Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore
Munising, MI
Located on the south shore of Lake Superior in Michigan’s upper peninsula, this area offers natural beauty of sandstone cliffs, waterfalls, forests, and of course beaches along the lake.
Weather
If you’re not from the upper midwest or northern parts of the U.S., just know that late spring, summer and early fall are the best times for you to visit. Our stay was in early September, and we happened upon unusually warm and sunny weather in the 70’s. Average temperatures in the late spring are highs of 47 – 60 degrees and lows of 31 to 40 degrees. Summer averages are 69 to 76 degrees for the high and 49 to 57 for the low. Early fall can be highs of 57 to 69 degrees and lows of 41 to 51 degrees.
Where we Stayed
Munising Tourist Park Campground, on the shore of Lake Superior, 3.8 miles west of downtown Munising. Full hookups available, and sites directly on the beach! The back of our site had a path directly to the sand, and we had our morning coffee on the beach every day of our stay.
What to See
Waterfalls – there are 17 waterfalls in this area. We saw Chapel Falls and Miners Falls, but you’ll want to choose based on the length and difficulty of the hike to get there. See a list of the falls here: https://www.munising.org/attractions/waterfalls/.
Beaches – Chapel Beach, Sand Point Beach – named one of the five best summer beaches in America by the Weather Channel -AuTrain Beach, TwelveMile Beach and Miner’s Beach, which is located within Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore.
Lighthouse – There are half a dozen lighthouses in this area, though not all of them offer tours. We recommend the Au Sable Point Lighthouse in Grand Marais. The tours run mid-June through the end of September.
Trails – There are 100 miles of hiking trails along the Lake Superior shores. Make sure you see Miner’s Castle and Chapel Rock along the way.
Boat Tour!! – Some of the most beautiful scenery in this area cannot be seen unless you view it from the water. We tried Pictured Rocks Cruises, and chose the sunset tour. It was breathtaking! Shipwreck cruises, Glass bottom boat tours Kayaking- rent a kayak and explore the shores for yourself .
Where to Eat
Muldoon’s pasties and gifts. Pasties are popular in the area, and you must try some! This tradition was started by Finnish and Cornish immigrants who settled in the “Copper Country” of Michigan in the 1860s and worked as miners. Pasties were a popular lunch item as they stayed warm until lunchtime. Falling Rock Cafe and bookstore – smoked whitefish bagel, coffee, smoothies, best grilled cheese you’ve ever eaten Foggy’s Steakhouse – seafood, pasta, steaks, burgers in nearby Christmas, MI.
Where to Drink
Upper Peninsula Inspired Winery. We went here for a tasting, and a newlywed couple stopped in and we all celebrated! Purchased some great wine and delicious cheese too.