Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore is full of great scenery and the highlight is the beautiful cliffs located along Lake Superior. With one day at Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, you can explore this scenery from two different ways. Visit some scenic overlooks and look down at Lake Superior. But you’ll also get a chance to cruise along Lake Superior and look up at the towering cliffs.
About the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore
Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore is located in the very north of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. It sits on the shores of Lake Superior and features dramatic cliffs. But the cliffs aren’t the only thing you’ll find here. There’s several beaches where you can relax and plenty of hiking trails leading through the forest and along Lake Superior.
The lakeshore stretches for miles, but the closest town is Munising. Here’s where you’ll find the Visitor Center, most dining and hotel options, and various tour operators.
One Day at Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore
Normally I would just give one itinerary for a day at Pictured Rocks and that is usually very similar to the itinerary that I followed. However, my itinerary included a 11 mile hike to start the day and I realize that not everyone wants to, or can, do that.
So I created two different itineraries. The first has nearly 13 miles of hiking. The second itinerary still includes hiking, but it’s significantly less intensive and is something I believe most visitors would be able to do.
Which itinerary you choose is completely up to you.
Option 1 – An Itinerary for Hikers
I’m starting off with the itinerary that I used when I visited Pictured Rocks. It involves a lot of hiking, but it was a fantastic day. If you’re up for it, I think this itinerary is a fantastic way to spend one day.
8:00 – Chapel Mosquito Loop
Start your day with a long hike to some incredible views. I highly recommend getting an early start, so while this itinerary starts at 8:00 am, it assumes that you’ll be at the trailhead at 8:00 am.
This area gets busy. When I pulled in at about 7:30 am, there were still plenty of spaces available. When I finished my hike over five hours later, the lot was full and cars were lining the road leading to the parking lot for well over a half mile. Get here early and save the parking headaches.
From the trailhead, you’ll need to decide if you want to hike clockwise or counterclockwise. Fundamentally I don’t think it makes a huge difference. I hiked counterclockwise, but if I were to do it again, I’d hike clockwise. So, if you hike clockwise, you’ll hike out to Mosquito Falls. This part of the trail isn’t the most scenic and can have a lot of tree roots so make sure to watch your step. From Mosquito Falls, head on to Mosquito Beach where you’ll get your first views of Lake Superior.
Once you reach the beach, the trail gets even better. For the next several miles you’ll be hiking along Lake Superior. You’ll climb up to the dramatic cliffs towering over the lake with great views all along the way. This is what makes the trail special and such a joy to hike. Eventually you’ll reach Chapel Beach and just beyond it Chapel Rock. From there you’ll head back into the forest with a quick pass by Chapel Falls as you make your way back to the trailhead.
I found the trail easier from Chapel Falls to the trailhead easier than the trailhead to Mosquito Falls which is why I suggest hiking clockwise. Save the easier section for the end when your legs start to feel tired. Plus, I think Chapel Falls is more impressive than Mosquito Falls.
I logged 11.25 miles and 860 feet of elevation gain. This trail took me about five hours, which includes stops for pictures and a short stop at Mosquito Beach to eat a quick snack. I recommend giving yourself more time than you think you’ll need for this trail because for some reason time moves differently and many hikers find that they take longer than they were expecting (I thought I’d be done in just over four hours and it took me over five hours).
Note that if you’re interested in hiking, but don’t want to hike the full 11 mile loop, consider just walking a portion of it. From the trailhead to Chapel Rock is about 6.2 miles roundtrip and from the trailhead to Mosquito Beach is 3.5 miles (4.2 if you include Mosquito Falls). While you won’t get the long walk along the cliffs, I think that cutting down the trail to something more manageable is a very valid way to spend the day. If it were up to me, I think the trail to Chapel Rock, although longer, is better than the trail to Mosquito Beach and Mosquito Falls, so keep that in mind.
2:00 – Miners Falls
Miners Falls is a short hike and while you may be feeling tired, this is the where you need to give just one more push. The trail itself isn’t anything special, but your reward for the 0.6 mile (1.2 mile round trip) hike is a view of Miners Falls. Yes, you saw Mosquito Falls and Chapel Falls earlier, but I still really like Miners Falls and think it’s worth a visit.
