What to do Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore


What to do Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore

Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, located in the upper peninsula (UP) of Michigan, is one of the most picturesque areas of the Midwest.  The coastline here is absolutely breathtaking, lined with unique colorful cliffs made from ancient sandstone formations.  You can hike, kayak or take a boat cruise along the scenic Lake Superior Coastline to soak in all the views.  Further, the surrounding area has many stunning waterfalls and other unique scenery to explore.  Our guide on ‘What to do in Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore’ goes over seeing it all. 

Disclosure: This article contains affiliate links. That means that, at no cost to you, we may get a small commission if you purchase through these links. This helps us keep providing travel resources for you!

FYI This post is written based off two different trips both taken in early September 


What to do Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore: Hike Chapel Basin Loop

What to do Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore

Our first recommendation on what to do in Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore is to hike the Chapel Basin Loop.  Although there are many options and different combinations of routes to hike on the trails in this area, we recommend hiking the Chapel Basin Loop (see map below).  This hike gives you amazing views of the Pictured Rocks.  The North Country Trail, between Chapel Beach and Mosquito Beach, is the only place you can see these unique multicolored cliffs from land.  This hike will also take you past two waterfalls (Chapel Falls and Mostiquo Falls), to a unique rock formation (Chapel Rock) and to two beaches (Mostiquo Beach and Chapel Beach).  If you are only going to do one hike in Pictured Rocks, do this one! 

Beware that this hike is over 10 miles though so take into consideration your fitness level before completing it. Although there are out-and-back options on the trail, the shortest path to lakeshore is to complete it as a loop. For more detailed information on this hike see our Hiking Chapel Basin Loop Pictured Rocks Guide

We have completed this hike twice.  Once with our newborn daughter in tow and another with our newborn son as well as toddler daughter along.  For tips on hiking with an infant, see our How to Hike with a Baby post. 


Looking for great hiking boots?  Here are links to the ones we’ve used for 8+ years and highly recommend: Men’s Keen Waterproof Hiking Boots & Women’s Keen Waterproof Hiking Boots


What to do Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore: Sea Kayaking or Boat Cruise

Our next recommendation on what to do in Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore is to experience the Pictured Rocks from either a kayak or boat cruise.  We particularly recommend doing this if you are not hiking Chapel Basin Loop as these are the only other ways to see the Pictured Rocks in person.  See more information on Pictured Rocks Boat Cruises and Paddle Pictured Rocks with these links. 


What to do Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore: Visit Miners Castle, Beach & Falls

What to do Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore

From the upper viewpoint at Miners Castle, you can see the unique Miners Castle rock formation against the beautiful Lake Superior turquoise water.  This viewpoint is only a very short walk from the parking lot along a paved path.  You can hike to a lower viewpoint with some required elevation gain on the return trip but the view is not as good from close-up to Miners Castle.  As parents visiting with a young toddler, we really appreciated the little windows they had at all of the viewpoints for our daughter to look out and see the viewpoints safely.  The trails here were also very toddler friendly and paved, allowing our toddler to hike alongside us. 

You can also hike down further to Miners Beach and on part of the North Country Trail along the Lake Superior Lakeshore. The North Country Trail is the longest trail in the National Trails System stretching 4,800 miles, across 8 states! It is pretty cool if you can say you hiked on part of it.

What to do Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore

Be sure to stop and hike to Miners Falls while out this way (trailhead 2 miles before Miners castle parking lot, on the same road). This trail is 1.2 miles with 154 feet of elevation gain and is an out & back trail through the woods.  We really liked this trail and found it to be very serene.  Our newly 2-year-old daughter was able to easily hike it with us on her own two feet until we got to the viewing platform/stairs where we were glad we had our backpack carrier along. Dogs are allowed here on a leash. 


What to do Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore: Visit More Waterfalls in the Area

The area around Munising has many beautiful waterfalls.  Beyond Miners Fall, below are some other waterfalls to see.  Ranked from our favorite to least favorite waterfall.

