Pictured Rocks

https://www.nps.gov/piro/index.htm https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pictured_Rocks_National_Lakeshore Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore hugs the south shore of Lake Superior in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. It's known for the dramatic multicolored Pictured Rocks cliffs. Unusual sandstone formations like Miners Castle and Chapel Rock define the park’s headlands. Twelvemile Beach has a trail through a nearby white birch forest. Remnants of shipwrecks dot the shoreline around Au Sable Point’s 19th-century lighthouse. 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. 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. Grand Sable Visitor Center See below for hours, directions, and contact information. From Grand Marais drive west on H-58. The Grand Sable Visitor Center is located, on the right, 2.7 miles from Grand Marais. From Munising the Grand Sable Visitor Center is 60.8 miles east on H-58. To take the longer route, follow M-28 toward Seney. At Seney turn onto M-77. Follow M-77 for 25 miles north to Grand Marais. Miners Castle Visitor Contact Station Buy your park pass and get trip-planning information! From Munising, head east on Munising Ave/H-58, 4 miles outside of Munising, take a left onto Miners Castle Road. Follow Miners Castle Road 6 miles to reach the Miners Castle Visitor Contact Station. Munising Falls Visitor Center See below for hours, directions, and contact information. Located at the western edge of the park in Munising. From H-58, turn on Washington Street. Travel about a half mile to the Munising Falls Visitor Center. It is located on the right - across from the hospital and urgent care facilities. Au Sable East Group Backpacking Site Au Sable Point East Group Campground is 0.2 miles west of the Au Sable Light Station and inland from the North Country Trail. The group campsite is surrounded by a coniferous forest. There is access to Lake Superior with a view of the Grand Sable Dunes. One shared fire ring and pit toilet. Water source is Lake Superior. Lake Superior access for kayakers. Camping Fee - Per Person, Per Night 5.00 Per person, per night charge. There is also a $15 reservation fee for the permit. (Plus Reservation Fee) 15.00 $15 non-refundable fee per reservation. Au Sable East Group Backpacking Site Sign reads Au Sable Group Site. Dirt path leads to campsite in the background. Au Sable Group Site Au Sable East Individual Backpacking Sites Au Sable Point East Campground is next to the Au Sable Point East Group Campground. Due to the dense forest, you are unable to see the neighboring campground. The six campsites are scattered throughout the trees. Shared fire ring and pit toilet. Water source is Lake Superior. Lake Superior access for kayakers Camping Fee - Per Person, Per Night 5.00 Per person, per night charge. There is also a $15 reservation fee for the permit. (Plus Reservation Fee) 15.00 $15 non-refundable fee per reservation AuSable East Backpacking Site Cleared flat ground in the forests with sparse trees. Brown post with a tent symbol and the number 2 AuSable East Site 2. Beaver Creek Individual Backpacking Sites Beaver Creek Campground is on the bluff above Lake Superior and Beaver Creek in the Beaver Basin Wilderness. The six campsites are dispersed throughout the sandy grounds, shaded by pine trees. There is one communal fire ring with a view of Lake Superior. Shared pit toilet. Water source is Lake Superior and Beaver Creek. Lake Superior access for kayakers. Camping Fee - Per Person, Per Night 5.00 Per person, per night charge. There is also a $15 reservation fee for the permit. (Plus Reservation Fee) 15.00 $15 non-refundable fee for reservation Beaver Creek Backpacking Sites A campsite in a forest with four people standing to the left of two tents set up. Beaver Creek Site 3 Benchmark Individual Backpacking Sites Benchmark Campground is on a sandy bluff above Lake Superior. The six campsites are sandy and open. There are social trails that lead down to Lake Superior, but it is a steep climb back to your campsite. When hiking from the west, walk through Twelvemile Beach Campground to the trailhead and day use area to connect back to the North Country Trail. Two shared fire rings and a pit toilet. Water source is Lake Superior. Lake Superior access for kayakers. Camping Fee - Per Person, Per Night 5.00 Per person, per night charge. There is also a $15 reservation fee for the permit. (Plus Reservation Fee) 15.00 $15 non-refundable fee per reservation. Benchmark Individual Backpacking Site Tent set up on sand. Benchmark Site 1 Chapel Individual Backpacking Sites Chapel Beach Campground sits on the sand bluff above Chapel Beach and Lake Superior. Chapel Beach is a popular day