Upper Leatherby Falls on West Branch Huron River

wide, bumpy slide into a deep pool near Mount Arvon

Partial stream over the rock
  • Calm river
  • Dark, snowy waterfall
  • Side view of the snow and falls
  • Tiny plunges above Upper Leatherby Falls
  • Partial stream over the rock

Just a few hundred yards upriver from Leatherby Falls is a wide, fanning slide that empties into a deep pool. The slide is formed from smoothed basalt (with a few dips and crags that cause the water to jump and foam up in places) that is taller than the downstream falls. Upper Leatherby Falls also marks the end of a long string of swamps near the base of Arvon and the beginning of West Branch Huron River's exciting trip down to Lake Superior.

Directions

Turn right on Black Creek Road from Skanee Road and drive 5 miles to Leatherby Road, the first dirt road past Erick's Falls. Turn right on Leatherby, a narrow and windy two track, for about 2.7 miles, trying to stick to the main road. There are a few forks and plenty of tracks leading away from Leatherby - bear right at the forks but don't cross West Branch Huron River. At 2.7 miles follow the road sharply to the right, heading down the now-tall riverbank, for .5 miles to a small parking area.

There is a small network of paths leading down and around Leatherby Falls at the end of the dirt road, which gets very rutted and nasty beyond the parking area. Upper Leatherby Falls is a short walk upstream beyond here.

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