Tibbets Falls

A waterfall you meet along the trail

Public parking

From M-28 near Watton take Baraga Plains Road north, cross the Sturgeon River on the road bridge, and continue to the named Tibbets Falls / North Country Trail parking area on the west side of Plains Road. The Peter Wolfe Chapter's current segment 46 guide confirms this parking area and warns not to block the westbound sandy two-track. The parking is a trailhead, NOT the waterfall GIS coordinate. Use NCTA's current Avenza map #27 and road signs; no live winter clearing, exact driving turnoff coordinates or vehicle access down the sandy two-track is guaranteed.

Walking route

Follow the marked foot connector from the Tibbets Falls trailhead to the blue-blazed North Country Trail, then use the official Peter Wolfe Chapter/Avenza #27 map to follow the Sturgeon River section where Tibbets Falls appears along Segment 44. The waterfall is a series of slate-ledged rapids visible from the trail as it climbs the bluff. Several NCT segments and a separate white-blazed fishermen's spur meet near Plains Road; confirm the correct trail on the current chapter map. Do not drive the unmaintained sandy two-track, attempt an unsignposted river crossing, or walk out onto slick slate slabs for a closer photograph.

Walking time

Allow roughly 1–2 hours for a relaxed outing, including time near the river and route decisions. The chapter supplies segment distances rather than a certified single trailhead-to-waterfall mileage; consult Avenza map #27 for the path you plan to follow.

Trail ownership and maintenance

NCTA's Peter Wolfe Chapter April 2025 guide identifies State of Michigan ownership for Segments 44–46, with the trail maintained and marked by chapter volunteers. This does not authorize roaming through unrelated private parcels or driving on sandy side tracks.

Seasonal access

The chapter warns winter clearing of the named trailhead lot is variable. Baraga Plains Road may be plowed, but access to the parking area and trail is not confirmed for today. Unmaintained two-tracks are not an alternative.

Follow the blue blazes, not the tire tracks

The named parking area is along Baraga Plains Road, about a mile beyond the river bridge according to chapter materials. Walk the signed foot connector to the North Country Trail. Be alert to the white-blazed riverside fishermen's spur that leads toward the road bridge; the blue blazes indicate the NCT. The Tibbets cascade is associated with the Sturgeon River portion of Segment 44. Because several connectors and trail junctions meet here, download the current chapter map before arrival rather than relying on a straight line to the waterfall waypoint.

Take the view from the trail

The chapter describes Tibbets as several hundred feet of low slate drops visible from the NCT as the path ascends a bluff. The downstream rock shelves can offer an inviting photograph, but they are exceptionally slippery, especially during runoff and after rain. Do not scramble out onto the wet ledges or force a river crossing to reach a closer pool. The sound of the river carries well from the maintained trail.

What the forest is like

The trail passes riverbank cedar, soft floodplain ground and drier rises. Several sections have boardwalks and short bridges, while summer grass and berry growth can narrow the tread. Unlike a paved scenic overlook, this is a real forest trail: roots, wet ground and changing water make good footwear and navigation important.

Two distinct road approaches you should not confuse

The chapter's named Plains Road parking area is the ordinary visitor arrival. Its map also shows an unmaintained westbound sandy two-track with possible informal parking near the river. The chapter warns that it is soft, may damage vehicles and is not cleared. This guide deliberately uses the named road parking and walking trail instead. It does not recommend driving to the falls, following logging roads or parking near the Plains Road bridge bend after dark.