use area, so the six sites here offer less isolation than other backcountry campgrounds. Shared pit toilet. Water source is Chapel Creek and Lake Superior. Lake Superior access for kayakers. NO CAMPFIRES. Camping Fee - Per Person, Per Night 5.00 Per person, per night charge. There is also a $15 reservation fee for the permit. (Plus Reservation Fee) 15.00 $15 non-refundable fee for reservation Chapel Beach Individual Backpacking Sites Brown sign with tent symbol and #2. A tent and hammock are visible in between tree branches. Chapel Beach Site 2 Cliffs Group Backpacking Site Cliffs Group Campground is one mile east of Cliffs Campground. It lies high above Lake Superior and inland from the North Country Trail. You will not be able to see the lake from the campground in the summer. There are spots along the North Country Trail near the campground to get a glimpse of Grand Island and Lake Superior. One shared fired ring and pit toilet. Visitors must bring water. NO ACCESS TO WATER. Camping Fee - Per Person, Per Night 5.00 Per person, per night charge. There is also a $15 reservation fee for the permit. (Plus Reservation Fee) 15.00 $15 non-refundable fee per reservation Cliffs Group Backpacking Site Forest with bright green tree leaves and plants. A trail sign reads Cliff Group. This is the sign you will see on the North Country Trail to mark the turnoff to the Cliffs Group Campsite. Cliffs Individual Backpacking Sites Cliffs Campground rests high above Lake Superior inland from the North Country Trail. The three campsites are in an open area with little cover between sites. During the summer months when the foliage is at its peak, you cannot see Lake Superior from the campground. There are places along the trail to sneak a peek of Grand Island and the lake. One shared fired ring and pit toilet. Visitors must bring water. NO ACCESS TO WATER. Camping Fee - Per Person, Per Night 5.00 Per person, per night charge. There is also a $15 reservation fee for the permit. (Plus Reservation Fee) 15.00 $15 non-refundable fee for reservation Cliffs Individual Backpacking Site The word "cliffs" scratched into a cut tree in the middle of a forest. Sign you will see on the North Country Trail for the Cliffs Individual Campsites. Coves Group Backpacking Site Coves Group Campground is three miles east of Chapel Beach. You are still up on the cliff line, but have started your descent towards Twelvemile Beach. Hike east on the North Country Trail about a quarter mile to find a trail to a small cove and beach on Lake Superior; this is where you have access to water. One shared fire ring and pit toilet. No access for kayakers due to 1/4 mile portage. Camping Fee - Per Person, Per Night 5.00 Per person, per night charge. There is also a $15 reservation fee for the permit. (Plus Reservation Fee) 15.00 $15 non-refundable fee for reservation Coves Group Backpacking Site Sign reads Coves Group with a dirt trail leading through forest. Sign for Coves Group Site. Coves Individual Backpacking Sites Coves Campground is inland from the North Country Trail, hidden behind the pine trees and ferns. There are two entry points to the campground. The campground trail leads through the forest where you will find five campsites and two designated metal communal fire rings. There is Lake Superior and beach access from the bluff along the North Country Trail. Water source is Lake Superior. Shared pit toilet. Lake Superior access for kayakers. Camping Fee - Per Person, Per Night 5.00 Per person, per night charge. There is also a $15 reservation fee for the permit. (Plus Reservation Fee) 15.00 $15 non-refundable fee for reservation Coves Individual Backpacking Sites Forest area with flat grounds. Trees are spaces apart. Coves Site 2. Grand Sable Lake Boat-In Site Grand Sable Lake on the park's east end has one boat-in backcountry campsite. Campers must provide their own boat and launch at the Grand Sable Lake boat launch. The campground is 1/2 mile south of the boat launch along the east shore. One fire ring and pit toilet. Water source is Grand Sable Lake. Ideal for kayakers and canoers. Camping Fee - Per Person, Per Night 5.00 Per person, per night charge: $5.00 (Plus Reservation Fee) 15.00 Non-refundable reservation fee: $15.00 Grand Sable Boat-In Site Metal fire ring and tree stump seats in a grassy field Grand Sable Boat-In Site Hurricane River Campground There are two loops: 11 campsites in the lower loop and ten in the upper loop. Both loops include one disabled- accessible campsite. Several campsites are designated as generator-free. Because the turning radius and some parking site lengths are limited within this campground, we recommend single vehicles no more than 36 feet and vehicle/trailer combined length no more than 42 feet use this