The Upper Peninsula’s Baraga County is home to dozens of waterfalls, most of which can be visited without too much work. Erick’s Falls is a small and easy-to-visit roadside waterfall east of Skanee. What this waterfall lacks in size it makes up for with its location. The west branch of the Huron River runs under the road here then makes a drop of a few feet over a blocky section of rock, with tall trees lining the banks. This is a great waterfall to visit if you want to have one all to yourself!

We found this waterfall thanks to directions in Phil Stagg’s Waterfalls of Michigan book and Jacob Emerick’s fantastic Waterfalls of the Keweenaw website. Getting here involves driving more than 18 miles east of L’Anse and then another five miles down a gravel road. You will pass many other waterfalls on the way out here, including Silver Falls and the waterfalls on the Slate River. Big Erick’s Falls is just a few miles away as well.

Erick’s Falls is a drop of three to four feet, at a point where the river is about 10 feet wide. There is a small parking area here and it looked like this has been a makeshift campsite for visitors from time to time.

We had this waterfall completely to ourselves, so we grabbed our water shoes and waded into the river for better photos. This is such a peaceful spot and we stayed for almost an hour.

There may be bigger waterfalls in the area, but this one was pretty special since it was my first time in awhile visiting a new waterfall. I’d love to get back here at peak fall color!

From Skanee, head east on Skanee Rd. and follow it for 18.5 miles. Keep an eye out for Black Creek Rd. on the right (if you get to the point where the road forks with Portice Rd. heading left and Erick Rd. heading left, you’ve gone too far. Turn around and Black Creek Rd. will be the first road on the left.), turn down Black Creek Rd. and follow it for more than four miles. You will cross a bridge over the river then see the parking area (above) on the left side of the road. You can see and hear Erick’s Falls from here.