Visiting Marquette, Michigan, always brings new adventures, and on a recent trip, I stumbled upon a delightful secret: Wright Street Falls. Despite forgetting my trusty waterfall guidebook at home, a quick online search revealed an easily accessible waterfall just a stone’s throw from Marquette’s city limits. Intrigued, I set out to explore Wright Street Falls and was pleasantly surprised by what I found.
Wright Street Falls is aptly named, as it’s conveniently located right off Wright Street. Finding it was surprisingly straightforward, with ample parking available, dispelling any initial concerns about accessibility. While not towering in height, the waterfall’s impressive width immediately catches the eye. An overhead water conduit initially obscures a full view, but don’t be deterred – better perspectives await. Contrary to some directions suggesting the right side of the river, I discovered that the left bank offered more rewarding and unobstructed vistas of Wright Street Falls.
Navigating to this Marquette waterfall is quite simple. Wright Street intersects with US-41 just past a Target store, making it an easy landmark to spot. Turning onto Wright Street from US-41 after the Target and proceeding for approximately 1.5 miles will lead you directly to the parking area on your left. A noticeable yellow sign marks the entrance to a spacious dirt parking area. From here, a bridge comes into view, spanning the river and welcoming pedestrians and cyclists. While another parking spot exists a short distance eastward, opting for the first one minimizes your walking distance to the falls. If you find yourself at the Marquette Board of Power and Light, you’ve gone too far and should turn back.
Upon parking, two paths diverge, offering different perspectives of Wright Street Falls. Crossing the bridge and veering left leads you to a path that goes beneath a large water pipe, positioning you on the right side of the river. While this vantage point offers a partial view of the falls, the left side of the river truly unveils the waterfall’s beauty. Instead of crossing the bridge, take the trail to the left of the river, descending slightly. The initial descent is a touch steep, but the trail soon levels out, providing an easy and enjoyable walk. This left-side trail culminates in a more comprehensive and breathtaking panorama of Wright Street Falls.
Wright Street Falls boasts excellent accessibility, scoring a 9/10 for the right side path (very easy) and an 8/10 for the left side (easy to moderate due to the initial slight descent). The waterfall itself has a height of approximately 9 feet, and the round-trip hike to experience this natural wonder is a mere 0.2 miles, making it a perfect short excursion for anyone visiting Marquette and seeking a quick nature escape.