campground. The campground is open by reservation only, mid-May through mid-October. Leashed pets allowed. Camping Fee - mid May to mid October 25.00 Overnight fee $25.00 Holders of the America The Beautiful Senior Pass (62 and older) and the America The Beautiful Access Pass (disabled) receive a 50% discount. Hurricane River Campground Campsite, including tent and picnic table in forest setting. Hurricane River campsite Hurricane River Campground Map Map of Hurricane River campground showing site numbers, vault toilets, and water. Campsite Map for Upper and Lower Hurricane River campground Little Beaver Lake Campground Little Beaver Lake Campground has 8 campsites on a beautiful inland lake. One campsite is disabled- accessible. Single unit vehicles in excess of 36 feet and vehicle/trailer combined units in excess of 42 feet are prohibited at Little Beaver because of the small campsites and the narrow, twisting, hilly access road. Pets are NOT allowed at this campground. The campground is open by reservation only, mid-May through mid-October. Closed the rest of the year. Camping Fee - mid May to mid October 25.00 Overnight fee $25.00 Holders of the America The Beautiful Senior Pass (62 and older) and the America The Beautiful Access Pass (disabled) receive a 50% discount. Little Beaver Lake Campsite Pickup Truck and and two tents at Little Beaver Lake Campsite. Campsite at Little Beaver Lake Campground Little Beaver Lake Campground Map Numbered site map of Little Beaver Lake Campground Site map for Little Beaver Lake Campground Lowney Creek Group Backpacking Site Lowney Creek Group Campground is one mile from Little Beaver Lake Campground and 2.5 miles inland from Lake Superior. Lowney Creek Group Campground is in the Beaver Basin Wilderness. The trail to the campground follows the Beaver Lake shoreline. Water source is Beaver Lake. One shared fire ring and NO toilet. Water access to this campground is via Little Beaver Lake, then Beaver Lake. Camping Fee - Per Person, Per Night 5.00 Per person, per night charge. There is also a $15 reservation fee for the permit. (Plus Reservation Fee) 15.00 $15 non-refundable fee for reservation Lowney Creek Backpacking Site Logs arranged in square for seating around a fire ring in a forest. Fire ring with log benches at Lowney Creek Site. Lowney Creek Individual Backpacking Sites Lowney Creek Campground is 1.5 miles from Little Beaver Lake Campground and three miles inland from Lake Superior. Lowney Creek Campground is in the Beaver Basin Wilderness. The four sites are in a meadow scattered with big trees on the south shore of Beaver Lake. Lowney Creek is on the east side of the campground. One shared fire ring and NO toilet. Water source is Lowney Creek and Beaver Lake. Water access to the campground is via Little Beaver Lake, then Beaver Lake. Camping Fee - Per Person, Per Night 5.00 Per person, per night charge. There is also a $15 reservation fee for the permit. (Plus Reservation Fee) 15.00 $15 non-refundable fee for reservation Lowney Creek Individual Backpacking Sites Dirt path leading to a campsite. Next to path is a post with a tent symbol and the number 1. Lowney Creek site 1. Masse Homestead Group Backpacking Site Masse Homestead Group Campground is to the west of the regular campground. It too is at the base of the dunes in a thick forest canopy. One shared fire ring and NO toilet. Visitors must bring water. NO ACCESS TO WATER. Camping Fee - Per Person, Per Night 5.00 Per person, per night charge. There is also a $15 reservation fee for the permit. (Plus Reservation Fee) 15.00 $15 non-refundable fee for each reservation. Masse Homestead Group Backpacking Site Campsite with cleared ground that contains and fire ring and a bear box. Campsite contains a fire ring and bear box. Masse Homestead Individual Backpacking Sites Masse Homestead Campground is at the base of the dunes (south side) and sheltered due to the thick forest canopy. The three campsites are close together at the base of the dunes. One shared fire ring and NO toilet. Visitors must bring water. NO ACCESS TO WATER. Camping Fee - Per Person, Per Night 5.00 Per person, per night charge. There is also a $15 reservation fee for the permit. (Plus Reservation Fee) 15.00 $15 non-refundable fee per reservation Masse Homestead Backpacking Sites Cleared flat ground surrounded by a forest. Brown post with tent symbol and the number 3. Masse Homestead Site 3 Masse Homestead Backpacking Sites Cleared flat ground surrounded by a forest. Brown post with tent symbol and the number 3. Masse Homestead Site 3 Mosquito River Group Backpacking Site Mosquito River Group Campground is on the west side of Mosquito River just a few steps away from the North Country Trail. There is a bluff near the campsite overlooking Lake