The Ultimate Guide To Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore
Known for its spectacular multicolored rocks cliffs, Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore has a lot to offer – sandstone cliffs, beaches, sand dunes, waterfalls, inland lakes, deep forest, and wild shoreline and much more. The name “Pictured Rocks” comes from the streaks of mineral stain that can be seen on the cliffs. An array of colors occur when water seeps through the cracks and flows down the rock’s surface. The Pictured Rocks National park is open all year round with summer being the best time for sightseeing and hiking, and in winter, it’s popular skiing, snowshoeing, and snowmobiling destination.
Address: Main Visitor Center – 1505 Sand Point Road, Munising, Entrance Fee: No Fee
Must See In Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore
Pictured Rocks Cliffs
The Pictured Rocks cliffs towers around 200 feet above Lake Superior, the most colorful portion of the cliffs begin east of Miners Beach. The best way to see these colored rocks is from the water. There are boat tours from mid-May through mid-October, a two-three hour cruise that takes you into the water, quite close to the colored cliffs offering some breathtaking views of Pictured Rocks. I recommend doing the boat tour, it is the best way to see the Pictured Rocks.
Miners Castle
The Miners Castle rock formation is located approximately 7 miles east of Munising, the viewing platform is just a short walk and is one of the most popular and photographed areas in Pictured Rocks. The views of green-blue water and the sandstone formation is simply mesmerizing.
Chapel Rock and Beach
Chapel Rock, carved by Lake Nipissing, is awe-inspiring! The sight of the Chapel Rock, the Chappel Falls along the way, and the Chapel Beach is worth the 3-mile hike.
Grand Sable Banks and Dunes
These enormous dunes, formed by glacial action, are located at the eastern end of the park. Accessible via a quarter-mile, one-way, a moderately strenuous hike.
Log Slide
Located towards the end of Log Slide Road, in Pictured Rocks, on top of the dunes is the Log Slide Area. It’s told that the log slide was a chute, used for moving logs from the top of the dunes to the bottom of the dunes. Yes, the logs used to slide down from here to the bottom of the dunes, where they were loaded onto the boats. This is a must-see in Pictured Rocks! There’s a viewing platform from where you can see the Au Sable Lighthouse and the Grand Sable Dunes.
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I hope you enjoyed reading the post, The Ultimate Guide To Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, and I expect this will help you plan your trip to Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore.
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