Laughing Whitefish Falls

  • 1.0 Mile, 121 feet of elevation gain, out & back
  • Largest waterfall in the immediate area
  • Dogs are allowed here on a leash. 

Munising Falls 

  • 0.4 Miles, mostly flat but optional stairs to climb, out & back
  • Paved path
  • Dogs are allowed here on a leash

Wagner Falls 

  • 0.2 Miles, out & back
  • Dogs are allowed here on a leash 

AuTrain Falls

  • 0.2 Miles, out & back 
  • Dogs are allowed here on a leash

What to do Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore: Hike Beaver Basin Wilderness Trails

This area of the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore is much less trafficked than the Chapel/Mostiquo area.  There are several different hiking options in this area, all offering a little bit different scenery.  You can combine these trails anyway you please.  

What to do Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore

Hike through the COVES section 

We hiked through the forest, past Little Beaver Lake and then west on the North Country Trail until the COVES group campsites.  The section of the North Country Trail we hiked on here was really pretty and felt untouched.  Throughout the COVES section, you can climb down into some of the different coves along the lake for even better lakeshore views.  

The forest trail, leading out to the lakeshore, is really unique as well with lots of interesting rock formations.  Alternatively, or as an add on, you could also hike around Beaver Lake and east on the North Country Trail. 

Note, you cannot see the Pictured Rocks from this hike, you can only see those on the North Country Trail in the Chapel/Mosquito area. You can hike to Spray Falls from this trail though and could continue on the North Country Trail to the Pictured Rocks section (although this would make for a very long hike – a great potential route for backpackers). 


What to do Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore: Day Trip to Tahquamenon State Park

Tahquamenon State Park, located along the Tahquamenon River, is rated as one of the best state parks in Michigan. This is because this park is home to the very large and impressive Upper Tahquamenon Falls. 

Day Trip to Tahquamenon State Park: Upper Tahquamenon Falls 

Tahquamenon State Park

This 50 foot waterfall, with its grandeur, will not disappoint and can be viewed from several viewing platforms.  It also can be viewed from a paved path but the best views are at the viewing platforms. The walk to each of these platforms is about 1/3 mile on a paved path as well as wooden stairs.  To get up close with the falls, go to the upper viewing platform.  For more encompassing views, go to the lower viewing platform.  We recommend going to both.  Each is about 100 stairs to climb up and down but completely worth the effort. 

Day Trip to Tahquamenon State Park: Lower Tahquamenon Falls 

Tahquamenon State Park

The Lower Falls is a series of smaller waterfalls but equally beautiful.  Here, you can walk down the path and onto the wooden viewing platform, about 0.5 miles, to see all the cascades in this area.  You can also hike through the forest around the falls as we did.  Another option here is renting a rowboat to ride out to a small island among the falls.  On this island, you get contrasting views of the falls and can go for a short 0.5 mile hike through the forest on the island itself. 

Day Trip to Tahquamenon State Park: Tahquamenon River Trail

You can also hike between the Lower Falls and Upper Falls along the Tahquamenon River trail. This trail is 4.8 miles one-way or 9.6 miles roundtrip.  We hiked a mile out and back of this trail, starting at the lower viewing platform from the Upper Falls. The trail was beautiful!  When we visited, the weather was questionable and we did not want to be stuck in the rain on a 9+ mile hike with our 5 week old daughter so we opted not to do the whole trail but that would be a pretty way to see more of the park.  

During peak season (not when we were visiting on a weekday in early September), there is a shuttle (Jordan’s Shuttle Service) that runs between the Lower Falls and Upper Falls. This shuttle will take you back to where you started your hike for a fee, at either the Upper Falls or Lower Falls, so you would only have to hike the trail one way.  

If you hike between the falls, you may have the trail all to yourself.  When we hiked part of the trail, we saw no other people on it (granted it was on a weekday, not during peak season and questionable weather). Most people drive between the two falls (about a 10 minute drive). 