Superior, which provides easy access to Mosquito Beach and the river. Shared pit toilet. Water source is Mosquito River and Lake Superior. Lake Superior access for kayakers. NO CAMPFIRES. Camping Fee - Per Person, Per Night 5.00 Per person, per night charge. There is also a $15 reservation fee for the permit. (Plus Reservation Fee) 15.00 $15 non-refundable fee for reservation Mosquito Group Backpacking Site Open dirt area in the middle of a forested area. Two bear boxes on the right side. Mosquito Group Site. Mosquito River Individual Backpacking Sites Mosquito River Campground is on the east side of the Mosquito River high above the lake. Depending upon which of the five campsites you choose, you can hear the waves crashing on the cliffs or the Mosquito River flowing into Lake Superior. Shared pit toilet. Water source is Mosquito River and Lake Superior. Lake Superior access for kayakers. NO CAMPFIRES. Camping Fee - Per Person, Per Night 5.00 Per person, per night charge. There is also a $15 reservation fee for the permit. (Plus Reservation Fee) 15.00 $15 non-refundable fee for reservation Mosquito River Individual Backpacking Site Tent set up in a cleared patch in the middle of a forest. Brown post with tent symbol and #3. Mosquito River Site 3 Pine Bluff Individual Backpacking Sites Pine Bluff sites are on a sandy bluff above Lake Superior just off the North Country Trail. The five campsites are on a sandy open area covered in ferns with pine trees scattered throughout the area. Access the beach and Lake Superior from a trail on the bluff at the entrance to the campground. Camping Fee - Per Person, Per Night 5.00 Per person, per night charge. There is also a $15 reservation fee for the permit. (Plus Reservation Fee) 15.00 $15 non-refundable fee for reservation Pine Bluff Backpacking Site Yellow tent and hammock are set up in a cleared area in the middle of a forest. Pine Bluff Backpacking Site Potato Patch Individual Backpacking Sites Potato Patch Campground is inland from the North Country Trail. Follow a trail through an open field with the sounds of a waterfall at your back. The fire ring is at the entrance to the campground. Follow the trail to the right to reach each of the three sites. Within the campground, the view of Grand Island and Lake Superior is blocked during the summer by the birch and maple leaves. One shared fire ring and pit toilet. Visitors must bring water. NO ACCESS TO WATER. Camping Fee - Per Person, Per Night 5.00 Per person, per night charge. There is also a $15 reservation fee for the permit. (Plus Reservation Fee) 15.00 $15 non-refundable fee for reservation Potato Patch Individual Backpacking Sites Cleared patch of land in a bright green forest. There is a bench made of a log. Potato Patch Site 3 Sevenmile Creek Group Backpacking Site Sevenmile Creek Group Campground is on the east side of Sevenmile Creek. The North Country Trail guides you over a foot bridge, through the woods and opens up into the group site. It is a wide-open area with access to Lake Superior. One shared fire ring and NO toilet. Water source is Sevenmile Creek and Lake Superior. Lake Superior access for kayakers. Camping Fee - Per Person, Per Night 5.00 Per person, per night charge. There is also a $15 reservation fee for the permit. (Plus Reservation Fee) 15.00 $15 non-refundable fee per reservation. Sevenmile Group Backpacking Site Campsite with log benches arranged in a square around a fire ring. Sevenmile Group Backpacking Site Sevenmile Creek Individual Backpacking Sites Sevenmile Creek Campground is on the west bank of Sevenmile Creek. The North Country Trail wanders through the campground and past the communal fire ring. The sites are separated by trees, which offer a bit of privacy. Three of the five sites are along the creek. Lake Superior access is on the east side of the creek through the Sevenmile Creek Group Campground. NO toilet. Water source is Sevenmile Creek and Lake Superior. Lake Superior access for kayakers. Camping Fee - Per Person, Per Night 5.00 Per person, per night charge. There is also a $15 reservation fee for the permit. (Plus Reservation Fee) 15.00 $15 non-refundable fee per reservation Sevenmile Individual Backpacking Site Tent set up at campsite. Brown post near front of site has a tent symbol and the number 4. Sevenmile Creek Site 4 Trappers Lake Group Backpacking Site Trappers Lake Group Campground is a little over a mile inland from the North Country Trail and 0.2 miles east of Trappers Lake Campground. It is on the north shore of Trappers Lake in the Beaver Basin Wilderness. One shared fire ring and pit toilet. Water source is Trappers Lake. This is a hike-in campground only; kayakers cannot access this campground. Camping Fee - Per Person, Per Night 5.00 Per person, per