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National Lakeshore

Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore

  • Midwest

Plan a Pictured Rocks trip

About Pictured Rocks

Sandstone cliffs, beaches, waterfalls, sand dunes, inland lakes, deep forest, and wild shoreline beckon you to visit Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. The power of Lake Superior shapes the park's coastal features and affects every ecosystem, creating a unique landscape to explore. Hiking, camping, sightseeing, and four-season outdoor opportunities abound.

From the National Park Service.

Region
Midwest
State
Michigan
Designation
National Lakeshore
Entrance fee
$25, private vehicle
  • Trail data for this park is still being added.
  • Places for this park are still being added.

Know before you go

Fees, hours, weather and getting to Pictured Rocks.

Entrance fees

  • $25 Private Vehicle This pass admits the driver and all passengers in a private-use vehicle for seven consecutive days to all areas of Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. This fee does not cover additional fees associated with activities such as camping or commercial tours.
  • $20 Motorcycle
  • $15 Snowmobile
  • $15 Per Person

Passes

  • $45 Annual Entrance - Park

Hours

Open 24 hours a day, every day.

Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore is open year-round, 24 hours a day, though most roads are closed by snow in the winter. Sand Point Road is the only park road plowed in winter.

Weather and when to go

Summers are pleasant with the average highs in June, July, and August in the 70s°F, and lows in the low 50s°F. The coldest months are December through March with average highs of 25°F to 32°F, and average lows in the teens. Annual precipitation averages 31 inches; average annual snowfall is about 140 inches, although winters with more than 200 inches are not uncommon. Snow generally covers the ground from late November through late April.

Getting there

Pictured Rocks NL is located on the south shore of Lake Superior in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, between the towns of Munising (west) and Grand Marais (east). Access the west side of the park via Michigan highways M-28 and M-94 to Munising. State highway M-77 leads to Grand Marais on the east side. Alger County Road H-58 runs parallel and through the park, providing access to spur roads that lead to scenic overlooks, trailheads, campgrounds, beaches, etc. Most park roads are closed in winter due to snow.

Directions from the National Park Service

Contact the park

Address
1505 Sand Point Road, Munising, MI 49862
Official site
nps.gov/piro

From the National Park Service, checked weekly. Fees, hours and road conditions change: confirm with the park before you go.

Trip planner

A day-by-day plan for Pictured Rocks

Tell us your dates and what you are into. We group the stops by where they are, so each day is one part of the park, not a zigzag.

Plan your park trip Free. No account needed.

Things to do in Pictured Rocks

The park service's own list, with how long each takes.

  • Commercial Tours

    Guided Tours · about 45 min · Reservation required

    Several authorized companies offer guided kayak tours, ice climbing activities, and hiking/camping trips in the park.

  • Walks and Hikes Over a Mile

    Hiking · about 2.3 hours

    Longer hikes and walks lead to stunning cliff views, remote beaches, the Beaver Basin Wilderness, Au Sable Lighthouse, and many other scenic areas.

  • Walks and Hikes of One Mile or Less

    Hiking · about 40 min

    Pictured Rocks offers 100 miles of hiking and walking trails leading to waterfalls, beaches, forest wilderness, cultural sites, and breathtaking cliff-top views of Lake Superior.…

  • Kayaking and Kayak Safety

    Kayaking · about 45 min

    Thinking about kayaking at Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore? Make sure you have the right kind of boat and are aware of all safety issues!

  • Snowshoeing at Pictured Rocks

    Snowshoeing · about 45 min

    Snowshoeing is a very popular winter sport at Pictured Rocks. There is one official trail, but almost the entire park is open for snowshoeing.

  • Places To See in One Hour

    Scenic Driving · about 1 hour

    You could easily spend half a day exploring any of these locations, but if you only have an hour to see some quick scenic sites, here are some options!

  • Swimming at Pictured Rocks

    Swimming · about 45 min

    Pictured Rocks has several beautiful beach areas for swimming and wading in Lake Superior. Two of the park's inland lakes have sandy bottom areas suitable for swimming. There are…

  • Non-Kayak Boating at Pictured Rocks

    Boating · about 45 min

    There's more to boating at Pictured Rocks than just kayaking! Bring your canoe, motorized boat, sailboat, or paddleboard to the park.

  • Pictured Rocks Cruises Boat Tour

    Guided Tours · about 2.3 hours · Reservation required

    Taking a narrated boat tour is the easiest way to view the colorful Pictured Rocks cliffs.

Campgrounds in Pictured Rocks

Run by the park service. Reservable sites book on Recreation.gov; first-come sites do not.

What to pack for Pictured Rocks

Gear & Essentials

Tell us about your trip and we will add what else you will want:

The basics

Worth having in the car whatever the park.

For this trip

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