• Lake Superior in a stormy mood. Photo copyright Craig Blacklock

    Pictured Rocks

    National Lakeshore Michigan

Scenic Sites

Many areas within Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore are easily accessible by vehicle or short hiking trails. While enjoying these scenic sites, take time to enjoy the forests, wildlife, and lakes too.
 
Petit Portal is just one of spectacular formations of the Pictured Rocks on Lake Superior.

Petit Portal

NPS photo by Brenda St. Martin

Pictured Rocks
The Pictured Rocks stretch for about 15 miles along Lake Superior from Sand Point on the west to just after Spray Falls on the east.

Colorful and bold, the Pictured Rocks tower 50 to 200 feet directly from Lake Superior. The name "Pictured Rocks" comes from the streaks of mineral stain that decorate the face of the weather-sculpted cliffs. Sandstone cliffs of ochre, tan, and brown - sandwiched with layers of white, green, orange, and black - glisten against the cloud-streaked sky and clear waters of Lake Superior.

Miners Castle provides a wonderful vista of the Pictured Rocks cliffs. At Sand Point, the cliffs are off in the distance.

The North Country National Scenic Trail extends the length of the lakeshore, providing beautiful views along the trail for both backpackers and day hikers. For safety's safe - please stay away from the cliff edge!

A National Park Service authorized concessioner operates a non-stop boat tour of the Pictured Rocks cliffs. The cruises leave from Munising (late May to mid October) for a water view of the Pictured Rocks.

 
Sand Point beach on a peaceful July morning, just waiting for the afternoon heat wave, swimmers, waders, kayakers, and picnickers.

Sand Point Beach

NPS photo by Brenda St. Martin

Sand Point
Located about four miles northeast of Munising, at the end of Sand Point Road.

The Sand Point beach is a popular spot for walking in the evening to watch the sun go down over Munising Bay. Beach enthusiasts enjoy the long expanse of Lake Superior shore, though the water is often too cold for even the hardiest swimmers.

The Sand Point Marsh Trail, a half-mile disabled accessible interpretive trail, features a large print brochure for visually impaired visitors. Sand Point is a good place to look for warblers in spring and fall.

Nearby at former Munising U.S. Coast Guard Station, a 36-foot self-righting motor lifeboat is on display in the boathouse from May through October. Park headquarters is also located on Sand Point.

 
Miners Castle is the best-known feature of the Pictured Rocks cliffs, and is accessible by automobile.

Miners Castle

NPS photo by Brenda St. Martin

Miners Castle
Located about 6.5 miles east of Munising on Alger County Road H-58, then five miles north on Miners Castle Road.

Miners Castle is the most famous formation of the Pictured Rocks, and is accessible by vehicle and short trails.

Beginning at the picnic area, a paved foot trail leads past interpretive exhibits to breathtaking overlooks of Lake Superior and Grand Island. Stairs and a steeper trail lead to the lower overlook adjacent to Miners Castle. Miners Castle site bulletin (pdf)

Erosion over long periods of time has created the interesting rock formations that give this place its name. A rockfall in 2006 dramatically changed the look of Miners Castle.

 
Miners Beach extends for one mile on Lake Superior where waves roll in to polish beach cobbles. 

Miners Beach

NPS photo by Ed Lasich

Miners Beach and River
Located about 6.5 miles east of Munising on Alger County Road H-58, then six miles north on Miners Castle Road.

A picnicker and beach walker's delight, Miners Beach stretches for one mile along Lake Superior where waves roll in to polish beach cobbles. Miners River is popular for steelhead fishing in spring and fall.

Whenever at a beach, be aware of rip currents, powerful currents of water moving away from shore. They can sweep even the strongest swimmer out to sea.

 
It is a two and one-half mile to Chapel Rock and Beach from the closest parking area.

Chapel Rock and Beach

NPS photo by Gregg Bruff

Chapel Rock and Beach
Located about 15 miles east of Munising off Alger County Road H-58, then about 5 miles north to the end of Chapel Road (drive), then 2.5 miles (hike) to Lake Superior.

Trails to the beach overlook Chapel Lake with views of the beautiful Chapel Falls on the west side.

The Chapel area was named by early European explorers and is found on early maps as La Chappelle. Chapel Rock is a remnant of Cambrian age sandstone. The archway between the rock and the mainland collapsed in the 1940's. It and the remaining arch were carved by Lake Nipissing high waters some 3800 years ago.

Chapel Beach is also a remnant of Lake Nipissing, blocking Chapel Creek to form Chapel Lake. The area invites hikers and boaters to linger, and a popular backcountry campsite is found here. Chapel Basin Day Hikes site bulletin (pdf)

 
Visitors stroll along Twelvemile Beach as Lake Superior waves roll gently to shore.

Twelvemile Beach

NPS photo by Gregg Bruff

Twelvemile Beach
Located along the Lake Superior shoreline; access at the Twelvemile Beach Campground, about 16 miles west of Grand Marais on Alger County Road H-58.

The Pictured Rocks cliffs give way to this isolated beach strand shortly after Spray Falls. The beach continues until the Grand Sable Banks rise high above Lake Superior near Grand Marais. Twelvemile Beach is a wonderful place for long walks along the shore.

 
This white birch forest is located along the entrance road to Twelvemile Beach Campground at Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore.

White Birch Forest

NPS photo by Ed Lasich

White Birch Forest
Located along the entrance road to Twelvemile Beach Campground, about 16 miles west of Grand Marais on Alger County Road H-58.

This picturesque stand of white birch welcomes visitors to Twelvemile Beach and Lake Superior, and features the 2-mile self-guiding White Birch Nature Trail.

 
The Grand Sable Dunes tower over Lake Superior from this photo taken at the Log Slide.

View to the east from the Log Slide

NPS photo by Ed Lasich

Log Slide
Located about 7 miles west of Grand Marais on Alger County Road H-58, then almost 1 mile north on Log Slide Road.

Legend has it that logs sent down the dry log chute would generate enough friction to cause the chute to catch fire. Today the chute is gone, but the lumberjack stories still linger as you gaze out over the Grand Sable Banks and Dunes. This is a good place to glimpse the Au Sable Light Station to the west and the Grand Sable Banks and Grand Marais to the east.

 
The Grand Sable Banks and Dunes tower more than 300 feet above Lake Superior.

Grand Sable Banks and Dunes

NPS photo by Gregg Bruff

Grand Sable Banks and Dunes
Located about one mile west Grand Marais; the best place to view is from the trail beginning at the Sable Falls parking area.

Another access point for the dunes is from the North Country Trail, one-quarter mile east of the Log Slide. Please stay on the trail as the dunes vegetation is fragile.

Five square miles of Grand Sable Dunes are perched atop the 300-foot high Grand Sable Banks. Left by enormous glaciers, the Grand Sable Dunes dwarf comprehension.

A portion of the Grand Sable Dunes is set aside as a Research Natural Area. Grand Sable Dunes RNA site bulletin (pdf)

 

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Did You Know?

The flowers of submerged buttercups rise above the surface of the water and can be quite showy, even when small.

Several species of plants in the Buttercup Family are aquatic, growing underwater in lakes and ponds.  A few are even amphibious, meaning that a single plant lives partly on sand along a shoreline and partly submerged.  Such plants have runners, like a strawberry plant, and grow roots along the runners. The submerged leaves appear quite different from the ones growing in air.