Summary:
It is said that this is the best single waterfall in the Western Upper
Peninsula, and the second best waterfall in Michigan. Lee and Karen
Duquette know that if you are in the Western U.P., possibly on your
way to or from the Porcupines, this is definitely worth a stop. Bond
Falls waterfalls are part of the middle branch of the Ontonagon River,
3-1/2 miles east of Paulding, Michigan. Bond Falls drops into two sections
and is one of the most spectacular waterfalls in the Upper Peninsula. |
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Below: Part of the Ontonagon
River |
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At first, Lee Duquette thought
that this was Bond Falls, and he was very disappointed. But then he
realized that this was actually river run-off from the nearby dam, thus
the siren warning sign shown below.
Interestingly, while Bond Falls is a natural waterfall, it has been
enhanced by a nearby dam operated by the Upper Peninsula Power Company
(UPPCO), which helps maintain a steady flow. |
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Below: Lee and Karen Duquette
went back out to the main road and walked a bit up the street, then
turned back into the woods and across a small bridge before they found
the path they were meant to take to Bond Falls. |
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Below: Bond Falls is created
b the middle branch of the Ontonagon River as it tumbles over a thick
belt of fractured rock, diving into numerous small cascades. In a rush
of white water, the first drop stretched down the river over flat sections
of dark rock. |
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Below: The river widened slightly
to about 100 feet with a total drop of about 50 feet into a small pool,
forcing the rest of the falling water to curve around it on both sides. |
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Below: Branches from the nearby
trees bend toward the river as the fast flowing water passes. From here
the river curved to the right and disappeared behind the trees. |
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After walking down about 75
stairs, Lee and Karen Duquette noticed that the banks were lined with
a cement abutment to minimize erosion by the strong flowing Ontonagon
River. |
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Below: The cement abutment
ended at a viewing platform, which provided an exciting close-up view
of the main section of Bond Falls. |
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The main falls was breathtaking.
The water falls 50 feet in a series of step-like drops. The crest of
the waterfall is about 100-feet. |
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The squared-off
rocks are scattered haphazardly in many different layers, which causes
the water to bounce off their flat tops in a complicated pattern of
white streams. |
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Below: When viewed from the
front, a small grass and tree covered island divides the falls into
two unequal sections. |
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Below: From the base, the
water flowed past a scattering of huge rocks which have fallen from
the cliff to form a large pool which circles out from the falls. |
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From there the river divides
and continues through the forest. Excellent views of the falls come
from the two wooden bridges, spanning each section of the stream. |
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The Bond Falls may look familiar even if you have never been there
because it has been used in many Michigan calendars and tourism promotions. |
