This peaceful rock spirit lives at Miners Falls, located on the Western edge of the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore in Michigan. Protected under his rock chin are several smaller rock beings.

I was fortunate to have taken a several week long photographic outing a few years ago. I traveled throughout the U.P. (Upper Peninsula) of Michigan and then went on to Wisconsin, the Berkshires and New England for fall color. I visited many of the U.P.’s spectacular waterfalls – each totally unique and different from the others.

Miners Falls is located at the end of a scenic dirt trail through very tall trees filtering golden light on the warm summer day I visited (left).

Path to Miners Falls

At the end you come to a steep set of wooden stairs leading down to an overlook from which you look down even further to the falls. Along the trip down the steps, there is this very beautiful set of trees, one supporting the other, with a very large and poetically curvy root system holding the two in place. (right)

Miners Falls MI Scene

You can see the falls just beyond.

Keep going and the steps end at a platform. From here you view the spectacular 40 foot drop of water over the falls. (below) And our friend the rock spirit, on guard throughout the centuries along with his permanent companions – the rock frog, lizard and nature spirits.

Long View of Miners Falls