Flint's Waterfalls Are a Hidden Gem in a Tough Town

Flint — Flint is known for a lot of things, but beautiful waterfalls aren’t one of them. The U.P. has them in spades. They've got Tahquamenon Falls, Bond Falls, and countless others scattered throughout the state's vast North.

So how did one of the coolest waterfalls in Michigan end up in Flint of all places?

Concrete.

The Stepping Stone Falls in Genesee County is a massive, 100% man-made concrete waterfall located on the northeast side of Flint, right where the Flint River flows into C.S. Mott Lake.

The entire thing was originally built as a dam, but today it serves as the centerpiece of a beautiful park, perfect for spending a fall afternoon outside, and almost nobody knows it's here.

Around the waterfalls are miles of walking and biking trails, picnic areas, and plenty of wildlife. You can feed the birds and fish, walk along the river, or just take in this brutalist masterpiece.

And during the summer, the falls take on an entirely new kind of beauty at night. So if you're able to come after dark, I definitely would. The entire thing lights up in different shades of blue, purple, green, and red and looks like a completely different place.

So while I typically wouldn't recommend bringing your kids to Flint at night, this definitely makes for an exception.

The falls themselves were built in the 1970s as part of a flood-control project to help regulate the Flint River. The dam also helped create C.S. Mott Lake, the 650-acre reservoir that sits directly behind it.

But they didn't want to just build an ugly concrete dam. The structure was designed to look more like a scenic community showpiece, and I'd say they did a pretty good job.

Eventually, the larger recreation area grew around it into what it is today and now includes places like Crossroads Village, Huckleberry Railroad, and Bluebell Beach, along with miles of trails and C.S. Mott Lake.

I visited on a Tuesday afternoon, and there was pretty much no one else there. With the place to myself, the sound of the rushing water, and walking the trails along the river, it was genuinely one of the most peaceful places I've visited in a while.

Don't come expecting to see Tahquamenon Falls. We are in Flint, after all.

But if you just want somewhere to take the family for the day, a pretty place to spend your lunch break, somewhere to clear your head or just want to see a cool concrete waterfall, this place is perfect.

Stepping Stone Falls will stay open every day from 8 a.m. until sunset through November 30, and admission is free. It closes during the winter and will reopen for the summer season on May 1.

So when your family is planning its next fall road trip and you throw out "Flint" as a suggestion, give them a second to finish laughing.

Then show them Stepping Stone Falls.

It's a beautiful little spot that almost nobody outside the area seems to talk about. And if nothing else, it'll give you a reason to show Flint some love.