SOME QUICK FACTS
Park Area
The national lakeshore is managed in two zones for a total of 73,235 acres (114.5 square miles). The Shoreline Zone is owned by the National Park Service and includes 33,929 acres (53.0 square miles). The Inland Buffer Zone is a mixture of State of Michigan, Forestland Group, and other private lands encompassing 39,306 acres (61.4 square miles). Pictured Rocks, established in 1966, is the first of the nation's four national lakeshores. (Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore became Indiana Dunes National Park in 2019.)
Park Length - Park Depth
42.8 miles long - 5.75 miles at its widest point.
Park Elevation
The Pictured Rocks cliffs rise approximately 200 feet above Lake Superior at their highest point. The Grand Sable Banks and Dunes rise approximately 300 feet above the lake at their highest point.
Wilderness
Established in 2009, the Beaver Basin Wilderness, located within the Shoreline Zone, is 11,740 acres (18.3 square miles).
Miles of Hiking Trail
Approximately 111 miles of hiking trail.
Watersheds
Most of park lands drain into the Lake Superior watershed. Within the Lake Superior watershed are Munising Falls Creek, Miners River, Bridalveil Creek, Beaver Creek, Mosquito River, Hurricane River, Sevenmile Creek, Chapel River, Spray Creek, Sullivan’s Creek, and Sable Creek.
Six Major Lakes
Miners, Little Beaver, Beaver, Trappers, Chapel, and Grand Sable. Several minor lakes include Legion and the Shoe Lakes.
Biota
Mammals - 42 species
Birds - 179 species
Amphibians and Reptiles - 17 species
Fish - 57 species (26% are non-native)
Butterflies and Moths - 103 taxa
Dragonflies and Damselflies - 60 taxa
Other Invertebrates - 233 taxa and counting
Vascular plants - 755 taxa (14% are non-native)
Lichens, Bryophytes, and Mosses - 408 taxa
Algae - 207 taxa and counting
