Bonanza Falls
Some upper peninsula waterfalls have become favorites with visitors who love the sound of the roaring waters, the sight of the foaming rivers, and mist filled forests. However, some travelers prefer quiet and solitude along with spectacular views and that is just what you’ll find at Bonanza Falls. It’s a tranquil spot where you can pause and absorb the solitude of a wilderness river waterfall, surrounded by a pristine pine forest. There are no huge billboards advertising this waterfall so it remains little known and relatively unspoiled.
Located on the Big Iron River just east of the Porcupine Mountains,
Bonanza Falls is not only picturesque it is very easy to visit. In
fact, you can almost drive right up to it. The waterfall consists of
a series of small cataracts formed by wide steps or platforms of
bedrock that stretch across the riverbed from bank to bank. When the
water level is low it is easy to hike out and picnic right in the
middle of the river surrounded by individual waterfalls. It is quiet
out on the river and visitors are often treated to visits by deer
and eagles. Perhaps the terms “hidden treasure” or “hidden gem” have
been overused when describing Michigan attractions, but in the case
of Bonanza Falls the use of either would be more than justified.
A bit of history: Tales of fabulous silver deposits have been around
since the earliest days of exploration in the upper peninsula.
Silver mixed, but unalloyed with native copper, known as "free
silver", has been brought out of the copper mines. The legends grew
large, since most of the silver was smuggled out of the mines, in
the miner’s dinner pails. One silver deposit did exist, near the
Iron River, just inland from Lake Superior. Bonanza Falls was named
by Austin Corser, in honor of his discovery of a rich pocket of
silver ore in 1855. He kept this discovery secret for seventeen
years, because he couldn't file a claim until a government land
grant for a proposed railroad expired, in 1872. Once the discovery
became public, the "silver rush" was on, including the establishment
of the nearby town of Silver City. Early assays came in between
$185.00 to $1,716.00 per ton. Unfortunately, the first silver ingot
refined from the ore came out at $33.00 per ton. The upshot was that
it would cost more to mine the silver, than it was worth. By 1876,
the "silver rush" was over. Then, the lumber companies arrived. The
Greenwood Lumber Company flourished for a while beginning in 1908,
and the waterfall became known as Greenwood Falls. A forest fire
wiped out most of the buildings in 1921, and now there are no
buildings remaining, nature has reclaimed everything. In 1998, this
spot was named a heritage site.