Waterfalls in Iron County, Michigan

Three. Horserace Rapids on the Paint River, Chicaugon Falls on Chicagon Creek and Duppy Falls on the Jumbo River are the falls inside the county line. Each one is a short walk from where you park, and each one takes a little effort to find.

Bond, Agate and Canyon Falls get listed with Iron County a lot, but they sit just outside it, an easy day trip away. Bond Falls is the one to make the drive for, and it's right below.

Plan your falls for spring, summer or fall. The back roads that lead to them aren't maintained for winter travel.

The Paint River drops through a rock gorge here in a long run of whitewater, with pine and maple hanging over the cliffs. It's the easiest of the three to visit and the one to start with.

From Crystal Falls, go east on US-2. About 7 miles past the edge of town, turn left on County Airport Road and follow it to the dead end, about 4 miles, the last stretch on gravel. It's a short walk from the parking area, with a few sets of wooden steps down to a clifftop view of the rapids.

Enjoy it from the rocks. This is serious whitewater, so don't wade, swim or try to float it.

Duppy is the wild one, a set of ledges on the Jumbo River up in the national forest in the far northwest corner of the county. There's no sign and no boardwalk, only a path worn in by trout fishermen.

Take Forest Highway 16 north toward Kenton. About 6 miles before Kenton, turn west on Forest Road 3610 and go about a quarter mile to an unmarked trail. It crosses an old quarry to the river. When you reach the water, walk upstream to the falls.

There's no fee and no drinking water. The footing runs from easy to difficult, so wear boots you don't mind getting wet.

In April the Paint runs brown and high with snowmelt, and Horserace is at its loudest and wildest. That's the time to see how much water these rivers carry.

Spring is also when the back roads are at their worst. The road to Chicaugon washes out in spring, and any gravel road can be soft after the thaw. Go slow, turn around if the road looks bad, and walk the rest.

By October the same rapids run clear and dark under maples gone red and gold, and a fall day of hiking or a color drive fits around a stop at the falls.