night charge. There is also a $15 reservation fee for the permit. (Plus Reservation Fee) 15.00 $15 non-refundable fee per reservation Trappers Group Backpacking Site Sign reads Trappers Group Site with a trail leading into a forest. Sign for Trappers Group Site. Trappers Lake Individual Backpacking Sites Trappers Lake Campground is in the heart of the Beaver Basin Wilderness. The five campsites are on the north shore of Trappers Lake. This campground is a quiet hideaway located about one mile inland from the North Country Trail. One shared fire ring and pit toilet. Water source is Trappers Lake. This is a hike-in campground only; kayakers cannot access this campground. Camping Fee - Per Person, Per Night 5.00 Per person, per night charge. There is also a $15 reservation fee for the permit. (Plus Reservation Fee) 15.00 $15 non-refundable fee per reservation Trappers Lake Individual Backpacking Site Cleared campsite with a lake in the background visible between a few trees. Trappers Lake Site 3 Twelvemile Beach Campground The campground's 36 sites are located on a high sandy plateau above Twelvemile Beach on Lake Superior. Some sites have a lake view. There are two disabled-accessible campsites. Generator use is prohibited in the campground's west loop. There are three sets of stairs to the beach. The North Country National Scenic Trail treks through the campground. The 2-mile White Birch Nature Trail begins and ends here. The campground is open by reservation only, mid-May through mid-October. Leashed pets allowed. Camping Fee - mid May to mid October 25.00 Overnight fee of $25. Holders of the America The Beautiful Senior Pass (62 and older) and the America The Beautiful Access Pass (disabled) receive a 50% discount. Twelvemile Beach Camping Tent and Car at Twelvemile Beach Campground Tent and Car at Twelvemile Beach Campground Twelvemile Beach Campground Map Twelvemile Beach Campground Map showing site numbers and locations Site map of Twelvemile Beach Campground Au Sable Light Station Au Sable Lighthouse and light keeper's quarters Au Sable Lighthouse and light keeper's quarters Beaver Basin Wilderness Shallow creek narrowing through the forest. Shallow creek in the Beaver Basin Wilderness Battleship Row Three sections of cliffs sticking out into Lake Superior like the bows of battleships. 15 miles of carved and colorful cliffs along the Lake Superior shoreine. Grand Sable Dunes The Grand Sable Dunes rise up 300 feet from Lake Superior. The Grand Sable Dunes rise up 300 feet from Lake Superior. Kayaking Along the Pictured Rocks Cliffs Kayakers near Lovers Leap rock arch formation Kayakers near Lovers Leap Backcountry Camping - Benchmark Site Backcountry camping at Benchmark site showing tent surrounded by ferns and trees. Backpacking and camping are a popular activities. Ice Climbing Ice climber on a curtain of ice along the Pictured Rocks Escarpment Ice climbing is a popular winter activity. Miners Falls High volume of water flowing at Miners Falls Water flowing over Miners Falls Miner's Castle Miner's Castle rock formation along the Lake Superior shoreline. View the Miner's Castle rock formation from the adjacent cliffs or from a boat. Pictured Rocks Cliffs along the Chapel / Mosquito Loop Mineral stained cliffs and collapsed rock arch along Lake Superior Springtime along the Chapel / Mosquito hiking loop NPS Geodiversity Atlas—Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, Michigan Each park-specific page in the NPS Geodiversity Atlas provides basic information on the significant geologic features and processes occurring in the park. hikers on point overlooking lakeshore and bluffs Great Lakes Mapping Great Lakes Network staff assisted Midwest Region staff in a mapping project that reveals a whole new way of looking at the Great Lakes parks. oblique view of the Gull Island shoal, Apostle Islands NL, Lake Superior 2019 Connecting with our Homelands Awardees Hopa Mountain, in partnership with the National Park Service, is pleased to announce the 2019 awardees of the Connecting with our Homelands travel grants. Twenty-one Indigenous organizations, schools, and nonprofits have been awarded travel funds for trips to national park units across 12 states/territories within the United States. An elder and young student talk while sitting on a rock. Nighttime Navigation and Light Station Landscapes Lighthouses of the Great Lakes region are historic navigational aids that have guided sailors under dark skies, around dangerous coast lines, and through treacherous weather. The light station landscapes are an important cultural resource, representing developments in navigational technology and patterns of commerce and settlement. The landscape features suggest the lives of the keepers and their families who