Other Tips on Tahquamenon State Park

Between hiking and exploring at the Upper Falls and Lower Falls areas, we ate at the Tahquamenon Brewery. This restaurant is very conveniently located in the Upper Falls parking lot.   We’d highly recommend you break up your visit this way. The food and brews were on-point here.  

Note: Tahquamenon Falls is about 1 hour and 20 minutes drive from Munising. 


What to do Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore: Paddle the Lazy Au Train River

A family friendly adventure floating down the lazy, mostly sand bottom, Au Train River.  Paddle Au Train is a family run, 3rd generation UP business.  Paddling this lazy river is a great way to enjoy the outdoors in the peaceful Au Train area. 


What to do Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore: Take a Ferry to Grand Island 

Grand Island is located in Lake Superior, about a half mile off the mainland city Munising, Michigan. 

Grand Island is a great place to spend part of a day or all day exploring.  Here, you can hike, bike (20 miles around the island), kayak/canoe or take a bus tour. For more information on Grand Island rentals click here. For even more of an adventure, you can camp overnight here too. 

See a map of Grand island here and ferry schedule/cost here.


What to do Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore: Day Trip to Grand Marais 

Grand Marais is home to a very pretty section of coastline along Lake Superior and a cute little town.  Here, we hiked to a lighthouse, a waterfall and sand dunes. We also stopped at a former log slide and got coffee from a trendy local shop. 

Day Trip to Grand Marais: Au Sable Lighthouse

Grand Marais: Au Sable Lighthouse

Our first stop in Grand Marais was a hike to the Au Sable Light Station along the Lake Superior coastline.  This lighthouse was built in the 1870s to help ships navigate after many shipwrecks had occurred in the area.  We visited on a very windy day with extremely large crushing waves on Lake Superior and it was very obvious to us why this lighthouse was needed.  This hike is 3 miles round trip and is very flat, wide and easy.  Dogs are allowed here on a leash.  

Day Trip to Grand Marais: Log Slide Overlook

Grand Marais: Log Slide Overlook

Next, we headed to the Log Slide Overlook. This overlook is a very steep sand dune that was used to slide logs onto ships in Lake Superior many years ago.  This steep log slide offers pretty views along the Lake Superior shoreline. You can hike down the log slide but we would not recommend that as it is exceedingly steep and people often need to be rescued while attempting to do this.   The overlook is just a short walk from the parking lot but be prepared to walk in the sand briefly.  Dogs are not allowed here. 

Day Trip to Grand Marais: Sable Falls

Grand Marais: Sable Falls

After the Log Slide Overlook, we hiked at Sable Falls. The short (0.33 mile) hike to this pretty waterfall is well worth the effort. You hike mostly down a wooden staircase. After the falls, you can continue down to the beach. It is less than 0.25 miles further down to the beach but note the beaches on the other hikes we did on this trip are, in our opinion, much prettier.  There is also a trail (0.5 miles one-way) to some sand dunes that we opted to hike on as well. Dogs are allowed to hike on a leash here with you.  

Other Grand Marais Tips

While in Grand Marais, be sure to check out the trendy The Dream Bean Machine for some coffee, tea, smoothies or baked goods.  This Volkswagon van turned locally owned small coffee shop is super unique and cute.  

Although we did not have time for it, another place to consider checking out is Lake Superior Brewing. Note, dining options are very limited in Grand Marais and many have limited hours.  Especially after peak season, be sure to check the hours prior to planning to eat anywhere here. 

Note: Grand Marais from Munising is about 1 hour drive


What to do Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore: Visit Kitch-Iti-Kipi Spring

Kitch-iti-kipi Spring

Kitch-Iti-Kipi Spring is a large natural freshwater spring, located in Palm Books State Park.  The very clear and turquoise water is unlike any we have seen before.  At the spring, there is a self-operated pull raft, with the middle cut out for better water views, that takes you across the spring and allows you to get a close-up look at the spring.  It is neat to see the spring bubbling up and the fish that live in the spring scurrying about.  We would recommend trying to visit the Kitch-iti-kipi Spring on a weekday to avoid crowds.  It is a popular attraction as there is little to no effort required to see it. It is only a short walk from the parking lot on a paved path. 

