member, and from the North Country Trail chapter that maintains the trail to the falls.
Directions
A trailhead and parking area sit on the east side of US-45, 7.8 miles north of Bruce Crossing (or just past Burma Road). Some brown signs for the North Country Trail are on either side of the trailhead. From the parking area a short gravel spur leads straight onto the North Country Trail; turn east and follow it, over a series of boardwalks, past Konteka Falls to O Kun de Kun Falls and the suspension bridge, which has the best view of the main drop. The gated forest road that also leaves the lot used to be the easy way in, but the chapter that maintains the trail asks that you not use it: it is not kept up for hikers and the grass gets waist high.
Photographs
Visits
Seen in March, June and November.
- a multi-layered cathedral of brown ice
O Kun de Kun Falls had been turned into a multi-layered cathedral of brown ice, topped with white snow like frosting. It was a cool sight. Underneath I could hear the water gurgling and trickling, though I couldn't see anything but snow and ice out here. I cut first to the suspension bridge to cross to the other bank, as the river looked a bit soft and slushy to attempt walking over; the snow was piled almost up to the railings and melting away from the edges like a long mohawk.
- thick wet snow
The crest was neat to wander upon, the flat slab of sandstone with a dusting of snow and thin sheet of water falling away from our feet, but we couldn't see much of the falls itself. If Katie was going to see the full drop we would have to head down to the suspension bridge and past the campers; leashing Logan we cut our way quickly through the tents, trying not to intrude on the sleeping inhabitants. We weren't quiet enough, though.
The main falls were much taller than the upper drop, complete with a camping site and suspension bridge below, and I spent a lot of time checking it out. The forest service road was gated and locked, so it is a mile plus hike; ten minutes down it the black flies were ridiculous and Katie and Logan beat a quick retreat to the car.
Comments
17 comments
Trails are a complete mud pit and are quite unsafe! There was too much rain up here. They need to put down some gravel or close until safe. So disappointed!
Oof, that's sad to hear. This is a great area to check out, but yeah, can imagine it getting pretty slimy with that clay soil.
I was just up there sunday oct 8 and it was REALLY muddy,,,very hard to navigate and many times we had to side journey into the woods as it was impassable! I saw mounds of gravel several times along the trail and wondered WHHHHHY isnt this being laid down?
The falls were filled with mud and the water was very unclear,,,but still kinda cool, we took the atv trail on the way back avoiding most of the treacherous muddy trail.
The new trail is done. It runs parallel to the two-track, and has boardwalk and gravel, and is very easy.
Just visited this spring and pleasantly surprised to see the trail was greatly improved. Wooden planked walkways over the low muddy areas. Another great waterfall to add to the list of fairly accessible. It felt like a journey through the mud on my previous trip. Although the reward was always worth it I can now highly recommend this to the waterfall sightseers not interested in the difficult hike. Its pretty easy now.
Thanks for the update!
happy to hear the path is less muddy and treacherous! thx
Bummer. Another waterfall or scenic site made “easy” to get to. Not really what these areas need. If things are a bit of a challenge or longer hike it keeps some people from going and less erosion and much less traffic & garbage. Yes, everyone should be welcome but taking away the challenge is not the way IMO.
great hike with my son and his girlfriend for my 50th. Defintely would do it again. My favorite thing on our whole trip.
I was just here 10/11/20 and it was a beautiful Fall day, 60 degree weather. With the nice weather and Covid getting more people out, there were quite a few cars in the parking lot and even a couple on the highway. I'm sure it's not like this all the time. BUT I didn't see one piece of trash anywhere and only a handful of people passed me on the trail. Everyone seemed to be in different places at once. BEAUTIFUL falls, great walking trail, so many great things to say...I highly recommend!
We went here for the first time this past Saturday (April 17th, 2021). The hike was definitely worth it. I'm a photographer who just recently moved from Lansing to Ontonagon, and I was not disappointed by the falls at all. I was disappointed in how much trash we picked up along the trails, because some people have no respect for nature. I'm also wondering why there aren't any trash cans anywhere.
Amazing job of the trail. First time back in over 15 years. I always loved the waterfall but it was a VERY sloppy trail! Thank you for all of your efforts to make this an easily accessible trail.
This waterfall was named after my great great grandfather, I am Ojbwe and an enrolled tribal member. I haven't made it to this waterfall yet, and I attended NMU in Marquette. I guess I was oblivious in college, as I grew up off rez. I hope to visit it this summer when I drive up to the rez. I am happy to read that there is a new trail, as I am so much older now!
Hi Lisa,
Our North Country Trail maintains the O Kun de Kun Falls trail as part of the NCT. We would love to hear any info you have about your great great grandfather whom this trail and falls are named after!! please contact us if you would: PWC@northcountrytrail.org
Thank you!
Thank you for explaining the name! We are going this weekend and will think of him while we are there. Looking forward to it!
Seems your only worried about yourself imo. Making things accessible to those with needs doesn't mean that they will litter in the beauty of the land. People who stop at something like this enjoy the site and are not out to litter and cause an issue.
The trails have been much improved in the last few years--tons of walkways and hardly any mud. DNR did a great job. Go check it out.
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