Go See It
Laughing Whitefish Falls: Go See It
A hundred feet of water fanned out across a sandstone wall, half a mile into the woods of western Alger County.
The facts
- Drive
- About 31 minutes and 26 miles (Google Maps route… from Marquette
- Cost
- A Recreation Passport is required for vehicle entry
- Season
- The road in is seasonal and unplowed in winter…
- Hours
- 8 a.m
Address
Laughing Whitefish Falls State Park, off Sundell Road north of M-94, far western Alger County
DirectionsMore detail
- From Marquette
- About 31 minutes and 26 miles (Google Maps route, read Sept. 26, 2026; allow more in bad weather)
- Cost
- $15 for Michigan plates, added when you renew your registration. Out of state: $12 for the day or $42 for the year
- Season
- The road in is seasonal and unplowed in winter, with no turnaround. In winter the falls are a snowshoe or ungroomed ski trip
- Hours
- To 10 p.m. daily, the DNR day-use hours for state parks
- From the Bridge
- About 2 hours 26 minutes and 147 miles via US-2 W, with the Mackinac Bridge toll (Google Maps route, usual traffic, read Sept. 27, 2026)
What you are walking in to see
The Laughing Whitefish River drops over an abrupt escarpment of sandstone under a thin cap of harder dolomite on its way north to Lake Superior, and the rock is shaped so the water spreads out into a wide, fan-shaped wall. It stands 100 feet tall.
The state park around it dates to 1946 and covers 960 acres. The North Country Trail crosses the north end of the park, with a 1.9-mile spur connecting to the falls trail if you want a longer day.
Before you go
- Directions. From M-94, turn north on Sundell Road and go 2 miles. Keep straight another quarter mile where the pavement turns to gravel. Turn right on Laughing Whitefish Falls Road at the park sign and go 0.4 miles to the lot.
- The walk. Half a mile each way on a natural-surface trail through beech and maple.
- Decks. Three observation platforms. A wooden staircase reaches the middle one 20 steps down and the lower one 137 steps down, so the best view costs you the climb back.
- At the lot. Accessible vault toilet, charcoal grill and a hand pump for water.
- Phone. 906-341-2355 (Michigan DNR).
- Winter. Conditions change; call the DNR before a winter trip.
Sources
- Michigan DNR, Laughing Whitefish Falls State Park Read September 26, 2026
- Michigan DNR, state park rules Read September 26, 2026
- Michigan DNR, Recreation Passport Read September 26, 2026
- Wikipedia, Laughing Whitefish Falls State Park Read September 26, 2026
- Google Maps, Marquette to the park lot (drive time) Read September 26, 2026
- Google Maps, Mackinac Bridge to the park lot (drive time) Read September 27, 2026
Verified September 26, 2026