Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore: 4 Day Adventure

Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore is situated in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, along the southern coast of Lake Superior, between the towns of Munising and Grand Marais. The park features an extensive network of nearly 100 miles of hiking trails, which allow visitors to explore stunning beaches, lush forests, sandy dunes, picturesque lakes, unique rock formations, majestic waterfalls, and the vibrant rocky cliffs that give the park its name. The scenic beauty of this park is truly unmatched and provides an unforgettable experience. Below is a four-day itinerary to help you plan your own adventure. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions!

Entrance Fee:

$20 for a 7-day vehicle pass or $30 for an annual pass.

If you are visiting multiple parks and are not traveling with a 4^th grader, I highly recommend an America the Beautiful Pass. It covers the entrance fees for over 2,000 federal recreation sites, including all national parks. It also makes your entrance into most parks quicker😊 If you have a 4^th grader in your crew, check out Every Kid Outdoors to get a free National Park Pass!

Lodging:

Pictured Rocks has 3 campgrounds- Hurricane River, Little Beaver, and TwelveMile Beach. Reservations can be made here- Pictured Rocks Camping. The park also allows back-country camping with a permit. Backcountry permits can be found here- Pictured Rocks Permit.

Munising, MI, has several hotels, cabins, and AirBnb/VRBO options for those who prefer not to camp. We stayed at Munising Tourist Park and would definitely recommend it. For those with campers, they had full hookup sights right on the lake, and the views from the sites were stunning.

Dining:

There are no dining options in Pictured Rocks. There are, however, MANY options in Munising, MI. Recommendations: The Fish Basket, Muldoon’s, Main Street Pizza (we ate there twice😊).

Must Know Before You Go:

Many places in the UP are closed or have limited hours starting October 1^st.
Parking in the summer months can often be tricky. Hike early or late to avoid crowds or consider using the park’s shuttle service.
Book your boat tour in advance- Pictured Rocks Cruises. It was one of my FAVORITE ways to experience the park, and you won’t want to miss views from the water😊
Michigan’s Upper Peninsula has so much wildlife, including bears, moose, and wolves. Please review bear safety before heading out.
Many trails near the cliff ledge, especially the Chapel Loop Trail. Use caution, especially with little ones running ahead.
Do NOT use canoes or recreational kayaks on Lake Superior. Sea kayaks are the only kayaks that should be used.
Plan for all weather on every trail. On many of our days there, the weather and lake went from sunny and calm, to stormy with massive waves and harsh winds so quickly!
The biting flies can get brutal near the shore. Repellent does not work on them. Wear loose pants and socks.
As always, please follow the Leave No Trace principles.

Cell Service:

There is no cell service throughout most of the park. If you’re traveling with multiple vehicles, I highly recommend walkie-talkies to communicate. Walkie-talkies would also be beneficial on the trails. We came across several lost and separated groups while hiking the longer trails.

4 Day Itinerary

Day 1

Spray Falls Boat Tour-

The Spray Falls Boat Tour is the best introduction to Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. Several companies have boat tours of the Pictured Rocks area, but we went with Pictured Rocks Cruises, and I would absolutely recommend it.

They offer a Classic Cruise and Spray Falls Cruise. Spray Falls is spectacular, so that is the cruise I would recommend. It is 2 hours long, and you really get to see everything. The captain even takes it just as slow on the way back, so the other side of the boat can have the same views as those on the way out.

*No matter what cruise you choose, arrive an hour before departure. Seats are not assigned, and there is very little standing room on the back deck. If you want to take pictures, you must secure a seat on either the upper deck or near a window on the first and second levels. Your views will be limited if you sit anywhere else, and you’ll pay the same price as those with incredible views. *

Munising Falls-

After the boat cruise, jump in your car and drive the 2 miles to the Munising Visitor Center. This is where you can buy a parking pass for the rest of your visit. The Visitor Center is currently closed for renovations. However, restrooms are still available, and there is a ranger in a temporary trailer where you can buy your pass and ask any questions.

This trail is an easy 0.4 miles to the incredible 50 ft falls. The path is paved with minimal elevation gain.

Wagner Falls-

After Munising Falls, jump back in the car and drive the 1 mile to the Wagner Falls Scenic Site. The trail to the 20 ft falls is an easy 0.3-mile roundtrip with minimal elevation gain.

Alger Falls-

Just seconds from the Wagner Falls Lot is Alger Falls. It requires no walking as it is right off the main road as you turn back onto M-28 from M-94. Park on the shoulder to enjoy the falls. Please do not climb on or near the falls, as it is on private land.

Day 2

Miners Falls-

Head to the Miners Falls Lot off Miners Falls Road. It’s approximately 10 miles from downtown Munising. This trail is 1.5 miles with approximately 100+ ft of elevation gain. The trail is well-marked and easy to follow, and the turnaround point is the mighty 50 ft falls. Most of the path is easy. However, there is a steep set of stairs down to the fall’s second overlook. After checking out the falls and making your way back to the car, head another 2 miles down Miners Castle Road to the lot at the very end.

Miners Castle-

One of Pictured Rock’s most famous rock formations is Miners Castle. There are two overlooks on the easy 0.5-mile trail. The trail has less than 100 ft of elevation gain, and the fantastic views of both the rock formation and Lake Superior should not be missed😊

Miners Beach/Elliot Falls-

Parking for Miners Beach is a mile from the Miners Castle lot via Miners Beach Road. From the parking lot, it is just a short walk through the trees to the stunning beach below.

Elliot Falls is at the easternmost end of Miners Beach, and there are several ways to get there. Our kids love the sand, so we walked the length of the beach until we reached the end and the lovely Elliot Falls.

