Redridge Dam Falls
Most dams don’t make good waterfalls but Redridge Dam is an exception. The main dam is a huge steel one that towers above Salmon Trout River, a historic landmark, a dam that no longer holds back any water. Behind the steel structure the original timber crib stands, a modest collection of logs and earth that still holds back a rather large reservoir, and the water pours over and through the wood to form a wide set of cascades.
Directions
The most direct drive is along Canal and Liminga Road, although a pretty alternate route down the Covered Road is a great side trek. Head down Canal Road off of M-26 in Houghton, a half mile up from the bridge, and follow it for 4.2 miles to Schmidt’s Corner Bar. Turn left on Liminga Road for 6 miles, just past the steel dam to your left before parking on the sandy turn-off on the left side of the road. If you decide to take the scenic option then turn on Cole’s Creek Road, a few miles from Houghton, and take that to Covered Rive and turn left on Liminga.
From the parking area follow the sandy drive up and around the dam. If you want to head down to the water right away, past the plaque, you can but there is no good way through the steel dam. You’ll need to get over it, either by following the sandy drive to the right or attempting a more direct climb. Once on the far side just follow the drive and paths down to the water. The falls sit a few dozen feet upstream of the steel dam.
Photographs
Visits
Seen in March and June.
- ice on the timbers, a few streams still flowing through
Redridge Dam Falls was easy to reach and had a few flowing streams of water through and over the timbers. Faith really liked this waterfall and was willing to head down the bank with me to get a closer view. Someone in the local community had not only been here to break some paths but had strung up some assistance along the steep sections. This was a nice change from this winter's deep snow trudges.
Water spills over and through the timber cribs to create a man-made waterfall, a scenic sight with a muddy flat downstream to provide a good photo vantage. While the drop is artificial it was still pretty cool, the moss and some growth sprouting up on the dam as nature overtakes the wooden structure.
Comments
2 comments
Random comment for you about the wooden dam. The top of the wooden dam did not wash away, it was deliberately removed by the township about 3 years ago. There was a big worry that the dam would give way, and the resulting wood and water combo would damage the steel dam. There was a lot of bickering and back and forth between preservation minded folks, the township, etc., but in the end only the top part was removed. As a result, the lake level lowered considerably, revealing old stumps from trees which had been cut down when the dam was originally constructed. The fields of dead, preserved stumps are really eerie.
I remember reading about that a few months ago - thank you for the clarification.
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