Bond Falls, Watersmeet Trout Hatchery & Paulding Light

Iron County Day Trip Ideas are endless!

Iron County is the best location for your next vacation. Iron County is the “Gateway to Da’ UP”. Centrally located, Iron County is perfect base camp for trips through the UP. A favorite of mine is a trip west to the Watersmeet Trout Hatchery, then Bond Falls And Paulding Light.
Watersmeet Trout Hatchery & Fish Farm
The Watersmeet Trout Hatchery was built by the State of Michigan in the early 1930’s. It was operated by the state to provide trout for public waters in the Upper Peninsula. The hatchery building itself is 9000 sq. ft. with 17 concrete tanks that are 4.5′ x 17′. In the upstairs of the hatchery, the state provided a living quarters for the workers that operated the hatchery. This living quarters is finished in knotty pine and provided three bedrooms, a living room, dining nook, bath and kitchen for workers. In 1965 the state moved their operations and the hatchery was idle until 1970.
In 2007, Watersmeet Trout Hatchery was purchased by The Giannola family. Dino and Roberta plan to continue building on what the Tiemans started back in 1970. Our goal is to provide a pleasant and fun experience for families that visit us! As well as provide quality service and fish for private and public waters throughout the Upper Peninsula and Northeast Wisconsin. Nothing but smiles and a reel full of fun at the Watersmeet Trout Hatchery and Fish Farm. Bring your family and walk away with smiles and a dinner they will never forget.

Bond Falls:
Bond Falls is in the western U.P. on Bond Falls Rd, east of Pauding MI. This is the most impressive waterfall in Michigan with the possible exception of Tahquamenon Falls. The main drop is 40 feet high and 100+ feet wide. Above the main falls are a series of cascades and rapids that must drop a total of 20 feet.
The water level is controlled by a dam, and a steady flow over the falls is maintained for scenic reasons. Of course during the spring melt the flow is much higher.
Bond Fall is a Michigan State Scenic Site. The site was renovated around 2003. The old parking area was upstream of the falls, and a steep concrete stairway led to the base of the falls. The new parking area is near the base of the falls, and a level boardwalk leads you to prime views of the falls. The area is not quite as wild looking as it once was, but it is accessible to everyone. The trail on the east side of the falls is still wild with some steep rocky climbs. There are other trails that go off into the woods, and there are campsites nearby.
In addition to being very picturesque, this is a very popular waterfall, and unless you visit early in the morning or in winter, you are going to have a lot of company.
Paulding Light

Also known as “The Dog Meadow Lights” People have reported seeing these mysterious lights for 40 years. To this day you can see them on almost any night! Tales of many witnessed this strange light moving towards them, floating in mid air around five feet high and it looked exactly as if someone was carrying a lantern. When it started to get closer to us it would vanish and start all over again each time moving towards us faster and FASTER! There are some haunting legends for this phenomenon. Some say that one night, forty years ago, a railroad switchman while holding his lantern was crushed to death between two cars while trying to signal the engineer.

General and tagged Bond Falls, Iron County, Paulding light, Things to do Iron County, Watersmeet Trout Hatchery.