If your legs are not up for that much sand walking, there are two trail options. The first is from the west end of the Miners Beach lot. Take the North Country Trail east for approximately 0.6 miles before heading down to the east end of the beach and Elliot Falls. This trail is 1.4 miles roundtrip with minimal elevation gain.

The last option would be to head back to your car after exploring the west end of the beach and drive to the other end of Miners Road. There is a short path down to the falls area from there. It is approximately 0.3 miles roundtrip.

Sand Point/Marsh Trail-

The day’s last stop is Sand Point. The first thing I would do from the Sand Point parking lot is head across the street to walk the short Sand Point Marsh Trail. The Marsh Trail is an easy 0.5-mile loop trail with minimal elevation gain through a lovely wetland area. The scenic route is both stroller-friendly and wheelchair accessible.

After enjoying the trail, head to the beach to take in more expansive views of Lake Superior.

Day 3

Sable Falls-

The first stop of day 3 is Sable Falls. The Sable Falls Trail is 0.6 miles roundtrip with approximately 100+ ft of elevation gain.

The trail is easy to follow just off the large parking lot accessed via Sable Lake Road. It is moderate in difficulty only because of the 168 stairs down to the gorgeous falls. After viewing the 75-foot falls, you can follow the boardwalk a little further for more beautiful views of Sable Creek before eventually landing at another lovely Lake Superior beach.

After exploring the beach, head back up those daunting stairs and veer right at the trail junction to head toward the Grand Sable Dunes Trail.

Grand Sable Dunes Trail-

The Grand Sable Dunes Trail is 0.6 miles roundtrip. The well-worn path is easy to follow, but it does require hiking through sand just after crossing the bridge over Sable Creek, which is always a little more challenging. After the bridge, continue through the forest for a few more minutes before coming to the dunes. Continue the sandy path until you reach the edge and the incredible dune and Lake Superior views. The well-worn path is easy to follow but not marked or even on the park map.

When you are done checking out the Dunes area, head to the parking lot to jump back in your car and head to the Log Slide Overlook.

Log Slide Overlook-

The parking lot for the Log Slide Overlook is located 7 miles west of the Sable Falls lot via H-58.

The trail to the Log Slide Overlook is approximately 0.4 miles roundtrip with minimal elevation gain. Along the way, there will be historic logging equipment and interactive signs that will give you information about the history of logging at Pictured Rocks.

Once you are at the overlook and one of my favorite views in the entire park, you’ll want to keep little ones close near the 175 ft drop-off. Also, if you really squint while looking west, you can spot where you’re headed next- Au Sable Light Station.

Au Sable Light Station-

The trail to Au Sable Light Station can be accessed from the lower Hurricane River Campground. It is a 3-mile roundtrip trail with minimal elevation gain that follows the historic US Coast Guard Access Road. As the trail runs along the shore, you can spot exposed shipwrecks in the water below. Look out for signs and sets of stairs leading down to the beach near the shipwreck sites.

Upon arrival at the lighthouse, visitors can explore a small museum and take a 30-minute ranger-led tour of the grounds, available Wednesdays through Sundays from June to September. The cost is $5 per person, and exact change is required.

After exploring the grounds, head the 1.5 miles back to your car and head to the next stop.

Lake Superior Overlook-

The Lake Superior Overlook is another mile west on H-58. Just off the large parking lot is a viewing area and beach access. Our kiddos loved exploring the beach and all of the beautifully vibrant rocks.

Also, if the weather is warm enough, the beach is a perfect place for a swim😊

Beaver Basin Overlook-

The last stop of the day is the Beaver Basin Overlook. However, a vehicle with 4-wheel drive is recommended to access this area. If you do not have 4-wheel drive, skip this last stop. The overlook is 17 miles from the Lake Superior Overlook. And the views are stunning, especially in the fall😊

Day 4

Chapel Loop Trail-

If you only had one day at Pictured Rocks, this is the trail you can’t miss. The Chapel Loop Trail is 10.2 miles roundtrip with almost 800 ft of elevation gain and an endless amount of scenic beauty with every mile.

You can take the loop in either direction. We wanted water views as early as possible, so we chose to head towards Chapel Rock first. The first stop will be Chapel Falls, approximately 1.2 miles from the trailhead. The first platform will give you the best views of the 60 ft falls. Next, you will loop over the falls for another, sometimes partially obstructed view of the falls.

After the falls, head another 2 miles to Chapel Rock. There are two areas to view the incredible rock formation before crossing the footbridge to Chapel Beach. Chapel Beach is a great place to stop for a snack or lunch.

After relaxing at Chapel Beach, I highly recommend taking a quick side trip to the pit toilets before embarking on the 4.5-mile lakeshore trail to Mosquito Beach. This section of the trail is one of the most spectacular trails I have ever hiked but be prepared for it to take twice as long because you will constantly want to stop and take in the breathtaking views. It’s important to use caution as most of these 4.5 miles are along the cliff ledge. If you are traveling with children, I suggest having an adult leader.

Most of this trail is easy to follow, apart from the jog between Mosquito Beach and Mosquito Falls.

If your crew is ready to head back, you can take the 1.9-mile trail back to the parking lot at Mosquito Beach. This shortcut is right BEFORE the footbridge and is well-labeled.

If you plan on making a stop at Mosquito Falls, be prepared for a slightly longer journey. Start by crossing the footbridge and turning left towards the group camping area. I highly recommend that you download the AllTrails map for this part of the trail, as our Garmin InReach would have led us in the wrong direction. Once you reach the pit toilets near the group camping area, take a right turn instead of going straight. This will lead you through the woods to Mosquito Falls, which is located 1.6 miles away from the group camping area. Once you’ve enjoyed the view of the beautiful falls, continue along the trail for another mile until you finally reach the parking lot.

*Below is a great map to have printed before heading out. Again, we spoke with multiple groups who were lost along the way. *