3 Best Ways to See: Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore

Jan 15

Michigan’s Upper Peninsula is gaining popularity with people who love spending time outdoors. Nestled in a bay of Lake Superior, Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore is a federally protected lakeshore stretching 42 miles along the southern coast of Lake Superior including 15 miles of breathtaking sandstone cliffs.

Pictured Rocks Michigan is an incredible summer destination for people who enjoy the outdoors and want to experience a unique landscape of rainbow painted cliffs and sea caves that edge into turquoise waters that rival Mexico!

While summer and winter offer completely different experiences, these Painted Rocks offer a multitude of things to do for the experienced kayaker and climber to family-friendly cruises and hikes.

For a truly unique experience, plan to go camping at pictured rocks, where you can easily hike to the infamous Chapel Rock & Chapel Beach trail then walk a hundred steps from your campsite where you have front-row access to a remote beach.

- Best Time to Visit Pictured Rocks
- Experience - Pictured Rocks Michigan
  - Pictured Rocks Boat Cruises
  - Kayaking Pictured Rocks
  - Best Hikes in Pictured Rocks
- Hotels - Pictured Rocks
- Camping - Pictured Rocks
- Restaurants - Munising MI
- Essentials Items - Pictured Rocks
- Must See Places near Pictured Rocks

Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore

Cost: A day pass for any private vehicle, motorcycle or snowmobile is $10. You can also use your America the Beautiful (National Parks) Pass for free entry.
Operating Hours: Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore is open year-round, 24 hours a day. In winter, the visitor centers and all roads except Sand Point Road are closed to vehicles due to snow.
Location: the majority of the park is accessed through the west side near Munising Michigan. The main visitor center, Munising Falls, is located at 1505 Sand Point Rd. Munising, MI 49862
Time Needed: Ideally, you should plan to spend at least 2-3 days to see all the highlights of Pictured Rocks Michigan.

Best Time to Visit Pictured Rocks Michigan

If you still aren’t sure if Pictured Rocks is worth a visit, the answer is absolutely YES, Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore is one of the most beautiful and under-rated places to visit in the United States. You should plan to visit Pictured Rocks Michigan in summer if this is your first time as the turquoise waters really pop against the lush green trees that grow out from the colorful limestone cliffs.

Late August is my favorite time to visit Pictured Rocks because the days are still warm, but most of the bugs cannot withstand the cooler nights.

The mosquitos and black flies usually start coming out in May, and they hang around until the nights start to drop below 50 degrees (usually around August).

Regardless of when you plan to visit, bring clothing for any weather. Summer thunderstorms can occur at any moment, so it is good to be prepared with a jacket or umbrella even if the weather report shows blue skies.

October in the UP is also beautiful (and less crowded), but come prepared for cold weather.

If you enjoy skiing or snowmobiling through tranquil forests, you will enjoy Pictured Rocks during the winter. Some people even ice climb the frozen waves that crash against the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore.

Best Views of Pictured Rocks Michigan

Learn how to see the best views of the Painted Rocks, sea caves, and waterfalls at Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore.

1) Pictured Rocks Boat Cruises

The easiest and most family—friendly way to see Pictured Rocks Michigan is from a boat on Lake Superior.

Boat Tours in Pictured Rocks Michigan.JPG

Taking a cruise along Pictured Rocks is a great way to see the unique features of the coastline.

Enjoy views of waterfalls and cliffs along the lakeshore as well as the historic Grand Island East Channel Lighthouse.

You can just sit back and relax while the captain and crew do all of the work.

Don’t forget your camera, because the rugged coastline and teal water combine for spectacular photo-ops.

You will probably also want a jacket as the temperature drops when you are out on the lake.

Because only a small part of the lakeshore is accessible by car, boat cruises are very popular.

Due to the popularity of cruises, make sure you get your tickets early.

Pictured Rocks Cruises operates daily from mid-May to mid-October out of Munising Harbor downtown. You can get your tickets at the harbor or on their website.

Pro-tip: If you want to get a seat on the top deck, get in line 45 minutes before departure.

2) Kayaking Pictured Rocks Michigan

Signing up for a kayak tour is going to be the best and safest way to experience the sea caves and cliffs of Pictured Rocks. If you have your own sea kayak, we also listed our favorite place to launch a kayak from down below.

Lake Superior is probably not the best place to jump in a kayak for the first time, but you can join a tour group if you are concerned about your experience or you don’t have the proper gear.

Speaking of gear, make sure you have the correct gear before you start your voyage.

SUPs, canoes, and even normal lake kayaks should not be used in Lake Superior.

Trust me, I am on my SUP for over an hour a day, and there is no way that you make the trek on a SUP or recreation kayak in those waves.

In addition to a sea kayak (15+ feet long), you should have the following gear with you:

Personal Flotation Device - required
Whistle or Air Horn - required
Wet Suit
Spray Skirt (this keeps the water out of the kayak to keep you warm)
Marine Radio (for emergencies)

The best resource for specific information and guidelines for kayaking in Pictured Rocks is the National Parks Service website. The NPS also has a list of certified kayak tour operators.