Note: Kitch-Iti-Spring is about 50 minutes drive Southeast from Munising. 


What to do Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore: Take a Shipwreck Tour

Take a glass bottom boat tour to see the unique shipwrecks beneath Lake Superior as well as sandstone cliffs and caves along the shore.  Get more information on these tours here. Open Memorial Day weekend through the end of September. 


What to do Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore: Dine in Downtown Munising

There are plenty of different types of restaurants to dine at in Downtown Munising.  If you only stop at one place, we recommend stopping at Muldoon’s Pasties to pick up a pastie (pronounced PAST-TEE) traditional UP delicacy (individual pie filled classically with meat and vegetables). Another favorite spot of ours was Pictured Rocks Pizza. 


Where to Stay near Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore

After looking for the perfect place to stay as a family near Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, we were so happy when we found the Northwoods Resort in Au Train, about 10 minutes west of Munising.  This resort is close enough to all of the activities in the area yet tucked away from the hustle and bustle. It is truly the perfect place to unwind after a day of exploring.  This resort has been family owned and operated for 3 generations.  It is family friendly and most of the accommodations are dog friendly.   And with charming cottages and large lake houses, there is something to fit everyone’s accommodations needs.  Located right on Au Train lake, it’s the perfect place to relax and drink your morning coffee/tea.  For more on staying at this place, please see our Where to Stay Near Pictured Rocks post. 


FAQs about Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore 

When to Visit Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore?

Visit in the summer, ideally June-September. The weather is best during this time and the most tour options/ businesses are open during this time as well.  Outside of that window, tours offered are very limited due to cooler weather as well as less visitors. 

Where to Stay near Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore?

We recommend staying at the Northwoods Resort.   For more on staying at this place, please see our Where to Stay Near Pictured Rocks post for more details. 

Is Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore Dog Friendly? 

No. Most of the trails along Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore do not allow dogs.  However, many of the shorter inland waterfall trails in the area do allow dogs.  Please see the waterfall, Miners Waterfall and Grand Marais sections above. 

Looking for a dog friendly vacation in the Midwest? See our Dog Friendly Apostle Islands Guide, Dog Friendly Door County, Wisconsin Guide and our A Day at Starved Rock State Park guides.  

Pictured Rocks Map for Visual Reference of Area

We hope this guide helps you plan your trip to Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore.  Anything you’d add to our guide? We’d love to hear your feedback and questions.  Please leave us a comment!

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Pictured Rocks/Upper Peninsula of Michigan Guide


Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, located in the upper peninsula (UP) of Michigan, is one of the most picturesque areas of the midwest.  The coastline here, lined with unique colorful cliffs, is absolutely breathtaking.  Here you can hike, kayak or take a boat cruise along the serene and scenic Lake Superior Coastline to soak in all the views.  Our guide on Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore will go through how to see it all.

Pictured Rocks/Upper Peninsula of Michigan Guide
Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore on Chapel Basin Loop Trail

Likewise, if you explore further into the UP, beyond Munising which is the hub for visiting Pictured Rocks, you will be treated with more stunning scenery.  From waterfalls to a historic lighthouse to a very blue natural spring, the upper peninsula of Michigan will not disappoint.  This guide will also help you explore the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.

Pictured Rocks/Upper Peninsula of Michigan Guide
Upper Tahquamenon Falls

We spent 5 days exploring the Pictured Rocks and surrounding area in the upper peninsula of Michigan.  We would recommend spending at least that much time in this area, if not more, if you want to explore beyond Munising.  Here is our guide to making the most of your time visiting Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore and the upper peninsula of Michigan.  For a more updated version of this post, please see our Complete What to do Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore Guide.

Note: This post is written based on a trip taken in early September. We took this trip with our 5 week old daughter. For tips on traveling with a baby, please see our Top 10 Baby Travel Tips, How to Hike with a Baby and Flying with a Baby posts.

