Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore sits on the south shore of Lake Superior, between Munising and Grand Marais. The National Park Service describes sandstone cliffs, beaches, waterfalls, sand dunes, inland lakes, forest and a wild shoreline, all shaped by the lake. 12

What to see

The lakeshore includes some 15 miles of cliffs along its 42-mile length. The park says the cliffs get their colors from minerals in groundwater, including iron and manganese. 12 Miners Castle is one of the most easily reached cliff areas. 1 Other named places on the park pages include Munising Falls, Miners Beach, the Grand Sable Dunes and the Au Sable Light Station. 1 Nearly 100 miles of trail lead to streams, beaches and backcountry campgrounds. 2

Best seasons

The lakeshore is open year-round, 24 hours a day. The park lists hiking, canoeing, kayaking, sightseeing, camping and fall color viewing, and in winter ice climbing, ice fishing, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. 2 Most roads close with snow; Sand Point Road is the only park road plowed in winter. 3 Winter access is gathered on our Winter page.

How to get there

Michigan highways M-28 and M-94 lead to Munising. M-77 leads to Grand Marais. Alger County Road H-58 runs through the lakeshore. 3 The park asks drivers to route to the Munising Falls Visitor Center, 1505 Sand Point Road, Munising, MI 49862, not to a generic "Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore" search, and not to rely on GPS inside the park. 23 A second visitor center is on County Road H-58, two miles west of Grand Marais. 3

Tips

  • Carry a park map. The park says GPS and mapping apps do not work well here. 23
  • Some park roads have length limits for large vehicles. They are posted on the directions page. 3
  • There is an entrance pass for visitors 16 and older. Buy it from the park; do not guess the price here. 1
  • For winter roads and ice, read the park's winter pages before you go. 5

Safety

Lake Superior and the cliffs are not a swimming beach in the usual sense. Weather, fog, ice and road closures change. The park posts current conditions; this page does not. Check the NPS current conditions page before you leave. 4