Big Erick's Falls
For the small size of Big Erick’s Falls there is an awful lot to see here. Once the site of a bustling logging camp, this waterfall now has a state campsite, parking area, and one of the few bridges over the Huron River. The drops are small but uniquely structured, water pouring from one large pool to the next in short chutes over tough, layered rock.
Crossing the bridge over Huron River is like crossing into another land. Paved road and signs are left behind, logging two-tracks and the wilderness take over. The Huron Mountains rise up suddenly, starting with Bald Mountain, and some roads even lead as far as the Yellow Dog Plains. While Big Erick’s Falls may not be large they are still pretty, and their location and surroundings are well worth the visit.
Directions
About twenty miles east of L’Anse on Skanee Road bear right on the gravel road, following the sign for Big Erick’s Campground. After a mile or so on the gravel road (Erick’s Road) the campground will be on the left side and a parking area on the right: park on the right. A path starts at the north (campground) side of the bridge and follows the waterfalls downstream along the bank. The rocky riverbed is exposed for most of the year, offering an alternative, more intimate route.
Photographs
Visits
Seen in March and July.
- broken free of winter, brown cascades and loud
The river had broken free of winter's grip! Big Erick's Falls was flowing, brown cascades making loud noises over the hard rock. The view upriver was still gloomy with snow clinging to trees and ice stretching to cover the two branches of the Huron. Downstream was a different story. This wasn't quite spring melt, at least I didn't think so, yet there was far more water flowing than I had seen during summer visits.
- the campground and parking still clogged in snow
There wasn't much to see out here. The campground and parking area were still clogged in snow and the roads just got muddy and sloppy as I passed over the bridge. The road conditions beyond were about as impassable as I could imagine; Cliff Falls, Cedar Falls and even the Yellow Dog Plains were still unreachable.
There is a nice parking area here, probably for fisherman, along with a rustic campground and trails down the river. I didn't spend much time here, as the falls were small, though I did put a mental bookmark to tempt Katie with camping sometime in the future.
Comments
2 comments
Just bought a house a few miles away partly because what I've heard about the area, secluded and beautiful! I wonder how access to river itself is in areas not in park?
Great place to go and let the kids play in the falls.
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