Pictured Rocks Travel Guide: Top Things to Do, Eat, and Drink

Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore in Michigan's Upper Peninsula is certainly worth a visit. With crystal-clear waters and colorful sandstone, a trip to Pictured Rocks feels as though you have transported yourself to the rocky cliffs of Portugal or Italy. Exploring the pristine lakes and forests will remind you of National Parks out west filled with wildlife and natural beauty. In this Pictured Rocks travel guide we will outline the top things to do, places to eat, and beers to drink near this breathtaking park.

Fun Fact

Pictured Rocks earns its name from the 15 miles of colorful sandstone cliffs, carved out by water and given its colors from the iron minerals.

Things To Do In Pictured Rocks

THINGS TO DO

WHAT TO EAT

WHAT TO DRINK

WHEN TO GO

WHERE TO STAY

GETTING AROUND

SUGGESTED DURATION

Views

1. Chapel Basin Hike

If you only have time for one hike in Pictured Rocks, this is the one! Do not be intimidated by the mileage, it does not feel very long when you are taking in the incredible views of Pictured Rocks. Although, make sure you do plan plenty of time for this hike as you will be stopping every few feet along the lakeshore to admire the beautiful landscapes.

Trail & Parking Information

Completing the entire Chapel Basin Trail is 10.1 miles round-trip with 754 feet in elevation gain. The trail is a loop and is rated as "Moderate" difficulty. Plan at least four hours to complete the entire trail. For more information and to download the trail offline on your mobile device, visit AllTrails.

Parking for this trail is at the end of Chapel Road, where we recommend you start off your hike going counter-clockwise to Chapel Falls. Along the hike you will see Chapel Lake, Chapel Falls, Chapel Beach, Chapel Rock (tree growing out of rock), Mosquito Falls, and several lookouts with breathtaking vistas. There is also a segment that cuts off Mosquito Falls and shortens your hike by a mile if you are looking for a shorter duration hike.

J&L Recommended: Top Hike in Pictured Rocks

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2. Miners Castle

A drive-up vista that offers sweeping views of the cliffs and lakeshore without completing a 10-mile hike. Be sure to notice the multiple layers of rock when admiring Miners Castle. Each layer represents long periods of sand deposition and its shape is defined by water movement.

Trail Information

Completing the entire Miners Castle Trail is 0.5 miles round-trip with 85 feet in elevation gain. The trail is an out & back and is rated as "Easy" difficulty. Plan at least fifteen minutes to complete the entire trail. For more information and to download the trail offline on your mobile device, visit AllTrails.

3. Lakeshore Trail

This trail goes the entire distance of the Pictured Rocks lakeshore. Unless backpacking from one end to the other, we recommend hiking stretches of this trail by starting at the trailhead nearest your campsite. With sand dunes, cliffs, rivers, waterfalls, and forest, every portion of this trail is worth checking out. The above mentioned "Chapel Basin Hike" covers four miles of this lakeshore trail.

Trail Information

Completing the entire Lakeshore Trail is 40.5 miles round-trip with 2,267 feet in elevation gain. The trail is point to point and is rated as "Moderate" difficulty. Plan at least fourteen hours to complete this backpacking trail. For more information and to download the trail offline on your mobile device, visit AllTrails.

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4. Twelvemile Beach

Feet sore after a day of hiking? Head to Twelvemile Beach and enjoy the warm sand and crystal clear waters. This beach is a perfect place to relax, admire the beauty of Pictured Rocks, and maybe even take a dip in the refreshing Lake Superior!

Next Read: Pictured Rocks Kayaking Adventures

5. Pictured Rocks Kayaking Tour

Taking in Pictured Rocks from the water definitely provides a unique perspective of the beautiful sandstone cliffs that make up the park. With about 60 miles of driving and 100 miles of trails encompassing Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore from Munising to Grand Marais, there is much to explore by land. While most people say the best views of Pictured Rocks are from the water, that is not to discredit the amazing trails that lead to breathtaking waterfalls, historical landmarks, forest wilderness, and cliff-top views.

In our opinion, with limited time, you should preference the land activities of Pictured Rocks as it will allow you to explore a variety of what Pictured Rocks has to offer in just one day. If you are looking for a more relaxing time at Pictured Rocks, you may also consider a Boat Cruise, taking you on a tour of 16 attractions from Munising to Grand Marais in just 2.5 hours. Given more time, you may also consider adding a guided kayak tour to witness the colorful sandstone of Pictured Rocks up close.

Next Read: Pictured Rocks Kayaking Tours

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6. Road Trip Around the Upper Peninsula

You do not have to travel out west to explore lush nature, mountainous backdrops, and rushing waterfalls. In addition to Pictured Rocks, there are so many hidden gems in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, it requires at least a week-long trip to explore everything. While in the Upper Peninsula, we highly recommend going on a road trip. This one week itinerary not only includes Pictured Rocks, but four additional can't miss U.P. destinations.

Next Read: Upper Peninsula Ultimate 1 Week Road Trip

Noms

1. Camping Food

We stopped at the grocery store before heading into the park, stocked up on bread, pasta, beans, fruits, veggies, and other non-refrigerated goods. For quick warm meals, we would highly recommend a Jetboil.