operated these lights, guiding ships through dark waters. Aerial view of a light station with cylindrical light tower, surrounded by trees and grass. Bat Projects in Parks: Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore Surveying bats using mist netting in Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. The Pictured Rocks over Lake Superior in Pictured Rock National Lakeshore Using Lake Superior parks to explain the Midcontinent Rift Explaining the spectacular scenery around Lake Superior resulting from the 1.1 billion–year–old Midcontinent Rift System gives park interpreters an opportunity to discuss some of the most important processes that shape our planet and influenced the region’s settlement and growth. Kayakers paddle past sandstone rocks at Apostle Islands National Lakeshore (Seth Stein) Letter to the Editor The EPA updated its criteria for assessing water and sediment quality. This enabled a more nuanced analysis of water quality conditions in the Great Lakes. Our analysis suggests that parks would benefit from additional work on water clarity. Nearshore water quality monitoring station near Sand Island, Apostle Islands National Lakeshore 2005 NPS Environmental Achievement Awards Recipients of the 2005 NPS Environmental Achievement Awards Nearshore conditions in the Great Lakes national parks: A baseline water quality and toxicological assessment Field survey results suggest generally good water quality, although nutrient concentrations were unexpectedly high near several parks, and metals and legacy pollutants continue to affect sediments and fish. Nearshore water quality monitoring station near Sand Island, Apostle Islands National Lakeshore Coloring Fun for Young Kids Color a few of the scenic places and special things found in Pictured Rocks. You can print these drawings that were created by our park rangers. Colored in coloring page with crayons laying on top of it. Celebrating soils across the National Park System First in a series of three "In Focus" articles that share insights into the near-universal and far-reaching effects of soils on the ecology, management, and enjoyment of our national parks. Fossil soils at Cabrillo National Monument reveal marine deposits Be a Virtual Junior Ranger Participate in our six online activities to complete your Junior Ranger mission right from home and earn your virtual badge and certificate. And don't forget to take the official pledge with Ranger Zach via the posted video. So if you're ready, your online mission can start now! A Junior Ranger quietly makes observations in nature with his notebook Series: NPS Environmental Achievement Awards Since 2002, the National Park Service (NPS) has awarded Environmental Achievement (EA) Awards to recognize staff and partners in the area of environmental preservation, protection and stewardship. A vehicle charges at an Electric Vehicle charging station at Thomas Edison National Historical Park Paleozoic Era During the Paleozoic Era (541 to 252 million years ago), fish diversified and marine organisms were very abundant. In North America, the Paleozoic is characterized by multiple advances and retreats of shallow seas and repeated continental collisions that formed the Appalachian Mountains. Common Paleozoic fossils include trilobites and cephalopods such as squid, as well as insects and ferns. The greatest mass extinction in Earth's history ended this era. fossil corals in a rock matrix Wildland Fire in Red Pine and White Pine The red pine and white pine forest inhabits the cooler climates of the upper Midwest. They once covered large areas of northern Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan. Red and white pine forests owe their presence and persistence in large part to fire. Although both types of trees can live in areas without fire, especially on very sandy soils, frequent fires are necessary for healthy forests. Small flames consume dead pine needles and log under red and white pine trees. Orlando Poe - Visionary Engineer Rising to the position of Major General William Sherman’s Chief Engineer. Poe carried out the order to burn Atlanta in 1864, by building the roads and bridges that made Sherman’s March to the Sea possible. Despite his accomplishments during The Civil War, Orlando Metcalfe Poe, would be remembered in the Great Lakes as the visionary engineer of lighthouse towers and the Soo Locks. Historical Photograph of Orlando Poe during his time at West Point. Invasive Mussels at Apostle Islands: They're Hardier than You Thought Lake Superior was once thought to be inhospitable to zebra and quagga mussels because of it’s cold water and low calcium levels, yet they have been found in the waters of Apostle Islands National Lakeshore in recent investigations. What is the National