Lower Penn Falls

The Firesteel River is known to be one of the Upper Peninsula’s slower rivers with a deep and meandering valley carved through the dirt and conglomerate around Lake Mine and Rockland. There are two hidden drops on one of its branches, though, sitting a few dozen yards from each other. The lower falls makes a somewhat sudden cascade down a small drop of rock.

Directions

From the Lake Mine corner of M-26/M-38, head north about four miles. There will be a track leading to the right that connects with the Bill-Nichols ATV trail. It’s a bit hard to pick the correct track, but it is in good shape and will wind for about a half mile through a decent forest before coming out on the well-maintained Bill-Nichols. Either park or drive to the left for 1.5 miles down Bill-Nichols (driving is discouraged, unless you have the proper stickers/vehicle) to an unmarked two-track that heads to the right. Follow this track for a few hundred yards and take the first main fork to the right. It will run straight into East Branch Firesteel below the lower falls.