Upfirst
Community Starlight
April 2023
April Hike to Stoney Mills
Stoney Mills Dead River Falls, photo by Todd Carter
Marquette Township, Michigan, USA
April 13, 2023
April 13, 2023, Marquette, MI, USA, by Todd Carter
This morning I hiked to Stoney Mills, Forestville Location, Marquette. It was the first day I felt it would be safe to give the hike a try. It was wild! The river is roaring! There is still plenty of ice and snow along the trails, so it was very slippery.
It was a rugged workout to get up and down through the valleys and ridges to cliffs overlooking the river. Many times I slid on my butt down icy river banks hanging on to anything I could get ahold of, like tree roots and branches, so I wouldn't tumble. I used ski poles because the embankments were so steep and icy. The ski poles helped to keep me balanced. I left my snowshoes behind about a third of the way in to the falls in a cliff on the edge of the river because I did not need them.
It was well worth the hike to experience the wildness of the river and the falls, but it was a little dangerous today. In a week or so, hopefully it will be clear of ice and snow. It is rugged terrain and cliff climbing that might be difficult for some, depending on the path taken. There are multiple paths. The ones closest to the river are the steepest.
Parking is available and free at the end of Forestville Road.
My 2021 pictorial "Map of Forestville," including Stoney Mills and Dead River Falls, and parking areas, will guide you to the falls.
Stay safe, have fun, and be well! --Todd
Stay safe, have fun, and be well! --Todd
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Todd Carter
Michaeleen (Mike) OSullivan
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