This New Bridge Opens This Weekend at Michigan’s Tahquamenon Falls

The new 142-foot aluminum pedestrian bridge officially opens to the public this weekend at Tahquamenon Falls State Park in Michigan's Upper Peninsula.

We first told you about this awesome addition to Tahquamenon Falls late last year as they were installing the bridge. It wasn't an easy task that's for sure. They had to actually lower sections of the bridge into the area by helicopter.

This new bridge will make it so much easier for just about anyone to access the island around the Lower Falls. The park had been mostly out of reach for disabled people because you had to rent a row boat and travel across the water to explore the island and its falls. Well, not anymore.

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Kevin Dennis, park supervisor:

We are probably a 10-minute walk from the parking lot. It’s a little bit of a hike to get here down the boardwalk to get to the bridge, but there are several nice views along the way to see and photograph the waterfalls on your way to the bridge. And then we’ve got a half-mile trail that goes around the island for visitors to be able to enjoy the park, spend a couple hours hiking, taking pictures, enjoying nature’s beauty.

Not everybody is happy about the new bridge addition...of course. I noticed a handful of people on social media complaining about it being an eyesore and that it's invasive to the landscape. I can definitely see both sides but at the end of the day, it sounds like it will truly be a nice addition to the falls. Hopefully, I can make my way north this summer to check it out in person.

According to MLive, the park is rebuilding its store and restroom building near the Lower Falls parking lot. The previous structure has been demolished and the new building won’t be ready until next year.