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Golden and orange trees line a sandstone cliff rising above a beach on a cloudy autumn day
MI

Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore

Entrance Fee

$25.00

/ Entrance - Private Vehicle

Park Hours (Today)

All Day

Munising Falls Visitor Center: 9:00AM - 5:00PM

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About the Park

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.

Industry Logging and Timber Cutting Maritime Lighthouses Ships and Shipwrecks Military US Coast Guard Animals
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What to See & Do

Group of yellow kayaks next to colorful cliff
Guided Tours

Commercial Tours

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

In Park
Day hiker walking across wooden bridge over shallow wetland.
Hiking

Walks and Hikes Over a Mile

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

Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore1-5 Hours
Several children standing on a wooden boardwalk looking out into the marsh
Hiking

Walks and Hikes of One Mile or Less

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. Here are some of the shorter trails.

Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore30-60 Minutes
Group of kayakers under large sandstone arch
Kayaking

Kayaking and Kayak Safety

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

Launching Locations for Lake Superior
Small tent on tend pad with tall trees overhead
Car or Front Country Camping

Drive-In Camping at Pictured Rocks

Pictured Rocks has three drive-in campgrounds open May 15 through Oct. 15. Two are along Lake Superior and the third is on a beautiful inland lake.

Twelvemile Beach Campground1-14 Days
Snowshoer on forested snow trail with blue trail marker nearby
Snowshoeing

Snowshoeing at Pictured Rocks

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

Beginning of the park's official snowshoe trail

Self-Guided Tours

A low-profile wayside on the side of a sand dune

Interpretive Wayside Tour - Driving East to West

Waysides and audio descriptions for waysides in Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, beginning in Grand Marais and heading towards Munising on County Road H-58.

1-6 min 13 stops
Miners Falls flowing over a forested cliff

Waterfall Tour

Michigan's Upper Peninsula is famous for its many waterfalls - and the Pictured Rocks area has some of the most beautiful! This tour covers the easiest waterfalls within and nearby the park to access by vehicle. Walks to these waterfalls range in distance from just outside the parking area to 1.2 miles round trip. Driving from one end of the park to the other and back takes about 2.5 hours. Add another 1 - 2 hours to walk to and enjoy all six waterfalls.

3-6 min 4 stops
Paved county road through autumn forest with inland lake on the left.

A Scenic Drive From West to East

A self-guided half day tour by vehicle that focuses mostly on driving from one end of the national lakeshore to the other, with some short walks to several of the park's most scenic sites and vistas. Tour duration depends on how long you spend at each spot - whether you are just getting a quick scenic view or taking time to do some additional exploring.

3-6 min 11 stops

Visitor Centers

A ranger peeks out of a sliding service window on the side of a brown building.

Munising Falls Visitor Center

See below for hours, directions, and contact information.

9:00AM - 5:00PM 906-387-3700
A small brown farmhouse-style visitor center is visible in the distance, across a wildflower field.

Grand Sable Visitor Center

See below for hours, directions, and contact information.

9:00AM - 5:00PM 906-494-2660
A wood pavilion beneath autumn trees.

Miners Castle Visitor Contact Station

Buy your park pass and get trip-planning information!

9:30AM - 4:30PM

Where to Stay

Pickup Truck and and two tents at Little Beaver Lake Campsite.

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.

🏕 8 sites💧 Water🚽 ToiletsReservable
Book on Recreation.gov
Tent and Car at Twelvemile Beach Campground

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.

🏕 36 sites💧 Water🚽 ToiletsReservable
Book on Recreation.gov
Campsite, including tent and picnic table in forest setting.

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.

🏕 21 sites💧 Water🚽 ToiletsReservable
Book on Recreation.gov
Campsite with cleared ground that contains and fire ring and a bear box.

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.

🏕 1 sites🚽 ToiletsReservable
Book on Recreation.gov
Sign reads Au Sable Group Site. Dirt path leads to campsite in the background.

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.

🏕 1 sitesReservable
Book on Recreation.gov
Campsite with log benches arranged in a square around a fire ring.

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.

🏕 1 sitesReservable
Book on Recreation.gov
Sign reads Trappers Group Site with a trail leading into a forest.

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.

🏕 1 sitesReservable
Book on Recreation.gov
Logs arranged in square for seating around a fire ring in a forest.

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.

🏕 1 sitesReservable
Book on Recreation.gov
Sign reads Coves Group with a dirt trail leading through forest.

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.

🏕 1 sites💧 Water🚽 ToiletsReservable
Book on Recreation.gov
Open dirt area in the middle of a forested area. Two bear boxes on the right side.

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.

🏕 1 sites💧 Water🚽 ToiletsReservable
Book on Recreation.gov
Forest with bright green tree leaves and plants. A trail sign reads Cliff Group.

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.

🏕 1 sites🚽 ToiletsReservable
Book on Recreation.gov
Cleared flat ground surrounded by a forest. Brown post with tent symbol and the number 3.

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.

