Bond Falls
Easily one of the Michigan’s best known waterfalls, Bond Falls is formed from the outflow of Bond Falls Flowage (an upstream reservoir). A small roadside park and multiple paths maintained by a mixture of UPPCO and the state provide easy access to an impressive dome-shaped waterfall. Wooden pathways over the river give unique panorama views of the large cascade on black rock.
While the large lower waterfall is the main feature Bond Falls also has multiple upper drops. Small, even drops over stepping volcanic rocks mixed with short blocks and chutes lead all the way back up to the upstream reservoir and convenient gift shops.
Directions
Head east on Bond Falls Road from US-45, located about 9 miles south of Bruce Crossing. Follow the curvy road for 3 miles to the Bond Falls area, which has a gift shop and several signs nearby.
Two main ways lead to the falls. From the state park there are easy paths to the wooden walkways that lead below the main drop, but you may need a pass to use it. Alternatively you can park on the road above the falls, near the gift shop, and follow the older path with cement stairs past the upper drops to wooden walkways.
Photographs
Visits
Seen in March, August and November.
- still flowing healthily, with the walkways iced over
Normally a busy spot crowded with visitors, Bond Falls was almost completely vacant. I was surprised to see the water still flowing healthily from the reservoir; snow and ice, which had choked up almost every river I had visited this winter, did little to stop up the water. There were a few spots where the river overflowed its banks, dribbling out onto the cement path, and now those spots had formed slick ice that made sections of the path impassable.
- running clear, with snow on the paths
The falls were running, clear white plunges over the dark rock. The three of us followed the river down from the gift shop, finding multiple upper drops that I didn't see on my last visit; our path was covered in snow but easy to follow, with only a few icy spots from the river's overflow. There was not a single person here today but us, a nice change from the cluster over the summer, and the falls were amazing.
While the falls were impressive, with multiple upper drops and a large reservoir above, trying to take photos and hold an excited puppy in check around so many people was quite difficult.
Comments
4 comments
This is probably my favorite waterfall trip so far! It was great, aside from the slippery roads!
The roads were sooo bad that day! However, it was nice that there was almost no touristy business going on at Bond falls.
Don't miss this falls! It is spectacular, probably the second-best Michigan falls next to Tacquamenon. Easy to access to.
Better than Tahquamenon falls in our opinion. Bond is the best we have encountered so far in our waterfall journey thru Michigan.
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