Park Service doing, and what can you do to help? A map of the western end of Lake Superior, including Apostle Islands National Lakeshore Shipwrecks of Pictured Rocks Shipwrecks near Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. Changing Patterns of Water Availability May Change Vegetation Composition in US National Parks Across the US, changes in water availability are altering which plants grow where. These changes are evident at a broad scale. But not all areas experience the same climate in the same way, even within the boundaries of a single national park. A new dataset gives park managers a valuable tool for understanding why vegetation has changed and how it might change in the future under different climate-change scenarios. Green, orange, and dead grey junipers in red soil, mountains in background Defensible Space at the historic Munising Coast Guard Station Hazard fuels reduction project protects historic park headquarters at Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. Things to Do in Michigan Find things to do, trip ideas, and more in Michigan. Dunes rise above shoreline under blue sky. Series: Things to Do in the Midwest There is something for everyone in the Midwest. See what makes the Great Plains great. Dip your toes in the continent's inland seas. Learn about Native American heritage and history. Paddle miles of scenic rivers and waterways. Explore the homes of former presidents. From the Civil War to Civil Rights, discover the stories that shape our journey as a nation. Steep bluff with pink sky above and yellow leaves below. Songbird Monitoring at Pictured Rocks A summary of songbird monitoring data collected at Pictured Rocks NL from 2014 through 2018. A reddish brown bird with black streaks on its chest. Series: Geologic Time—Major Divisions and NPS Fossils The National Park System contains a magnificent record of geologic time because rocks from each period of the geologic time scale are preserved in park landscapes. The geologic time scale is divided into four large periods of time—the Cenozoic Era, Mesozoic Era, Paleozoic Era, and The Precambrian. photo of desert landscape with a petrified wood log on the surface Project Profile: Beaver Basin Wilderness Lowney Creek Restoration The National Park Service will restore the Lowney Creek System in the designated Beaver Basin Wilderness by breaching and/or removing man-made dams that were installed prior to the Picture Rocks National Lakeshore’s establishment in 1966. Three concrete walls of a low-head dam on a clear creek in a forested area The Current: Spring 2023 The Spring 2023 issue of the Great Lakes Newsletter contains articles on the changing ways we produce and look at data, staff changes, the field season schedule, an overview of a project to look at songbird data from all three Midwest networks, and a listing of new publications. A white page with a black border at the top and the words The Current: Fall 2023 The Fall 2023 issue of the Great Lakes newsletter contains articles on planning for the future of the Inventory and Monitoring Division, retirement and departure of staff members, a summary of the Western Great Lakes Research Conference, a field season summary from each of our monitoring programs, and a list of new reports and publications. The front page of a newsletter, with a photo of a dragonfly perched on hiking boot. Amphibian Monitoring at Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, 2019 A summary of amphibian monitoring data collected in 2019 at Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. A person holds a tiny toad between their thumb and middle finger. Amphibian Monitoring in the Great Lakes Network Parks: 2023 Update A summary of amphibian monitoring data collected in seven Great Lakes Network parks as of 2019. A light green and gray frog sits in the crotch of a tree branch at the trunk. Bat Monitoring in Great Lakes Network Parks, 2024 A summary of acoustic bat monitoring in Great Lakes Network parks from 2015 through 2019. A bat with large, round ears hangs from a rock. Bat Monitoring at Pictured Rocks, 2015–2018 A summary of bat monitoring data collected at Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore from 2015 through 2018. A reddish-colored bat with black flecks sits on a rock while looking straight at the camera. The Current: Spring 2024 Spring 2024 issue of the Great Lakes Network newsletter, "The Current," featuring science stories, a farewell, the 2024 field season schedule, and recent publications. Woman wearing a backpack and carrying a GPS unit and a compass wades through water and shrubs. Updated Species Database Will Help Boost Amphibian Conservation Across the National Park System To steward amphibians effectively, managers need basic information about which species live in parks. But species lists need constant maintenance to remain accurate. Due to recent efforts, the National Park Service now has an up-to-date amphibian species checklist for almost 300 parks. This information can serve as the basis for innumerable conservation efforts across the nation. A toad sits on red sand, looking into the camera. 