🏕 3 sites🚽 ToiletsReservable
Book on Recreation.gov
Cleared flat ground in the forests with sparse trees. Brown post with a tent symbol and the number 2

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

🏕 6 sites💧 Water🚽 ToiletsReservable
Book on Recreation.gov
Tent set up on sand.

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.

🏕 6 sites💧 Water🚽 ToiletsReservable
Book on Recreation.gov
Tent set up at campsite. Brown post near front of site has a tent symbol and the number 4.

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.

🏕 5 sites💧 Water🚽 ToiletsReservable
Book on Recreation.gov
Cleared campsite with a lake in the background visible between a few trees.

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.

🏕 5 sites💧 Water🚽 ToiletsReservable
Book on Recreation.gov
Yellow tent and hammock are set up in a cleared area in the middle of a forest.

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.

🏕 5 sites💧 Water🚽 ToiletsReservable
Book on Recreation.gov
Brown sign with tent symbol and #2. A tent and hammock are visible in between tree branches.

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.

🏕 6 sites💧 Water🚽 ToiletsReservable
Book on Recreation.gov
A campsite in a forest with four people standing to the left of two tents set up.

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.

🏕 6 sites💧 Water🚽 ToiletsReservable
Book on Recreation.gov
Dirt path leading to a campsite. Next to path is a post with a tent symbol and the number 1.

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.

🏕 4 sites💧 Water🚽 ToiletsReservable
Book on Recreation.gov

Getting Here & Transit

How to Get Here

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.

Park Amenities

Accessible Rooms
Accessible Sites
Animal-Safe Food Storage
Assistive Listening Systems
Automated Entrance
Backcountry Permits
Beach/Water Access
Benches/Seating
Boat Ramp
Canoe/Kayak/Small Boat Launch
Cellular Signal
Entrance Passes for Sale
Gifts/Souvenirs/Books
Grill
Historical/Interpretive Information/Exhibits

Entrance Fees & Passes

Standard Fees

Entrance - Private Vehicle

$25.00

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.

Entrance - Motorcycle

$20.00

Valid for 7 days. Admits up to 2 private, non-commercial motorcycles with up to 4 total passengers to all areas of Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. This fee does not cover additional fees associated with activities such as camping or commercial tours.

Entrance - Snowmobile

$15.00

This pass admits a snowmobile to all parts of Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore for 7 consecutive days. This fee does not cover additional fees associated with activities such as camping or commercial tours.

Entrance - Per Person

$15.00

This pass admits one walk-in, bicycle-in, or boat-in person to all parts of Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. This fee does not cover additional fees associated with activities such as camping or commercial tours.

Commercial Entrance - Sedan

$25.00

This admits a commercial sedan to all areas of Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. The flat rate for this pass is $25, plus an additional $5 per person age 16+. This fee does not cover additional fees associated with activities such as camping or commercial tours.

Commercial Entrance - Van

$40.00

This pass admits a commercial van with a capacity of 7-16 persons, regardless of capacity, to all parts of Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. This fee does not cover additional fees associated with activities such as camping or commercial tours.

Commercial Entrance - Mini-bus

$40.00

This fee admits a commercial mini-bus to all parts of Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. A mini-bus is defined as a vehicle with a 16-25 person capacity. The fee is charged regardless of occupancy of the vehicle. This fee does not cover additional fees associated with activities such as camping or commercial tours.

Commercial Entrance - Motor Coach

$100.00

This fee applies to commercial vehicles with a 26+ person vehicle capacity, regardless of occupancy. This fee does not cover additional fees associated with activities such as camping or commercial tours.

Annual & Lifetime Passes

Annual Entrance - Park

$45.00

This annual pass is specific to Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. It admits a driver and passengers in a private vehicle, or the cardholder plus three additional people to the park for 12 months from the purchase month. This pass does not cover other fees associated with activities such as camping or commercial tours.

Operating Hours

Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore

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.

  • MondayAll Day
  • TuesdayAll Day
  • WednesdayAll Day
  • ThursdayAll Day
  • FridayAll Day
  • SaturdayAll Day
  • SundayAll Day

When to Go

Crowd Calendar

Plan your trip around peak seasons to avoid crowds or embrace the energy of the busy months. Our crowd predictions are based on historical NPS Visitor Use Statistics.

Jan

Moderate

Feb

Moderate

Mar

High

Apr

High

May

Low

Jun

Low

Jul

Moderate

Aug

Moderate

Sep

High

Oct

High

Nov

Low

Dec

Low
Low Crowds
Moderate Crowds
High Crowds

Location

1505 Sand Point Road
Munising, MI 49862

Around This Park

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Common Questions

Planning Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore

These common questions go deeper into logistics and planning. For real-time updates on road closures and current conditions, always check the Alerts section above.

Reservation policies vary heavily by season. During peak summer months, many popular national parks require timed-entry permits or vehicle reservations just to enter the park, or specific permits for popular hikes (like Half Dome or Angels Landing). Always check the official NPS alerts and recreation.gov before setting your dates.