My favorite Michigan getaway is the Upper Peninsula. From stunning Lake Michigan vistas on U.S. 2 to the rocky shores of Lake Superior, there’s always something new to experience in the U.P.
Now that my husband and I are both retired, we’ve been making trips to the U.P. in the fall. Last fall we embarked on a waterfall trip and visited Miners Falls in Munising. We then drove to pretty Grand Marais to visit Sable Falls, a gorgeous part of the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore.
The morning was sunny, with a touch of fall crispness in the air. It was a short drive from Grand Marais to the falls, and we were the only car in the parking lot. The short walk to the falls was relatively easy, and meandered through a beautiful, wooded area full of bird-song and leaves beginning to transform into their fall palette of colors.
There are 168 steps down to the viewing platform. The sound of falling water kept increasing, as did our anticipation as we continued descending. My husband went first. When he reached the platform, he told me not to look at the falls until I reached a certain spot. When I got there, the photo shown here is what greeted me! We’ll never forget this day of beauty, solitude, and being one with nature.
After enjoying the falls, we continued on the path to Lake Superior, where we took in a wide-open expanse of sandy beach and crystal-clear water as far as the eye could see. It was an experience that exemplifies why the U.P. calls to us every year.
I photographed the falls using a Canon R7, with a Canon RF 24-105mm lens. My shutter speed was 1/10; F-stop, 16; and ISO, 320. I used an ND filter and no tripod.
P.S. Sable Falls is located on Sable Creek, in the easternmost portion of the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore in Alger County. The main access road to the falls is H-58, west of Grand Marais. The falls tumble 75 feet over Munising and Jacobsville sandstone formations (geological features of the area). 
Konnie Spenceley lives in Oscoda, and sells her work in various Oscoda and Tawas locations. She also takes orders from her Facebook page (Konnie Spenceley Photography). Spenceley, who’s been photographing nature for six years, self-published a children’s book (“What Did I See?”) that’s available through her Facebook page. Her nature posters are available at the Tawas Point Lighthouse gift shop. Follow her on Instagram at Konnie Spenceley Photography.