Disclosure: This article contains affiliate links. That means that, at no cost to you, we may get a small commission if you purchase through these links. This helps us keep providing travel resources for you!


What to Do near Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore


Hike Chapel Basin Loop along Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore

10.2 miles, 770 feet of elevation gain

Pictured Rocks/Upper Peninsula of Michigan Guide
Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore (The North Country Trail between Chapel Beach and Mosquito Beach)

Although there are many options and different combinations of routes to hike on the trails in this area, we recommend hiking the Chapel Basin Loop (see this trail map).  This hike gives you amazing views of the Pictured Rocks.  The North Country Trail, between Chapel Beach and Mosquito Beach, is the only place you can see these unique multicolored cliffs from land.  This hike will also take you past two waterfalls (Chapel Falls and Mostiquo Falls), to a unique rock formation (Chapel Rock) and to two beaches (Mostiquo Beach and Chapel Beach).  If you are only going to do one hike in Pictured Rocks, do this one!

Arrive Early at the Chapel/Mostiquo Trailhead

Pictured Rocks/Upper Peninsula of Michigan Guide
Mostiquo Beach

When we arrived at the Chapel/Mostiquo parking lot at 8:15 am on an early September weekday, we were one of only 3 cars in the parking lot.  However, by the time we finished our hike, the parking lot was completely full and many people were also parked along the road.  If you arrive early, we recommend hiking toward Chapel Falls/Rock first to have the trail more to yourself.  We hiked towards Mosquito Falls first and saw no people on the trail for the first 6 miles, making this section of the hike very serene and peaceful.  However, once we got near Chapel Beach, we then saw dozens of people. If we did this hike again, we would hike it in reverse to avoid more people. 

Other Chapel Basin Loop Tips

Pictured Rocks/Upper Peninsula of Michigan Guide
Views along the Chapel Basin Loop

You have to drive on a primitive road, with lots of deep potholes, to access this trailhead so having a 4 wheel drive/high clearance vehicle is recommended. 

Mosquito Falls and Chapel Falls are very minor waterfalls in comparison to seeing Tahquamenon Falls and some of the other waterfalls we outline in this guide. However, we recommend hiking past them as they do help break up the hike on the way out/back.  

Budget at least 5 hours to complete this hike.  We hiked the trail in less than 4.5 hours but it took us much longer to actually complete the hike because we had our 5 week old daughter with us and we had to stop frequently to feed/change her.  For tips on hiking with an infant, see our How to Hike with a Baby post.

No dogs are allowed on the trail here.  The fee is a minimum of $180 so best to leave fido at home for this one. For tips on a Dog Friendly Vacation, see our Dog Friendly Door County, Wisconsin Guide


Looking for great hiking boots?  Here are links to the ones we’ve used for 6+ years and highly recommend: Men’s Keen Waterproof Hiking Boots & Women’s Keen Waterproof Hiking Boots


Hike Beaver Basin Wilderness Trails along Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore

Variable routes and lengths

Pictured Rocks/Upper Peninsula of Michigan Guide
COVES section off Beaver Basin Wilderness

This area of the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore is much less trafficked than the Chapel/Mostiquo area.  There are several different hiking options in this area, all offering a little bit different scenery.  You can combine these trails anyway you please.  We chose to hike them as outlined below.

Hike to the COVES section

Pictured Rocks/Upper Peninsula of Michigan Guide
Beaver Basin Wilderness (Left), COVES section of the North Country Trail (Middle), Little Beaver Lake (Right)

We hiked through the forest, past Little Beaver Lake and then west on the North Country Trail until the COVES group campsites.  The section of the North Country Trail we hiked on here was really pretty and felt untouched.  Throughout the COVES section, you can climb down into some of the different coves along the lake for even better lakeshore views.  

The forest trail, leading out to the lakeshore, is really unique as well with lots of interesting rock formations.  Alternatively, or as an add on, you could also hike around Beaver Lake and east on the North Country Trail. 

