Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore P.O. Box 40 Munising, MI 46862 (906) 387-3700

Multicolored sandstone cliffs, beaches, sand dunes, waterfalls, inland lakes, wildlife and the forest of Lake Superior shoreline beckon visitors to explore the 73,000+ acre park, which at its widest point is only five miles and hugs the Superior shoreline for more than 40 miles. This was the first National Lakeshore and was authorized in 1966.

There is no particular "best season" to visit Pictured Rocks, for each has its own charm and variety of activities. In the spring, wild flowers bloom in great profusion and add to the beauty of the natural scene. The summer brings pleasantly warm weather and abundant sunshine. Fall boasts a colorful display as the hardwood forest changes color. A mantle of snow sets the stage for wintertime adventure.

Michigan state highways M-28 and M-94 lead to Munising; state highway M-77 leads to Grand Marais. County road H-58 and other spur roads provide access throughout the park. The Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore - Hiawatha National Forest visitor informaion center (junction of state highway M-28 and county road H-58 in Munising) is open 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Saturday, year round. It is open seven days a week from mid-May through October, with longer operating hours. The Grand Sable Visitor Center is open July 1 to Labor Day, 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Park headquarters at Sand Point in Munising is open 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, year round, with the exception of federal holidays.

CAMPING: The park has three campgrounds that are accessible by vehicle, Little Beaver Lake, Twelvemile Beach and Hurricane River. All have water, picnic tables, grills, and vault toilets. Each drive-in campground has at least one handicapped accessible campsite. Water is not available at the drive in campgrounds from October 30 to May 1. The camp- grounds are first-come, first-served; a fee is charged. Register upon arrival at the campground. The user fee for drive-in campgrounds is $10.00 per night. There is no entrance fee. Backcountry permit fee is $8.00 for a single backpacker staying one night; $15.00 for a single backpacker staying more than one night (up to a maximum of 14 nights); $15.00 for a party of 2-6 people staying up to 14 nights; and $30.00 for a group of 7-20 staying up to 14 nights.

TRAILS: Self-guiding nature trails are located at Sand Point, Miners Falls, Little Beaver Lake, Twelvemile Beach, as well as many other trails. A 42-mile section of the North Country National Scenic Trail follows the Lake Superior shoreline within Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. Thirteen backcountry campgrounds and eight group sites are spaced every two to five miles along the trail. Only two sites (Mosquito River and Chapel Beach) have toilets. A backcountry permit is required (fee).

BOAT TOURS: One of the most popular ways to see the Pictured Rocks is by boat. From June to mid-October, privately owned boat tours leave Munising daily. Cruises usually are from 2-1/2 to 3 hours along 37 miles of the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. You can even view shipwrecks along the Munising Bay on a Glass Bottom Boat.

UNDERWATER DIVING: The Alger Underwater Diving Preserve at Munising was the first preserve established in Michigan, and is one of the most popular scuba diving areas in the Great Lakes. This Underwater Preserve offers several unusual diving attractions including seacaves, intact shipwrecks, and underwater interpretive trails. The sea caves are actually portions of underwater sandstone cliffs where sandstone has been eroded by waves. Although the caves are shallow,usually only about 20 feet deep, they offer spectacular shallow water diving.

Number of times this page has been accessed since April 12, 2000



Last updated July 16, 2000