Note that parking can be a challenge later in the afternoon. You’re likely to get a spot but you may have to add just a little bit of extra walking to get to the trailhead.
On the trail to Miners Falls, I logged 1.2 miles and 150 feet of elevation gain. It took me about 25 minutes to complete, but this itinerary is also including travel time. You’ll need to drive from the Chapel Mosquito Trailhead to the Miners Falls Trailhead.
3:00 – Miners Castle Rock
The Miners Castle Rock Trail isn’t a hike in the traditional sense. You won’t be hiking through the forest and most of your time will be spent on a paved path. However, it’s absolutely still worth a stop. From here, you’ll find two different viewing platforms for the cliffs of Pictured Rocks. The Upper Overlook is closer to the parking lot and it’s a pretty flat walk out here. The Lower Overlook isn’t much further, but you will have to do some stairs to reach this overlook.
Since you’re here, I’d recommend stopping at both viewpoints, but I can say that I liked the Lower Overlook better because it felt like I was so much closer to the cliffs and Miners Castle Rock, which is what these viewpoints are named after.
I logged 0.45 miles and 80 feet of elevation gain. This trail took me ten minutes to reach both viewpoints. Again, I’m including travel time since you’ll need to drive from one place to the other.
4:00 – Late Lunch/Early Dinner
It has been a very busy day and it’s time for a break. We’ll be taking a scenic cruise later, but I think it’s good to take a break and get something good to eat before your cruise. Additionally, if a hike takes longer than expected, you have a little more buffer time. The last thing you want is to rush your hikes because you didn’t leave enough time before your cruise.
Stop in the town of Munising and grab a bit to eat. There’s several places to choose from, though I recommend Pictured Rocks Pizza. It was great pizza (though I was very hungry and I think anything would have been good) that was served quickly, so even if you don’t have a ton of time to eat, this place should be able to get you in and out pretty quickly.
5:00 – Pictured Rocks Cruise
For the last activity of the day, board a cruise of Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. Whether you choose to do a Classic Cruise or a Spray Falls Cruise, you’ll get to see the iconic views of the the cliffs.
Now, if you’re thinking “I just hiked that, why do I need to see it on a boat?”, I understand where you’re coming from. I had the same thought, but there’s a few reasons why I think it’s worth taking the cruise even if you hiked.
First, and most importantly, there are a lot of rock formations that you just can’t see without being on the water. You hiked passed some of these places but you’ll be able to see so much more on the water.
Additionally, a cruise really puts your hike into perspective. You’ll know that you hiked for several miles along the cliffs but you’ll be amazed at how much you see (and how long it is) between Mosquito Beach and Chapel Rock.
And lastly, it’s a nice, relaxing way to end your day. See the top sights in a way that doesn’t involve exerting any more energy. You’ve hiked a lot and now it’s time to take it easy.
Option 2 – A Very Light Hiking Day
Ok, let’s say that you don’t want to hike 11.25 miles on one trail on your visit to Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. Here’s my recommendation for how to spend your time. There is some walking, but it’s significantly less than the first option. And because there is less hiking, your day can start later because getting to the trailhead early isn’t as big of a concern.
9:00 – Miners Falls
Start your day at Miners Falls which is coincidentally the only true hike on this itinerary. As I said in my first itinerary, the trail itself isn’t anything special, but your reward for the 0.6 mile (1.2 mile round trip) hike is a view of Miners Falls.
Hopefully by starting your day with this trail, you’ll avoid some of the parking frustrations of the afternoon. My other hope is that it’s less busy so you can get a slightly more peaceful experience.
On the trail to Miners Falls, I logged 1.2 miles and 150 feet of elevation gain. It took me about 25 minutes to complete.
10:00 – Miners Castle Rock Trail
Again, the Miners Castle Rock Trail isn’t a hike in the traditional sense. Rather than hiking through the forest, your time will be spent on a paved path. From here, you’ll find two different viewing platforms for the cliffs of Pictured Rocks. The Upper Overlook is closer to the parking lot and it’s a pretty flat walk out here. The Lower Overlook isn’t much further, but you will have to do some stairs to reach this overlook.
Since you’re here, I’d recommend stopping at both viewpoints, but I can say that I liked the Lower Overlook better because it felt like I was so much closer to the cliffs and Miners Castle, which is what these viewpoints are named after.