Note, you cannot see the Pictured Rocks from this hike, you can only see those on the North Country Trail in the Chapel/Mostiquo area. 

Again, no dogs are allowed on this trail.  


Visit Miners Castle on Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore

Pictured Rocks/Upper Peninsula of Michigan Guide
Miner’s Castle

Here, from the upper viewpoint, you can see the unique Miners Castle rock formation against the beautiful Lake Superior turquoise water. This viewpoint is only a very short walk from the parking lot and off a paved path.  You can hike to a lower viewpoint but the view is not as good from close-up.  

You can also hike down further to Miners Beach/Elliot Falls and on part of the North Country Trail along the Lake Superior Lakeshore.  We opted not to do this as we had had more serene beach and waterfall views on our other hikes but this is a great option if you want to see the lakeshore with a relatively short hike.  

For a full list of hikes in Pictured Rocks, see the National Parks Service Pictured Rocks Hikes webpage. 


Visit Tahquamenon State Park

Tahquamenon State Park, located along the Tahquamenon River, is rated as one of the best state parks in Michigan. This is because this park is home to the very large and impressive Upper Tahquamenon Falls.  

Upper Tahquamenon Falls 

Upper Tahquamenon Falls Upper Peninsula of Michigan Guide
Upper Tahquamenon Falls 

This 50 foot waterfall, with its grandeur, will not disappoint and can be viewed from several viewing platforms.  It also can be viewed from a paved path but the best views are at the viewing platforms. The walk to each of these platforms is about 1/3 mile on a paved path as well as wooden stairs.  To get up close with the falls, go to the upper viewing platform.  For more encompassing views, go to the lower viewing platform.  We recommend going to both.  Each is about 100 stairs to climb up and down but completely worth the effort. 

Upper Tahquamenon Falls Upper Peninsula of Michigan Guide
Upper Tahquamenon Falls 

Lower Tahquamenon Falls 

Lower Tahquamenon Falls 
Lower Tahquamenon Falls 

The Lower Falls is a series of smaller waterfalls but equally beautiful.  Here, you can walk down the path and onto the wooden viewing platform, about 0.5 miles, to see all the cascades in this area.  You can also hike through the forest around the falls as we did.  Another option here is renting a rowboat to ride out to a small island among the falls.  On this island, you get contrasting views of the falls and can go for a short 0.5 mile hike through the forest on the island itself. 

Lower Tahquamenon Falls 
Lower Tahquamenon Falls 

Tahquamenon River Trail

You can also hike between the Lower Falls and Upper Falls along the Tahquamenon River trail. This trail is 4.8 miles one-way or 9.6 miles roundtrip.  We hiked a mile out and back of this trail, starting at the lower viewing platform from the Upper Falls. The trail was beautiful!  When we visited, the weather was questionable and we did not want to be stuck in the rain on a 9+ mile hike with our 5 week old so we opted not to do the whole trail but that would be a pretty way to see more of the park.  

Taquamenon River Trail
Taquamenon River Trail

During peak season (not when we were visiting on a weekday in early September), there is a shuttle (Jordan’s Shuttle Service) that runs between the Lower Falls and Upper Falls. This shuttle will take you back to where you started your hike, at either the Upper Falls or Lower Falls, so you would only have to hike the trail one way.  

If you hike between the falls, you may have the trail all to yourself.  When we hiked part of the trail, we saw no other people on it (granted it was on a weekday, not during peak season and questionable weather). Most people drive between the two falls (about a 10 minute drive).  

Other Tips on Tahquamenon State Park

Between hiking and exploring at the Upper Falls and Lower Falls areas, we ate at the Tahquamenon Brewery. This restaurant is very conveniently located in the Upper Falls parking lot.   We’d highly recommend you break up your visit this way. The food and brews are on-point here.  See more in the Where to Eat section below. 

Tahquamenon Falls is about 1 hour and 20 minutes from Munising.  You could camp at this park but we would not recommend that as it is more east than most of the activities recommended in this guide. 


