Located in the Upper Peninsula, the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore
features spectacular, colorful rock formations that stretch for 15 miles along Lake Superior. You can hike along the
park's Lakeshore Trail for upclose views of many rocky locations, waterfalls, pristine beaches,
and the Au Sable Light Station. The lengthy
trail stretches over 30 miles from the parking lot at Munising Falls to Grand Marais.
A great way to view the Pictured Rocks is by boat. At Munising's harbor, you can buy a ticket
and board a Pictured Rock Cruises boat for a 3-hour boat ride along the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore.
The cruise takes you past Grand Island, Grand Island Lighthouse, Miners Castle, Miners Beach, and
Chapel Beach before turing around near Chapel Rock. The scenery is magnificent on sunny days in the
fall when the leaves are are ablaze with color.
The Au Sable Light Station is a beautiful lighthouse located at the northern-most part of the
national park. To get to the lighthouse, you must park at the Hurricane River Campground and walk
1.5 miles one way. During the summer, you will want to use bug spray before you venture to the lighthouse because of blackflies and mosquitos.
During the winter, snowmobiling is allowed in parts of the park. The speed limit
is 45 miles per hour for snowmobiles, unless otherwise posted. See the
Munising Area Parks and Trails for a map.
There are no park entrance fees for the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. For camping reservations,
see the
National Park Service's web site.
Munising and Grand Marais are the closest towns to the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore area.
Munising has several motels, stores, and restaurants. Munising Memorial Hospital is located across from the
parking lot for Munising Falls. Munising's harbor is a beautiful spot thoughout the year.
Grand Marais is a smaller town than Munising. There are a few food establishments
and a couple of markets. Grand Marais has a unique lighthouse, a picturesque harbor area, and
sandy beaches. It's also home to the historic Pickel Barrel House, which was built in 1926.
