Jacob's Falls

Jacob's Falls is right on M-26 (the lakeshore drive) just south of the Jampot bakery, between Eagle Harbor and Eagle River. There's a small sign, but the falls are visible from the road so you can't miss them if you're watching.

No hiking required — the falls are literally right next to the road and visible from your car. However, there's an unofficial steep trail on the left side if you want to climb up and see more tiers of the falls upstream.

There are small pullouts on both sides of M-26 right by the falls, with room for about 8-10 cars total. You can also park at the Jampot bakery 100 feet down the road and walk over.

The path up the left side is very steep and challenging — more like scrambling than hiking. It has loose gravel, slippery rocks, and steep drop-offs. Several reviewers turned back partway up due to the difficulty. Only attempt it if you're an experienced hiker with proper footwear.

The Jampot is a bakery run by monks just 100 feet from Jacob's Falls. They sell homemade jams, jellies, muffins, and other baked goods. Many visitors combine both stops, buying treats to enjoy while viewing the falls.

It's definitely worth a quick stop since it requires no effort to see. The multi-tiered falls are quite pretty, especially with good water flow. Most visitors spend 5-15 minutes here unless they attempt the climb up.

While not a swimming destination, some visitors mention splashing in the shallow pool at the base on warm days. The water is cold and the area is small, so it's more for cooling off than actual swimming.

Yes — what you see from the road is just the lowest tier. The creek continues upstream with several more drops and cascades visible if you scramble up the steep trail. Some reviewers mention hiking the Monk Trail from Eagle Harbor Cutoff Road to see the upper portions.

The falls flow year-round but are most impressive during spring snowmelt and after heavy rains. They can slow to a trickle during dry periods in late summer.