Kayak at Miners Beach - Pictured Rocks

Miners Beach is a great location to pair with your trip to Miners Castle, as it is a quick 1 mile drive down the road.

Miners Beach is the only beach that you can drive to in Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, so it tends to be one of the busier parts of the park.

The beautiful sandy beach stretches almost a mile, giving visitors plenty of space to spread out for sun bathing or picnicking on the beach.

Miners beach is the launching point for kayak tours of Pictured Rocks or a great place to go for a swim. Dogs are also allowed on the beach here!

3) Hiking Pictured Rocks Michigan

Our favorite way to explore nature is on foot, and Pictured Rocks has some of the most amazing hiking trails we have ever experienced.

Regardless of your hiking skills, you will be able to find a trail for you.

Pictured Rocks has almost 100 miles of trails that allow you to see lush forests, beautiful beaches, gushing waterfalls, and jaw-dropping coastline.

Here are our 5 favorite hikes in Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore:

Miners Castle

Hiking distance: 0.25 miles out and back
Elevation Change: 25 feet
Dogs allowed: yes

Miners Falls Trail and Waterfall

Hiking distance: easy 1.2 mile out and back
Elevation Change: 154 feet
Dogs allowed: yes

If your body is craving a little exercise after sunbathing at Miners Beach, swing by Miners Falls Trail on your way back to Munising.
Miners Falls Trail is a great hike for all levels. An easy 0.6 mile trail leads you through a beautiful forest to the 50 foot waterfall cascading from a sandstone cliff.
At the end of the trail, you descend 64 wooden stairs to a viewing platform perfect for pictures.
Daring hikers can continue past the platform down a muddy slope to reach the falls.
I recommend wearing hiking shoes with good traction if you plan on seeing the falls up close and personal.

Chapel Rock via Chapel Beach Loop Trail

Hiking distance: moderate 6.4 mile loop
Elevation Change: 396 feet
Handicap Accessible: no
Dogs allowed: no

The Chapel Beach loop trail is a great hike that takes you past Chapel Falls along your 3+ mile hike to the coast of Lake Superior.

Once you reach the lake, you will be greeted by the iconic Chapel Rock.

Waves from the ancient Lake Nipissing carved Chapel Rock from sandstone 3,800 years ago.

Until the 1940s, a bridge connected Chapel Rock to the mainland. Since the bridge’s collapse, an intricate root structure stretches from the single white pine on Chapel Rock to the mineral-rich soils on shore.

pictured rocks hikes - chapel beach — After you get some epic pictures of Chapel Rock, take one of the nearby paths to Chapel Beach to enjoy the clear blue water of Lake Superior.
Chapel Beach is also a fantastic stop for a snack or lunch.
The Chapel Beach loop is located in the north section of Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore 30 minutes from downtown Munising.
The last 5 miles before the trailhead are on a maintained gravel road. We saw small cars make it just fine, but keep in mind that the last mile or so can be rough after a rainstorm.
I recommend getting an early start on this hike, because the parking fills up by 10:00 am often in the summer. From the front of the parking lot, the trailhead is on your right.

Mosquito Falls and Mosquito Beach Loop Trail

Hiking distance: moderate 4.6 mile loop
Elevation Change: 403 feet
Dogs allowed: no

The Mosquito Falls and Mosquito Beach loop trail is another beautiful hike leaving from the Chapel Beach parking lot.

Same as the Chapel Beach loop, the 5 mile gravel road can be rough after rain; and the parking lot fills up early.

From the front of the parking lot, the trailhead is on the left.

The trail winds through the forest along Mosquito Creek until you get to Mosquito Falls about 1.2 miles into the hike.

Mosquito Falls is the shortest of the Pictured Rocks waterfalls, but it is still worth the trek.

Continue down the trail another 1.7 miles to get to Mosquito Beach.

Mosquito Beach is more of a giant rock slab with crashing waves than your typical beach.

The teal waves crashing on the rock are something that you should not miss!

Mosquito Beach also has a few hike-in campsites. Similar to Chapel Beach camping, you will need to get your backcountry permits from Recreation.gov in order to stay overnight.

If you are visiting in the early/mid spring, the wildflowers along the trail will be the highlight of your hike.

However, beware of this trail from Memorial Day - July.

As you can guess by the name, the mosquitos (and black flies) in this area of the park can be overwhelming.

As the nights get colder, the bugs die off making August and September great months to hike this loop.

Chapel Beach Loop and Mosquito Beach Loop

Hiking distance: difficult 10.2 mile loop (combined)
Elevation Change: 754 feet
Dogs allowed: no

If you are looking for the best hike in Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, look no further.

This giant loop trail connects the Chapel Beach and Mosquito Beach loops into one of the most amazing day hikes we have ever done.

While the individual loops are beautiful, the true gem of Pictured Rocks is the the epic coastline.

Hiking the giant loop allows you to traverse 4 miles along cliffs 200 feet above the crashing waves of Lake Superior.

