Queen Anne’s Falls is one of the best-kept secrets in the Keweenaw; most visitors (and more than a few locals) aren’t even aware that it exists. Tucked into the woods about 3 miles north of Calumet, this surprising waterfall is tall and impressive, with a dramatic, multi-tiered drop.
Exploring Queen Anne’s Falls
Getting to the top of Queen Anne’s Falls is pretty easy, even for kids. The trails are wide, open, and mostly flat. The waterfall runs through a cascade of enormous boulders, so there are plenty of places to climb and check out the view. The best spot is the huge boulder about 1/3 of the way down — it puts you right next to the roaring water. Take care near the edge; compared to other waterfalls in the Keweenaw, this one has an extremely high flow.
You can also climb down to the base of the falls. This is the hardest part of the hike, but it’s manageable as long as you have shoes with some traction. (My running shoes were just fine.) The terrain is very steep and often covered in a surprisingly slippery layer of dry leaves.
How To Get to Queen Anne’s Falls
Queen Anne’s Falls is located about 4.5 miles from Calumet, Michigan. The best way to get there is via the old railroad tracks in Copper City. From that point, it’s a mostly flat 0.7-mile walk to Slaughterhouse Creek and few minutes’ hike downstream to the waterfall. (Know where the tracks are? Jump to hiking directions.)
Directions to Queen Anne’s Falls
- From Calumet, drive north on M-26 for about 4.2 miles
- Turn right on on Allouez-Copper City Road in the tiny community of Allouez
- Drive for 0.5 miles to GPS coordinates coordinates 47.283640, -88.394754
- Park where the the road intersects with a wide gravel trail (the old railroad tracks)
Leave your car on the wide gravel shoulder — there’s plenty of room to pull off. Although the trail is wide enough to drive on, cars aren’t allowed. This route is reserved for foot traffic, bikes, and ATVs/ORVs.
Hiking to Queen Anne’s Falls
From the parking area, follow these directions to hike to Queen Anne’s Falls:
- Head south (take a right) on the trail, and walk until you reach a fork.
- Take the left fork; after a few minutes, you’ll pass a small lake on the left.
- Soon after the lake, take a left again. Climb a small hill and walk until the trail turns into a two-track road and ends in a loop. There are a few trails in this area, but they all lead in the same general direction.
- Follow the small footpath that leads from the loop to the creek. (You’ll be able to hear the water at this point)
- Turn right at the creek and head downstream until you find Queen Anne’s Falls.
Each of these points (including where to park and the waterfall itself) are marked on the map above. Once you reach the creek, don’t worry too much about finding a trail — as long as you stay close to the river, you can’t miss the waterfall.
Note: If you’re using Google Maps, you’ll see a little parking lot in Copper City called Queen Anne’s Falls Parking. If you don’t mind bushwhacking, you can also park there and follow Slaughterhouse Creek to the waterfall. It’s not a particularly pleasant route — the underbrush tends to be thick in the summer, and the ground is wet and muddy in the spring.
What Not To Do
If you happen to be looking at your maps app while you’re at the waterfall, you’ll probably notice that the railroad trail isn’t too far away. While it looks like a straight shot, it’s not. This route crosses another branch of Slaughterhouse Creek — one that’s deceptively shallow. I crossed it and immediately sank up to the knee in soft, wet sand (the closest thing I’ve ever seen to quicksand).
After the faux quicksand, there’s a gentle hill and an absurdly steep slope to get back to the main trail. If you don’t mind getting wet and muddy, it’s one way to avoid too much backtracking. For most people, it’s probably more comfortable to climb back up to the top of Queen Anne’s Falls and take the same trails out.
Things to Do Nearby
Ready for more waterfalls? Douglass Houghton Falls — the tallest waterfall in Michigan — is just over 7 miles away. If you want a less-dangerous hike, head to the unique Conglomerate Falls. For a nice post-hike treat, pop over to Keweenaw Coffee Works for a coffee and a pastry. Or, try the ice cream at The Copper Scoop.