Located in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore is full of dramatic and jaw dropping views. The colorful cliffs tower over Lake Superior and are without a doubt the highlight of this area. But beyond the views, there’s great hiking trails, scenic cruises, kayaking tours, and even more. Whether you have one day or a long weekend, you won’t run out of things to do at Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore.
Top 13 Things to Do at Pictured Rocks
This is not an exhaustive list of things to do at Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. Rather, it’s a list of what I think most travelers should consider. So let’s get into this list.
Take a Scenic Cruise
Regardless of whether or not you choose to hike (and I’ll cover plenty of hiking trails in this list), taking a scenic cruise of Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore is one of the best things you can do on your trip. Some of the most iconic views can only be seen from the water and this is the perfect way to see what makes this area so unique.
From the town of Munising, Pictured Rocks Cruises operates tours throughout the day during the summer months. You’ll cruise along Lake Superior, past Grand Island, and eastward along Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. From Mosquito Beach to Chapel Rock is just one stunning view after another. Plus, on a cruise, your captain will narrate the journey and give you more context to what you are seeing.
If you can only do one activity at Pictured Rocks, I’d suggest taking a sightseeing cruise.
Hike the Chapel Mosquito Loop
My favorite trail at Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore is a long one, coming in at about 11.25 miles. Your reward for hiking such a long trail is the incredible views from the top of the cliffs. While you’ll see the cliffs from a scenic cruise (or kayaking tour), it’s equally fascinating to hike along the cliffs and see them from above. You won’t see all of the unique rock formations from up here, but you will get a different perspective and will get amazing views regardless.
From the trailhead, hike through the forest to reach Mosquito Falls and then hike onward to Mosquito Beach. From there, you’ll hike along the cliffs all the way to Chapel Rock, the most photographed spot on the lakeshore. As you work your way back through the forest to reach the trailhead, you’ll pass Chapel Falls, which I think is even 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 you could hike just part of this trail, but you’d have to choose between just hiking to Mosquito Falls and Mosquito Beach or just visit Chapel Rock. There’s no way to get to the section with the great views without hiking the full loop.
Visit Miners Falls
Sometimes the trail is the destination (like with the Chapel Mosquito Loop). Other times, the trail is just a means to get to your destination. The trail to Miners Falls is one of those where the destination is great, but the trail itself is nothing too special. I think this is especially true because the trail is busy and I was constantly passing hikers in each direction. If you’re looking for tranquility on a trail, you will really need to look elsewhere.
Still, if you want a bit of hiking with a great waterfall, the trail to Miners Falls is for you. There are other waterfalls on this list, but this is one of the falls that includes a bit of a hike.
I logged 1.2 miles and 150 feet of elevation gain. This trail took me 25 minutes to complete.
Visit Munising Falls
Coming in at about 0.3 miles round trip, the Munising Falls Trail starts by the Munising Visitor Center and takes you out to a viewing platform for Munising Falls. While the trail is short, you will walk up and down stairs as you reach the viewing platform of the 50 foot waterfall.
This is a trail I didn’t get a chance to hike as it was closed on my visit. It’s always a good idea to check the trail status for any trail prior to starting your trip, so hopefully this trail will be open by the time you visit Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore.
Visit Wagner Falls
Wagner Falls is technically outside Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, but it’s so close that I’m including it on this list anyway. It’s also the shortest trail on this list and it’s so short I barely consider it a trail. Still it includes a waterfall that’s really easy to incorporate into your visit to Pictured Rocks.
From the parking lot, you have a very short walk and you’ll reach a viewing platform for Wagner Falls. The waterfall is nice and because it’s so quick, I think it’s worth a stop.
I logged 0.25 miles and 10 feet of elevation gain. It took about 5 minutes.
Visit 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.
Take a Kayaking Tour
A visit to Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore is not complete without a getting out on the water. A cruise along Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore is the easiest, but for those looking for a little something more, consider taking a kayak tour. With a kayak, you’ll be able to get even closer to the cliffs than a cruise will and you’ll move at a slower pace, so you’ll be able to spend a little more time really enjoying the scenery.
I ran out of time during my visit to Pictured Rocks, but I hope to return one day and a kayaking tour is one of the top things to do.