Explore Grand Marais 

Grand Marais is home to a very pretty section of coastline along Lake Superior and a cute little town.  Here, we hiked to a lighthouse, a waterfall and sand dunes. We also stopped at a former log slide and got coffee from a trendy local shop.    

Au Sable Light Station

Au Sable Lighthouse
Au Sable Lighthouse

Our first stop in Grand Marais was a hike to the Au Sable Light Station along the Lake Superior coastline.  This lighthouse was built in the 1870s to help ships navigate after many shipwrecks occurred in the area.  We visited on a very windy day with extremely large crushing waves on Lake Superior and it was very obvious to us why this lighthouse was needed.  This hike is 3 miles round trip and is very flat, wide and easy.  Unlike most of the other hikes on this trip, dogs are allowed.  

Beach Views along Au Sable Lighthouse Trail
Beach Views alongAu Sable Lighthouse Trail

Log Slide Overlook

Log Slide Overlook Upper Peninsula of Michigan Guide
Log Slide Overlook

Next, we headed to the Log Slide Overlook. This overlook is a very steep sand dune that was used to slide logs onto ships in Lake Superior many years ago.  This steep log slide offers pretty views along the Lake Superior shoreline. You can hike down the log slide but we would not recommend that as it is exceedingly steep and people often need to be rescued while attempting to do this.   The overlook is just a short walk from the parking lot but be prepared to walk in the sand briefly.  Dogs are not allowed here. 

Sable Falls

Sable Falls Pictured Rocks
Sable Falls

After the Log Slide Overlook, we hiked at Sable Falls. The short (0.33 mile) hike to this pretty waterfall is well worth the effort. You hike mostly down a wooden staircase. After the falls, you can continue down to the beach. It is less than 0.25 miles further down to the beach but note the beaches on the other hikes we did on this trip are, in our opinion, much prettier.  There is also a trail (0.5 miles one-way) to some sand dunes that we opted to hike on as well. Dogs are allowed to hike with you here.  

Sable Falls Pictured Rocks
Sable Falls

Other Grand Marais Tips

While in Grand Marais, be sure to check out the trendy The Dream Bean Machine for some coffee, tea, smoothies or baked goods.  This Volkswagon van turned locally owned small coffee shop is super unique and cute.  

Dream Bean Machine in Grand Marais
Dream Bean Machine

Although we did not have time for it, another place to consider checking out is Lake Superior Brewing. Note, dining options are very limited in Grand Marais and many have limited hours.  Especially after peak season, be sure to check the hours prior to planning to eat anywhere here. 


Visit Kitch-Iti-Kipi Spring

Kitch-Iti-Kipi Spring Upper Peninsula of Michigan Guide
Kitch-Iti-Kipi Spring

Kitch-Iti-Kipi Spring is a large natural freshwater spring, located in Palm Books State Park.  The very clear and turquoise water is unlike any we have seen before.  At the spring, there is a self-operated pull raft, with the middle cut out, that takes you across the spring and allows you to get a close-up look at the spring.  It is neat to see the spring bubbling up and the fish that live in the spring as well.  We would recommend trying to visit the Kitch-iti-kipi Spring on a weekday to avoid crowds.  It is a popular attraction as there is little to no effort required to see it. It is only a short walk from the parking lot on a paved path.

Kitch-Iti-Kipi Spring Upper Peninsula of Michigan Guide
Kitch-Iti-Kipi Spring

Indian State Park

This state park is located less than 10 minutes from Palm Books State Park where Kitch-iti-kipi Spring is located.  We stopped here to do a short 1 mile loop that goes along the lake and through the forest.  The lake is pretty but there is nothing particularly unique about it.  We stopped here to break up our drive a bit more and get some activity as there is no hiking at Palm Books State Park.  Unlike at the popular spring, we saw no other people while here, making our visit very peaceful.  