10 Tips for Visiting Pictured Rocks Plan like a park ranger at Pictured Rocks! Check out these 10 tips for visiting the park before your next adventure! A ranger hands the viewer a Pictured Rocks unigrid How Pollinator Inventories Can Inform Park Management Decisions Pollinators play a crucial role in national park ecosystems and beyond. In the national parks, species inventories help managers know which pollinators are present, and in what abundance, to better understand the state of park ecosystems and make decisions about how to manage them. From 2024 to 2026, 17 parks across the country will be surveyed for bees and butterflies. Bee laden with pollen sits atop a purple flower. Dragonfly mercury studies uncover unexpected atmospheric delivery pathways Read the abstract and get the link to a published paper on how dragonfly mercury studies uncover unexpected atmospheric delivery pathways: Janssen, S.E., C.J. Kotalik, J.J. Willacker, M.T. Tate, C. Flanagan Pritz, S.J. Nelson, D.P. Krabbenhoft, D. Walters, and C. Eagles-Smith. 2024. Geographic Drivers of Mercury Entry into Aquatic Foods Webs Revealed by Mercury Stable Isotopes in Dragonfly Larvae. Environmental Science & Technology. DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.4c02436 close up of dragonfly larvae on white spoon Microplastics on Great Lakes Beaches The presence of microplastics in the marine environment poses risks to wildlife and human health. Learn about a recent microplastics study of national park beaches and what it means for the Great Lakes. Multi-colored pieces of plastic in beach sand. Safeguarding Cultural Treasures Against Climate Peril in Midwest Parks The Midwest United States, with its windy, rolling plains, doesn't often come to mind when we think about the effects of climate change on our world - but it should. Dirt trail leads to the keepers' quarters and lighthouse in the distance. Project Profile: Assess and Prescribe Treatment for Climate Threatened Cultural Resources at Midwest Region Parks The National Park Service is confronting challenges as cultural resources are increasingly facing threats from climate-driven storms, high-water levels, and erosion. This multi-park project will document vulnerable assets in these parks and offer adaption recommendations for historic structures, landscapes, and archaeological sites across the Midwest. Construction site in a forest featuring a stone retaining wall and cabins in the background. Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funds multi-park prescribed fire and fuels management work in National Park Service’s Great Lakes Fire Management Zone In 2024, fire management staff from the National Park Service’s Great Lakes Fire Management Zone, based at Indiana Dunes National Park, completed prescribed fires and fuels management projects across six different parks in four states using Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding. Projects consisted of prescribed fires, mechanical fuels reduction, pile burning, ecological surveys, and natural resource monitoring. Flames consume a pile of dead limbs and logs near a brick structure. The Current: Fall 2024 The Fall 2024 issue of the Great Lakes Network newsletter, "The Current." Featuring: NPS science and indigenous knowledge, 2024 field season summary, new staff positions, and the latest publications and data packages. A person in a green coat and hat and wearing an orange life jacket walks through knee-high water. “Cracking the code” on mercury bioaccumulation Read the abstract and get the link to a published paper on a model to predict mercury risk park waterbodies: Kotalik, C.J. et al. 2025. Ecosystem drivers of freshwater mercury bioaccumulation are context-dependent: insights from continental-scale modeling. Environmental Science & Technology. DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.4c07280 A person stands in a field looking at a bug through a magnifying lens. NPS study provides crucial information on White-Nose Syndrome effect on bats. National Park Service, North Dakota State University, and University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign scientists, recently published a study on the status of four bat species in nine Great Lakes region parks to understand the effects of White-Nose Syndrome. A small brown bat with a white fungus on its nose close up.

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 min