Tour Au Sable Lighthouse
You’ll need a little more time to complete this next activity, but it’s a unique experience and one that piqued my interest, even though I ran out of time during my visit. However, it’s possible to tour the Au Sable Lighthouse on a visit to Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. The tours are free and run my park rangers. That said, make sure to check the schedule before you visit to confirm the tour start times. As a note, tours are limited, but rangers have stated that it’s incredibly rare for the tours to be full. At most, you may have to wait 20 minutes for the next available tour.
To tour the lighthouse, you’ll first need to get to the parking area. Then you’ll need to walk 1.5 miles (allow 30 minutes) from the parking lot to the lighthouse. From there, you’ll join a ranger led tour. You’ll learn about the history of the lighthouse and tour the interior of the house, climbing all the way up to the lighthouse. When you’re finished, you’ll need to walk the 1.5 miles back to your car.
This is another item that’s high on my list for a return visit to Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore.
Visit Sable Falls
Sable Falls is located a bit further east of most of the main sights of Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, so if you only have one day, I’d be hesitant to include a visit to Sable Falls or Sable Dunes (covered next) to your itinerary. But for those with two days, head a bit east and stop by this lesser visited area of Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore.
From the parking lot, it’s a short trail and then 162 steps down to Sable Falls. I know I’ve covered several waterfalls on this list, but I think that Sable Falls may be one of my favorites. The views are great and it can feel a bit less crowded than places like Miners Falls (and presumably Munising Falls).
Visit Sable Dunes
If you’re already visiting Sable Falls, it just makes sense to include a stop at Sable Dunes. The trailhead is the same as Sable Falls, so all you have to do is hike out here. Sable Dunes is in the opposite direction of Sable Falls (you’ll start from the same trailhead, just watch for the sign that points Sable Dunes to the left and Sable Falls to the right), but it’s still worth a visit.
Sable Dunes is sand dunes on Lake Superior. They did not feel as steep or dramatic as the dunes at Log Slide Overlook (covered next), but it is still nice. Plus, Sable Dunes has the added benefit of being less busy than even Sable Falls (at least in my experience).
Visit Log Slide Overlook
The Log Slide Overlook is another trail that is so short that it barely counts as a hike, but I’m including it anyway, because I do think it’s worth a stop. This part of Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore was known for its logging, so as you walk out to the overlook, you’ll pass some historic logging equipment and informational signs. But for me, the main draw is the overlook.
The overlook is at a steep sand dune leading down to Lake Superior. Honestly, it looks more like something you’d find at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. The overlook is nice, but if you have to share it with a whole group of people (I happened to arrive just as a tour bus unloaded), it’s not as relaxing.
I logged 0.4 miles and 7 feet of elevation gain. It took me 10 minutes. Note that you can walk down the sand dunes to the beach but you’ll have a very strenuous climb back up.
Hike to Beaver Lake
To reach Beaver Lake, you’ll need to walk just over a mile from the trailhead. You’ll be walking through the woods and fundamentally, I don’t think it’s much different from the other woodland hikes on this list. That said, there is a cool, small cave that you’ll pass on your way.
Keep an eye out for a fork in the trail. Heading straight will take you out to Lake Superior, while heading right will take you out to Beaver Lake. Once you reach Beaver Lake, you can hike a circular loop around the entire lake. I had plans to do this, but was racing the rain and had to cut my hiking short. Unfortunately the entire loop around Beaver Lake had to get cut.
I did not hike around Beaver Lake, instead choosing to hike out to Lake Superior from the same trailhead. If you want to circle Beaver Lake, you’re looking at a 5.5 mile hike. This estimate includes the loop around the lake and the time spent hiking to reach the lake from the trailhead.
Relax on the Beach
Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore sits on the shores of Lake Superior. I’ve covered a lot of active items on this list from hiking to kayaking but if you just want to relax, there’s beaches to do so. If you’re up for a short hike, I really liked Mosquito Beach, but this is not the only beach here. Near the town of Munising, you’ll find even more beach access.
How Long Do You Need at Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore?
At minimum, you’ll need one full day at Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. This gives you enough time to do some of the hikes and take a scenic cruise. With two days you’ll have enough time to do a little bit more. Hike a few more trails, take a kayaking tour, or a ranger led tour of the Au Sable Lighthouse. With more than three days, you’ll still find additional hiking trails, but I think your time could be better spent elsewhere on your trip.
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 costs $25 and 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
There’s no shortage of fun things to do at Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. Whether you choose to hike, take a scenic cruise, a ranger led tour, kayak, or something else entirely, you’re sure to have a great visit.
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.