Bond Falls is a stunning 50-foot, multi-tiered waterfall located on the Middle Branch of the Ontonagon River in the western Upper Peninsula of Michigan, near Paulding.
Visiting Details
- Hours & Season: The scenic site is officially open daily from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Vehicle access and parking lots are generally open mid-May through mid-October, while foot access remains open year-round.
- Fees: A Michigan Recreation Passport is required for vehicle entry into the main parking lot during the peak season.
- Recreation: The area offers picnic tables, nearby campgrounds, and popular trout fishing
Bond Falls Scenery
Bond Falls is a famous waterfall in the western part of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. It is located on the Middle Branch of the Ontonagon River in Ontonagon County, near the community of Paulding. (The famous ‘Paulding Light’ is nearby). A nearby hydroelectric dam regulates the river flow, but the water remains strong and scenic throughout the year.
Bond Falls is a beautiful place to visit with easy-access trails and bridges to view the falls from all different angles. When I visited, I even saw some people trout fishing here.
Bond Falls Trails
The Bond Falls Scenic Site is very easy for visitors to explore. A 600-foot boardwalk with six viewing platforms sits near the base of the cascade. This main path is wheelchair accessible. Visitors can also hike a dirt trail that leads to the top of the falls, where a picnic area and a nearby reservoir known as the Bond Falls Flowage await.
While walking along the trail, there were many interesting sites to see. The trail itself was dirt, gravel, blacktop, and concrete along the way, and walking it was easy. Benches were provided along the way in case you had to stop to take a rest. While on the trail, I came across an old grill and interesting tree formations.
Scenic Trees Along the Way
Here are some pictures I took of tree formations along the way. The tree roots were an interesting display of beauty if you decide to walk off the designated trail.
Along the way, I found a tree that rotted away but was still held in place through the branches keeping it suspended in the air. Another interesting find was a fallen tree where you get to see what the branches look like within the trunk of the tree.
Bridges Along the Trail of Bond Falls
You get the chance to cross many bridges and view different angles of the falls from these bridges.
Information Plaques about Bond Falls
There are information signs of Bond Falls to read. I’m a sucker for reading these signs while others just walk by them.
Lower Bond Falls
Here are some images of the lower part of the falls with my wife posing next to a unique stone wall. One part of this section looks like stepping stones that you can go across. I wonder how many attempted this and fell into the water. I didn’t have a clean change of clothes with me, so I didn’t try it.
Cascading Waterfall Tiers
Along the way, we got to see a mini-falls that went through the woods. With the river going over large shelves of rocks, it gave beautiful step-like waterwall views.
The water drops about 50 feet over a wide shelf of fractured, ancient volcanic rock, creating a series of beautiful cascading tiers that span over 100 feet across.
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