Pictured Rocks

Pictured Rocks Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore Michigan © GARY MCCORMICK / FOOTSORE FOTOGRAPHY © JEFF WALTERS Stories in Sand Above: Mosquito Beach Right, top to bottom: Water-sculpted basalt, horn coral, and red jasper National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior Left: Grand Portal Point Above: Cliffs along the trail east of Miners Castle Sandstone cliffs—ocher, tan, and brown with layers of Icy Architects Massive glaciers inched back and forth over white and green—tower 50 to 200 feet above the water. a million years ago, scouring and molding this land. They Vast, blue Lake Superior glistens against a cloud-streaked reduced its volcanic and sedimentary rock to rubble and sky. Forests of emerald, black, and gold open onto small enlarged river valleys into wide basins that would become lakes and waterfalls. The scenes at Pictured Rocks National the Great Lakes. Lakeshore are like paintings created with Nature’s palette, textures, and shapes. The last glacier began to retreat about 10,000 years ago. Meltwater formed powerful rivers. They scattered rubble The 1966 authorization by Congress of this first national onto outwash plains and into crevasses, and scooped out lakeshore protects Lake Superior’s shoreline, watershed, channels that are now wetlands. As the glacier’s weight beaches, cliffs, and dunes. It also preserves extraordinary dropped, the land rose, exposing bedrock to erosion by opportunities for recreation and discovery. Just over six ice and waves, and creating cliffs. Water continues to miles across at its widest point, the park hugs more than pound and sculpt the cliffs, eroding them inland and 40 miles of shoreline. It consists of the Lakeshore Zone, enlarging the lake. federal land managed by the National Park Service, and the Inland Buffer Zone, a combination of federal, state, The force of water, solid or liquid, profoundly altered this and private ownership. Together these nearly 73,000 acres landscape and created the world’s largest freshwater lake protect some of Lake Superior’s shoreline and watershed. system. It sculpted arches, cliff profiles, and the inland lakes that formed when glacial outwash buried enormous blocks of ice. Melting ice formed depressions that filled with water and became kettle lakes. © CRAIG BLACKLOCK The stones along Twelvemile Beach are horn coral from an ancient sea, polished granite and quartz rounded like eggs, and disk-shaped fragments of Jacobsville sandstone. Colorful Cliffs The name Pictured Rocks comes from the streaks of mineral stain decorating the face of the cliffs. The streaks occur when groundwater oozes out of cracks. The dripping water contains iron, manganese, limonite, copper, and other minerals that leave behind a colorful stain as the water trickles down a cliff face. The cliffs’ ramparts are composed of 500-million-year-old Cambrian sandstone of the Munising Formation, which makes up much of the angled slopes and features like Miners Castle. Closest to lake level is the Jacobsville Formation, a late-Precambrian mottled red sandstone that is the oldest exposed rock in the park. Covering all is the 400-million-year-old Ordovician Au Train Formation, a harder, limy sandstone that serves as a capstone and protects the underlying sandstone from rapid erosion. NPS Using the Bounty of Lake and Land We had been told of the variety in the The Life-Saving Era By the early 1900s the US LifeSaving Service and the Lighthouse Service (later the US Coast Guard) built lifeboat rescue stations and light stations to guide commercial ships around treacherous rock reefs. As natural resources grew scarcer, fewer freighters plied Lake Superior’s waters. Remnants of this era survive in the park. colour and form of these rocks, but were wholly unprepared to en­count­er the surprising groups of overhanging precipices, towering walls, caverns, waterfalls … mingled in the most wonderful disorder. —Henry Rowe Schoolcraft, regional explorer and scholar, 1820 Anishinaabek birch bark storage basket NPS A Powerful Lake Measured by surface area, Lake Super­ior is the world’s largest freshwater lake—350 miles long, 160 miles ac­ross, and over 1,300 feet at its deepest point. Drained, it would fill a pool the size of the lower 48 states to a depth of nearly five feet. Lake Superior acts like an inland sea, creating powerful storms and impacting the surrounding land. Its cold water moderates the climate, keeping summer cooler and winter somewhat warmer. Mist, fog, wind, ice, and snow affect the soil, plants, wildlife, and people who live nearby. Powered now by solar energy, the 1874 Au Sable Light Station still warns mar­i­ners about the dangerous Au Sable reef. Paddling along the Pictured Rocks cliffs Wave energy, ice, and thaw work on the porous sandstone cliffs. These forces reshape beaches and shoreline and cause erosion that can result in rockfalls. © JEFF WALTERS Booming Commerce In the 1800s people made fortunes here from timber and mining. Vast forests of white pine, beech, and maple fed the demand for lumber. Blast furnaces produced pig iron for the growing railroad industry. Boomtowns developed along Lake Superior’s southern shore. NPS Newcomers In the 1600s and 1700s trappers, hunters, and miners who were not Indigenous to the area harvested furs and dug minerals from the land. Place names like Miners Castle and Grand Marais come from written accounts of early expeditions. NPS Native Peoples After the glaciers retreated north, Native people made summer camps on the coast between what is now Mun­ising and Grand Marais. Little evidence of their camps remains today. Later, Anishinaabek people hunted and fished here in summer on their way to areas farther east. Today their descendants continue these traditions. Miners Falls With each season Lake Superior shows a different mood: summer’s gentle waves, autumn’s furious storms, or winter’s icy stillness. Beaver Basin Wilderness includes nearly 12,000 acres of forests, streams, lakes, wetlands, and 13 miles of Lake Superior shoreline. Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore consists of two zones. The Lakeshore Zone is federal land managed by the National Park Service (NPS). The Inland Buffer Zone is a mixture of federal, state, and private ownership. Respect the rights of private landowners. Congress designates Wilderness areas to protect forever the land’s natural conditions, opportunities for solitude and recreation, and scientific, educational and historical values. The designation benefits future generations. Learn more at www.wilderness.net. The Wilderness within Lakeshore Zone spans from Spray Falls and part of Twelve mile Beach. It also includes the area of Beaver Basin. The Inland Buffer Zone covers some of the area inland beyond the Lakeshore Zone and Wilderness Zone. To the northeast are Hurricane River and Au Sable Light Station Trailhead, which has a National Park Service campground, wheelchair access, self-guiding trail, and picnic area. To the northeast are Au Sable Light Station and Au Sable Point. Along the lake is Twelve mile Beach, which has White Birch Trail, a National Park Service campground, self-guiding trail, and picnic area. To the northeast is Lake Superior Overlook, which has wheelchair access. To the southeast is Log Slide Scenic Overlook, which has a picnic area. East of that are the Grand Sable Dunes and Grand Sable Visitor Center. Wheelchair access is seasonal. Southwest of that are parking and the Grand Sable Lake Overlook, which has a picnic area. Across Grand Sable Lake off Lowder Road are a boat launch and picnic area. To the east are Sable Falls and Dune Trail, which has a picnic area. To the east are Woodland Park, which has a boat launch and private campground. Grand Marais and the Grand Marais Airport are nearby. Route H58 runs east then northeast from Munising Falls to beyond Grand Marais. Little Beaver Lake is inland to the east. It has a National Park Service campground, boat launch, and self-guiding trail. Beaver Basin Overlook is nearby, which has a picnic area. Along the coast are Chapel Beach and Chapel Rock. Grand Island, National Recreation Area, Hiawatha National Forest has 11 non-NPS public campgrounds. The East Channel Lighthouse is located at the southeastern tip. The Grand Island Ferry runs from Williams Landing at the southern tip of Grand Island to Powell Point. Bay Furnace, near Christmas, has a non-NPS public campground. The Munising Tourist Park is nearby to the east, with a private campground. Munising has a boat launch and city/boat dock, and the U S Forest Service Office. The road to Little Beaver Lake is unpaved, steep, and narrow. Vehicle size is restricted. Inland to the east is Chapel Falls. The Lakeshore Zone spans roughly 10 miles from Munising Falls to Spray Falls and then eight miles from Twelve mile Beach to Grand Marais. Along the lake is Mosquito Beach. Mosquito Falls and Mosquito River are nearby. Chapel Road is unpaved. Miners Beach is nearby with wheelchair access and a picnic area. To the south are Miners Lake, Miners Falls, Minor Falls Trail, and Miners River. The road to Miners Falls has a restricted vehicle size. Sand Point, northeast of that, has the Maritime Exhibit Park Headquarters, which is wheelchair accessible in summer. Marsh Trail is there, which has a picnic area and self-guiding trail. Miners Castle, northeast of that, has a scenic overlook, wheelchair access, and a picnic area. There are paved and unpaved roads. To the south are North Gemini Lake, which has a boat launch and non-NPS public campground, and South Gemini Lake, which has a non-NPS public campground. Ross Lake has a boat launch and non-NPS public campground. To the south are Canoe Lake and Cusino Lake, which both have a non-NPS public campground Kingston Lake is northeast of Beaver Basin. It has a boat launch and picnic area. To the south are Alger Falls, Wagner Falls, North Country National Scenic Trail, Hanley Field Airport, and Munising K O A, a private campground. Munising Falls has a hospital and visitor center, which has wheelchair access and a picnic area, and cross-country ski trail. Plan Your Visit Munising Falls Visitor Center is on the park’s western end. Stop here to pay your entrance fee and get park information. Enjoy a short walk to Munising Falls. Open daily mid-May to midOctober. Winter hours depend on staffing. Grand Sable Visitor Center, at the foot of Grand Sable Dunes on the park’s eastern end, offers information, exhibits, and a bookstore. Open daily in summer as staffing permits. Passes and Fees Entrance fees are required for all visitors. Pay online via www.recreation.gov, via QR codes on bulletin boards, or at the Munising Falls Visitor Center. Pets are allowed