Boney Falls Basin

Boney Falls Basin

Directions:

From US-2/41 south of Gladstone, drive west on South Hill Road, which becomes County Road 426. Follow CR-426 about 11 miles to County Road 523. Continue for 7 miles and turn right (east) at the sign near the dam. The campground and boat access are 1 mile farther north on the right side of the road.

Size:

720 Acres

Description:

This scenic, forested impoundment on the Escanaba River offers beautiful scenery and good forest and wetland wildlife viewing. A small boat access and a primitive campground add to the attractiveness of this site.

Wildlife Viewing:

Eagles and hawks are commonly seen soaring above the impoundment and river corridor. Woodland songbirds are vocal residents in the site’s forested areas. Timber management on portions of these upland forested areas has created a diversity of forest age classes, which attracts and provides breeding habitat for a wide variety of forest songbirds. The gentle current of the Escanaba River allows canoeists to enjoy a long stretch of river upstream from Boney Falls. An improved canoe portage offers canoeists passage around the dam levee. Fly fishing for brown trout is popular in this area from June throughout the summer.

The river is shallow, so canoeing may be difficult during periods of low water.

Facilities and Opportunities:

• Restrooms – two vault toilets at the campground.
• Picnic – picnic area with tables near the dam.
• Camping – rustic campground, 8 primitive campsites with fire pits.
• Boat Ramp – at campground with boat dock.
• Drinking Water – hand pump at campground.
• Fishing – fishing pier/deck in tailwaters.

View/Download the map for Boney Falls Basin

Information courtesy of the Department of Natural Resources

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