Indian Lake State Park
Indian Lake State Park

Pictured Rocks Cruise

A Pictured Rocks Cruise is a great way to see the unique and colorful Pictured Rocks from the water.  This option is especially great for anyone who is not inclined to hike the Chapel Basin Hike we recommend above.   We chose not to take a cruise because we saw stellar views of the Pictured Rocks on our hike.  Natalie also saw one of the cruise boats off shore swaying quite aggressively despite being quite a sizeable vessel and was also concerned for sea sickness.  See post on How to Prevent Motion Sickness While Traveling and Flying if you too experience this unfortunate feeling. 


Kayak Pictured Rocks

Kayaking offers, in our opinion, the best way to see the rocks from the water.  However, we had our 5 week old with us so this was not an option.  Beware though, Lake Superior is powerful and only strong kayakers/swimmers should consider doing this.  Paddle Pictured Rocks is the most highly rated company in the area that leads these tours. 


Where to Eat near Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore


Tahquamenon Falls Brewery

Tahquamenon Falls Brewery
Tahquamenon Falls Brewery

Tahquamenon Falls Brewery, located in the parking lot of the Upper Falls at Tahquamenon State Park, offers a nice setting to eat, drink and recharge while visiting the park.  The brewery was a nice surprise for us as we did not know it existed prior to visiting.  It is also not very obvious that it exists from the main area of the parking lot, so be sure to venture up by the giftshop to find it.  We have never seen a brewery located within a state park either so that made the experience a bit more unique.  We enjoyed the food and brews here, getting a flight of beers to taste. 

Pictured Rocks Pizza

Pictured Rocks Pizza in Munising has delicious brick oven pizzas.  We enjoyed a build-your-own pizza here.  Be sure to check the hours when visiting as it was only open 12p-5p daily during our stay. 

Muldoon’s Pasties

The specialty food item of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan is the pastie.  A pastie (pronounced PAST-TEE) is essentially an individual pie filled classically with meat and vegetables.  We tried this UP delicacy at Muldoon’s Pasties (but you will see signs advertising them at different restaurants all over the UP).  These reminded us of a pot pie but all top crust encompassing the fillings.  At Muldoon’s, they also have fruit pastie options. We tried both the traditional savory and sweet.  We both agree that the savory pasties are better than the sweet.  These pasties are very large and one is certainly enough, even for our healthy hiking appetites. If you want to try both the savory and sweet, get the sweet ones to go for later. 


Where to Stay near Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore


After looking for the perfect place to stay as a family near Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, we were so happy when we found the Northwoods Resort in Au Train, about 10 minutes west of Munising.  This resort is close enough to all of the activities in the area yet tucked away from the hustle and bustle. It is truly the perfect place to unwind after a day of exploring.  This resort has been family owned and operated for 3 generations.  It is family friendly and most of the accommodations are dog friendly.   And with charming cottages and large lake houses, there is something to fit everyone’s accommodations needs.  Located right on Au Train lake, it’s the perfect place to relax and drink your morning coffee/tea.  For more on staying at this place, please see our Where to Stay Near Pictured Rocks post. 

Limited Options

There are other Airbnb options, VRBOs and hotels in the area too but they are limited so try to book as far in advance as possible. With limited options in this rural area, rentals are a bit pricer than we expected. The most economical way to explore the area is to camp.  There are campsites within Pictured Rocks at Little Beaver Campground, as well as along the North /country Trail, and at Tahquamenon State Park. Be sure to book any sites within Pictured Rocks as early as possible as those tend to be more difficult to secure. 

Backpacking

Another great way to see this area is backpacking.  When our daughter is a bit older, we plan to take her backpacking along the North Country Trail.  We loved our time on the less trafficked parts of this trail and think a backpacking trip along here would be very serene and rejuvenating.  For tips on backpacking, see What you can Learn from our First Backpacking Trip


We hope this guide helps you plan your trip to Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore.  For a more updated version of this post, please see our Complete What to do Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore Guide. Anything you’d add to our guide on visiting Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore? We’d love to hear your feedback and questions.  Please leave us a comment!

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