in limited areas of the park. They are prohibited on most trails. Ask at visitor centers or check bulletin boards or the park website. Where pets are allowed, they must be leashed and attended. Pet waste must be picked up and disposed of in trash. Pets and domestic pack animals are prohibited in the backcountry. Viewing the Cliffs The colorful Pictured Rocks cliffs in the western part of the park are best viewed from the water. Concessioners offer boat and guided kayak tours along the cliffs in sum- mer. Some parts of the cliffs can be seen from land. Go to Miners Castle, Miners Beach, or the North Country Trail for the best viewing access. Hiking and Walking Pictured Rocks offers 100 miles of trails. Get maps and information at visitor centers or on the park website. Sections of the North Country Trail and other trails give you spectacular vistas of lakes, cliffs, dunes, and waterfalls. Plan ahead and be prepared. Know the distance, have a map, and tell someone where you are going. Carry plenty of water and food. Wear and bring appropriate clothing. Come prepared for rapid changes in weather. Beaches The sand beaches on Lake Superior where you can sunbathe and swim are at Sand Point, Miners Beach, Twelvemile Beach, Hurricane River, and Lake Superior Overlook. Use caution; cold water and rough conditions can make swimming hazardous. Be aware of boats coming ashore. Observe surf and rip current warnings. No lifeguards, beach camping, or beach fires. Sea Kayaking Use only sea kayaks (kayaks longer than 15 feet) on Lake Superior. Be prepared for rough conditions and changing weather. Always wear a life jacket. Have the skills to get back in and right your boat if tipped. Carry all necessary safety gear. See the park website for more information. Backcountry permits are required for camping. Other Boating Beaver, Little Beaver, and Grand Sable lakes are favorites for small boats, canoes, and recreational kayaks. Launch only clean, dry vessels to avoid introducing invasive species. Only electric motors are allowed on Beaver and Little Beaver lakes. Most rivers are too shallow for canoeing or kayaking. Drive-in Camping is available at Twelvemile Beach, Hurricane River, and Little Beaver Lake campgrounds. All have tables, fire rings with grill grates, nearby potable water, and vault toilets. No showers, hookups, or dump stations. Find size limits and rules on the park website. Use only downed deadwood for campfires. Campgrounds are open May 15 through October 15. You must reserve your campsite at www.recreation.gov or call 877-444-6777. Find other campgrounds outside the park. Backpacking Read the Backcountry Camping Planner on the park webpage before getting a required backcountry permit. The planner includes camping sites, distances, rules, where fires are allowed, where to find water, and how to get permits. Winter Activities Lots of snow means lots of winter fun. Crosscountry ski on miles of groomed trails. Snowmobile on a designated park road. Enjoy ice fishing on inland lakes and Munising Bay. Snowshoe just about anywhere. Ice climb along the cliffs. View the winter landscape and frozen waterfalls. Hunting and Fishing are allowed in season under federal and state regulations. Michigan hunting and fishing licenses are required. Trapping and target practice are prohibited. Some areas are closed to hunting for safety reasons. Weather and Bugs Be prepared for changing conditions. Sudden storms develop year-round. Hypothermia is always a threat. Bring layers of warm clothing and waterproof gear. Black flies and mosquitoes are common mid-May to midJuly. Stable flies are common along the shore on warm days. Wear long, light-colored pants and long-sleeved shirts. Cell Service and Wi-Fi Cell phone service is nonexistent or limited in the park, but best at Grand Marais and Munising. Find limited Wi-Fi at Grand Sable and Munising Falls visitor centers in summer. Accessibility We strive to make facilities, services, and programs accessible to all. For more information, go to a visitor center, ask a ranger, call, or check the park website. Emergencies call 911 Observe These Regulations Bicycles are prohibited on all trails. Motorized and wheeled vehicles are prohibited in the backcountry. ORVs are prohibited except on certain park roads; check the park website. Federal and state laws protect all natural and cultural features in the park. Do not disturb shipwreck remains. Metal detectors and remotely piloted aircraft like drones are prohibited. Safety First Be prepared and stay alert. Do not climb on cliffs. Stay back from cliff edges; they can suddenly give way. Stay on trails and boardwalks. Use the overlooks. Do not climb on rocks near waterfalls. Sudden storms and Lake Superior’s cold water makes watersports treacherous. Use caution when wading, swimming, fishing, and boating. Use caution while bicycling on park roads and H58. For firearms regulations check the park website. More Information Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore PO Box 40 Munising, MI 49862-0040 906-387-3700 www.nps.gov/piro Use the official NPS App to guide your visit. Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore is one of over 400 parks in the National Park System. Learn more at www.nps.gov. npf_black.pdf Join the park community. www.nationalparks.org IGPO:2023—423-201/83073 Last updated 2023 1 8/26/22 12:33 PM