Pictured Rocks is a scenic national shoreline in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula known for its colorful, tall sandstone cliffs. It’s a 42-mile park along Lake Superior’s southern shoreline between the cities of Munising and Grand Marais. The unique rock formations, sandy beaches, massive sand dunes, and abundant waterfalls make Pictured Rocks a popular place for an active outdoors excursion.
Below I’ll share some tips for visiting Pictured Rocks.
1. Print Directions, Information, or Passes Beforehand.
The internet service on my phone often did not work unless we were in a city. I was glad I had printed the Airbnb arrival information, road and trail closure information from the Pictured Rocks Current Conditions page, and a list of some of places we wanted to see.
Perhaps your phone service and data will work better, but mine was often “loading” a blank page when I tried to use it. This made it easier to unplug and enjoy the beauty around me.
2. Do a Pictured Rocks Kayaking Adventure
Seeing the colorful Pictured Rocks cliffs from the water is highly encouraged.
We did a the Ultimate Kayak Tour through PicturedRocksKayaking and had a great experience. Everyone we encountered, from the tour guide to the captain, was friendly and knowledgable.
It was a 5-hour excursion where we were able to enjoy 13 of the best points along the national shoreline from a tandem kayak.
There are a few different tours to choose from, so take a look at the duration and choose what works for you. But I highly recommend seeing the cliffs from the water if you can.
3. Try a Pasty
The Upper Michigan area is known for their pasties, so be sure to try at least one.
A pasty is a baked pastry turnover filled with warm meat and vegetables, like potatoes and carrots.
The pasty became a popular meal in the 1800s for miners as a portable yet filling meal that would stay warm.
Tip: Pasty is pronounced with a short a sound like apple, not long a like paste/glue.
4. Do the Au Sable Light Station Tour
There are guided climbs and tours at the Au Sable Light Station between June and October (click here for current dates and times).
When we visited, there were tours every half-hour between 11:00 AM and 4:00 PM.
The tours are free, but there are limited spots on each tour, which are first-come, first-served.
I thought the history and purpose of the light station, the climb to the top, and view of Lake Superior and the Grand Sable Dunes were worth the time and effort. You also get to examine the Assistant Keeper’s Quarters to get a feel for what life was like there.
Note: It’s a 1.5 mile walk to the lighthouse and a winding climb up 98 steps to the top of the lighthouse.
5. Explore the Grand Sable Dunes
The light station and Grand Sable Dunes are near each others, so we explored these back-to-back.
The Grand Sable Dunes really are grand (massive!). There is interesting history to learn at the Log Slide Overlook, about how these massive dunes were used as a chute to slide logs down into Lake Superior.
This is another way to enjoy the pleasant views of Lake Superior, the Dunes, and you can even see the Light Station in the distance.
6. Hike to See Waterfalls
Of course, there are many hikes and beautiful waterfalls to see in the Pictured Rocks area. I have not seen them all, so I cannot say which are “best,” but two we saw and were not disappointed by were Miners Falls and Sable Falls.
Munising Falls was on our list to see, however, the trail was closed when we went.
7. Stroll Along Sand Point Beach with Local Coffee
We visited two beaches at Pictured Rocks: Miners Beach and Sand Point Beach. The latter was our favorite.
If you have an open morning, I highly recommend getting a drink from Rustic Grounds Coffee then strolling along Sand Point Beach. If you walk far enough to the point, the blue water and rolling waves of Lake Superior actually resemble the lovely ocean.
8. Make Sure You Have a National Park Pass
Pictured Rocks is a National Shoreline and thus, requires a national park pass to visit.
We purchased a one-week pass from the Munising Falls Visitor Center. (Note: They do not accept cash.)
If you don’t want to worry about buying it when you arrive, you can buy it ahead of time online. However, follow this advice similar to my advice above:
“Areas of Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore have limited or no connectivity so if purchasing online, please download your pass to your mobile device and print a hard copy before arriving at the park.”
Tip: Did you know if you have a 4th grade student in your family, you can get a free national park pass And there are also designated “free entrance days.” Click here to find out more about fees and passes.
9. Visit Grand Island to Wander Off the Beaten Path
Finally, if you’re looking to wander off the beaten path, a local recommended the Grand Island National Recreation Area.
We cannot speak from experience as we did not go here, but our kayaking tour captain was a native from the area and highly recommended it.
Have an Awesome Trip to Visit Pictured Rocks
I hope these tips for visiting Pictured Rocks in Upper Michigan are helpful and you have a memorable time exploring this scenic area!