I logged 0.45 miles and 80 feet of elevation gain. This trail took me ten minutes to reach both viewpoints. I’m including travel time since you’ll need to drive from Miners Falls to Miners Castle Rock Trail.
11:00 – Pictured Rocks Cruise
Back in Munising, head out on a cruise of Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. This is sure to be the highlight of your day as you get a chance to see so many of the iconic views of this area. It’s your choice whether you want to take a Classic Cruise or do the Cruise to Spray Falls. Regardless of which cruise you choose, plan for it to take about 3 hours.
2:00 – Late Lunch
After your cruise, stay in Munising and enjoy a late lunch. There are several options so head to wherever sounds good.
3:00 – Wagner Falls
Just outside of town, you’ll find Wagner Falls. The trail is so short that I don’t even feel like I can call it a trail, but if you walk the less than five minutes from your car, you’ll reach Wagner Falls, which is a nice view.
3:30 – Time in Town
The rest of the day is yours. Wander through the shops, get some ice cream, stop in the Pictured Rocks Visitor Center. The choice is yours.
Note that if you stop by the Pictured Rocks Visitor Center, there is another trail leading from here that takes you out to Munising Falls. I don’t have any personal experience with this trail, since it was closed on my visit, but the NPS lists this trail as 0.3 miles, so it’s nothing strenuous.
Is One Day at Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore Enough?
I believe that one day at Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore is enough for an introduction to this area. If you have more time, you will absolutely find more things to do. Of course there are more hikes that you can do, but there’s even more beyond hiking. In the summer months, consider walking out to the Sable Lighthouse and taking a ranger led tour. Or join a kayak tour for even more views of these spectacular cliffs. For something more relaxed, there’s plenty of beaches nearby.
Entrance Fees for Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore
While you won’t pass any check points or entrance stations, you still need to pay a fee to visit Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. A pass that is good for 1-7 days can be purchased online or from the Visitor Center. Passes like the America the Beautiful pass are also accepted.
Display your pass on your dashboard.
Cell Phone Service in the Upper Peninsula
Michigan’s Upper Peninsula is sparsely populated. What that means is service can be very spotty throughout not just Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, but the entire peninsula. Therefore, it’s important to plan ahead and not just rely on your phone.
Download Google Maps (or your preferred map service) for offline use. This means that even if you don’t have service (which is very likely near Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore), you can still navigate to where you need to go. I also recommend stopping at the visitor center to pick up a map. I do this regardless but there were a few times where my phone acted up and didn’t want to navigate (even though I had maps downloaded on my phone).
Where to Stay at Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore
Munising is the closest town to Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore and has several hotel options. You’ll also find restaurants and plenty of souvenir shops, just like any tourist town.
My hotel was just outside of Munising in the town of Wetmore.
When to Visit Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore
Technically, Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore can be visited all year round. However, you’re in the north of the country and along the largest freshwater lake in the United States. It gets cold and very snowy, so I’d think twice about visiting in winter.
Peak travel time is the summer months. This gives you the best weather as well as the most options. Pictured Rocks Cruises (a highlight of this area) only run for a few months out of the year, typically from May through October. However, I personally would recommend looking at the summer months, so you can try to guarantee the best weather.
Final Thoughts
Whether you choose to hike the 11 mile Chapel Mosquito Loop or you make your day much less strenuous, you’re sure to have a great visit to this area of Michigan. While you could spend more time here, one day at Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore is a fantastic introduction to this beautiful area.
Continue Your Adventure
Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore: Don’t miss out on a scenic cruise to catch the most iconic views of this region. For more hiking, check out my list of top hikes at Pictured Rocks.
Michigan: In the northern part of Michigan’s Lower Peninsula, you’ll find Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. Off the coast in Lake Huron, you’ll find the car free island of Mackinac Island.
Apostle Islands National Lakeshore: Located in Wisconsin on the shores of Lake Superior, the Apostle Islands are another great option on Lake Superior. Take a scenic cruise or get out and take a hike.
More in the Midwest: If you head to Illinois, you can visit the best of Chicago. Slightly east of Chicago is Indiana Dunes National Park. Is Iowa, don’t miss the caves at Maquoketa Caves State Park.