The lakeshore section of the trail is in the “Battleship” section of the cliffs. A series of peninsulas look like battleships jutting out into Lake Superior.

The Chapel Beach and Mosquito Beach loop hike was nothing like we have ever experienced, a can’t miss for any avid hiker.

We have hiked a bunch of epic trails like Half Dome in Yosemite and Angels Landing in Zion, and the beauty of this trail rivals those big names. Put this one on your bucket list!

Pictured Rocks Hotels

Comfort Inn & Suites Lakefront: this is the closest hotel to Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. It is about 8 minutes from the entrance to the park and 1 mile from downtown Munising.
It is has Wifi, free breakfast, pet-friendly and breathtaking front row views of the lakeshore!

Munising Motel: for those on a budget, this a great option right in downtown Munising. They have Wifi and are pet-friendly, plus you’ll be right next to all the shops and great restaurants in Munising!
Holiday Inn Lakefront: for those wanting superior quality, right in front of the stunning Lake Superior this is the best high-end hotel in the area! They have Wifi, free breakfast, a huge indoor pool and are pet-friendly.

Pictured Rocks Camping

While you can camp inside Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, you will have to reserve in advance a permit on recreation.gov.

For those of you with your RV or unable to make reservations in time, here are two campgrounds we recommend within 30 minutes of Pictured Rocks.

Bay Furnace Campground is a beautiful national forest campground located 5 miles west of Munising on Lake Superior. Bay Furnace is one of our favorite campgrounds because the spots are large and spaced out and the beach is only a few steps away. Half of the 50 campsites can be reserved online, and half are first come first serve (both options are $22/night).
None of the sites have hookups, but the park does have a dump and water fill station near the entrance. If you know the date of your trip in advance, I recommend reserving a site online. We showed up on a Tuesday at noon, and all of the spots were taken. If you can’t find a spot your first day, the casino across the street will allow RV camping (with electric hookups) for $15/night.
Munising Tourist Park Campground is a good option for any RVers who need hookups. Munising Tourist Park is only 3 miles west of downtown Munising, so you have easy access to everything you need. The spots are close together similar to most RV parks. The campground has access to a nice beach a short walk from your RV.

Restaurants in Munising MI

Munising, Michigan is the closest town to Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore and they have a small, but great selection of food to choose from!

**EJ’s Dine or Dash**

EJ's Dine or Dash is our favorite restaurant in Munising, MI. During our two week stay, we ate at EJ’s three times and tried just about everything they have on the menu.
You must try the the Greek fries!
They smoother perfect crispy fries with feta, tzatziki, and greek-seasoned veggies. They give you huge serving, which was great to split between the two of us.
They also have a dog friendly patio!

**Pictured Rocks Pizza**

Pictured Rocks Pizza is another great restaurant option in Munising. You can choose one of their locally-inspired specialty pizzas such as the Miners Beach or the Pictured Rocks Local Special.
Pictured Rocks Pizza does get busy during peak hours in the summer, so expect to wait in line. Fortunately, their service is quick once you order; and the pizza is very tasty.

**Miners Pasties and Ice Cream**

Have you ever heard of a “pasty”? Pasties (pronounced pass-tees) are a UP favorite.
They are basically hand held pot pies filled with meat and potatoes.
Pasties came to the UP from Cornish mining immigrants in the 1840s, and they have been a staple in the UP cuisine ever since.
While there are a few pasty restaurants in Munising, Miner's Pasties and Ice Cream has the best ones.
Miner’s also has delicious, creamy Wisconsin ice cream that is perfect for a hot summer day.

Essential Items - Pictured Rocks Michigan

Given most people are visiting Pictured Rocks from May-October, it will be ideal to wear a breathable shirt, shorts or lightweight pants, comfortable walking shoes, a light wind jacket, and do not forget bug spray!

Packable jacket: our favorite 3-season jackets are the women’s REI GTX Jacket and men’s OR Foray Gore-Tex Jacket, both are water-proof, wind-proof, durable, and packable.
Hiking shoes: the mens and womens Altra Lone Peaks are our favorite.
Breathable shirt: a lightweight, anti-stink shirt from Patagonia, or this long sleeve is ideal to protect you against the sun and bugs.
Hiking Pants: because of the mosquitoes, I suggest a lightweight pant that can be rolled up like her North Face or his prAna pants.
Bug Spray: early summer can be rough for black flies and mosquitoes, do not forget to bring your favorite heavy-duty repellent.
Sun hat: I love a great hat that is versatile enough to wear casually or on a hike.
Sunscreen: Coola is our go-to lightweight sunscreen that stays on throughout sweaty hikes.
American the Beautiful Pass: If you plan on going to any U.S. national park at least 3 times a year then save money by purchasing the national park pass for $80/year.

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Must-See by Pictured Rocks Michigan

While you’re visiting Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, don’t miss out on this nearby adventures that are definitely worth adding an extra day into your vacation!

Visit Kitch-iti-kipi (“The Big Spring”)