Also Read: 14 High Quality Outdoor Products for Budget Travelers

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2. Muldoon's Pasties

Pasties are a staple when visiting the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Potatoes, meats, and veggies all wrapped inside a delicious crust, this tradition started as a way to provide miners with "one-handed food" while on the job. Pasties are hearty, warm, and filling. Be sure to check out Muldoon's in the cute yellow house alongside Lake Superior.

J&L Recommended: Unique Foods

3. Murdick's Ice Cream

You cannot go wrong with a purchase at Murdick's! Amazing fudge and delicious ice cream, be sure to stop here along your journey for a quick treat. With 21 flavors of true Mackinaw fudge, you may find yourself stopping more than once or stocking up with their buy 3 get 2 slices free deal! Have a sweet tooth? Discover the best fudge shops of Mackinac Island at the nationals fudge capital!

Also Read: Best Fudge Shops of Mackinac Island

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4. Pictured Rocks Pizza

Delicious wood-fire pizza in Munising. This place had wonderful pizza, friendly staff, cute dining and reasonable prices! A delightful spot to re-fuel after a long day of exploring the park. This pizza will not disappoint.

J&L Recommended: Great Pizza

5. Falling Rock Café & Bookstore

A charming and cozy café in Munising. Stop here for a cup of coffee (rich mochas), or a bite to eat from their bistro-style menu. You can also pass the time exploring books, playing board games, or listening to live music.

Also Read: Best Coffee Shops of Michigan

Brews

1. Shorts Brewery

If you are traveling to the Upper Peninsula via Mackinaw Bridge, be sure to break up your trip with a stop at Shorts Brewery in Bellaire (one of our personal favorites included in the Top 5 Breweries of Michigan). Known for their variety of unique and rotating brews, you will be sure to find something fun and eccentric that fits your taste buds.

Our personal favorite is one of their flagships, Space Rock, an American Pale Ale with orange-peel hop aromas. Another favorite is Soft Parade {7.5% ABV; 15 IBU], a Fruit Rye Ale that has gained much popularity.

Also Read: Top 6 Breweries of Traverse City

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2. Petoskey Brewing Company

Petoskey Brewing is located in a historic building close to downtown Petoskey. It has a scenic outdoor dining area with views of Mud Lake. As it is alongside a picturesque bike trail, consider stopping here on your next bike and brew!

Our favorites were the Mint Chocolate Stout [6.4% ABV; 35 IBU] and the Blueberry Cranium Crush Cream Ale [7% ABV; 15 IBU]. Also offering appetizing food, this is a wonderful place to stop for noms, brews, and even a Belgium waffle at their on-site food truck.

Also Read: Top 8 Things To Do in Traverse City

3. Blackrocks Brewery

An electric brewpub in Marquette complete with fire pits, games, live music, and outdoor seating. Our favorite brew was their summertime American Wheat Ale, Honey Lav [5.2% ABV; 15 IBU] which is brewed with Michigan honey and lavender flowers. Get it while it lasts, available from May until August annually. Be sure to stop here if your travels bring you through Marquette.

Also Read: Best Craft Breweries of Michigan

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4. Ore Docks Brewery

This is a truly unique brewery near the water with a view of the ore docks. It has outdoor seating, live music, food trucks, and 10 beers served on tap. Our favorite was the Porter [5.7% ABV; no IBU], which won a silver metal at the World Beer Championships. This porter is a smooth, dark ale that packs much flavor with a sweet, enjoyable finish.

Also Read: Marquette Complete Guide

Planning Your Trip

How much does it cost to enter Pictured Rocks?

Currently there is no pass required for individuals or vehicles to enter Pictured Rocks National Park. Visit the NPS website for camping and backcountry fees.

FREE Entry into Pictured Rocks

Suggested Duration at Pictured Rocks

We recommend spending 2-3 days at Pictured Rocks in order to experience all that it has to offer.

J&L Suggested Duration: 2-3 Days Minimum

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When to go to Pictured Rocks

This depends on your preference, however, to take advantage of the waters & beaches we would say the best time of year to visit Pictured Rocks is between June and August. With that being said, these months will be the most busy with tourists. Some prefer the shoulder month of May to avoid the crowds or September and October to see the beautiful fall foliage.

Average Temperatures in Pictured Rocks by Month

• May: 60°F

• June: 69°F

• July: 74°F

• August: 73°F

• September: 65°F

Where to Stay at Pictured Rocks

Hotels near Pictured Rocks

We recommend staying in Munising, a charming town on the southern end of the park. You may also consider staying in Grand Marais, on the north side of Pictured Rocks. Although a bit more remote, there are some very quaint cabins on Airbnb that would make for a great getaway.

J&L Recommended: Use the search box below to find great deals on hotels during your travel dates!

Camping in Pictured Rocks

Luckily, there are a fair amount of campgrounds at Pictured Rocks that now allow booking in advance. However, be sure to book several months in advance if you want to secure a spot, as most that you can reserve are highly desirable. The remainder of campgrounds in Pictured Rocks are first come first serve. Twelve Mile Beach Campground (36 sites) is one of the most desirable campgrounds due to the campsites proximity to the beautiful Lake Superior and northern hiking trails (book very far in advance).

Little Beaver Lake Campground (8 sites) is more centrally located within the park and most campsites back up to Little Beaver Lake (campsite #3 is very nice). Although small, this is our top pick campground due to its proximity to epic hiking trails. Please note, both of these campgrounds are rustic with vault toilets and no running water, electricity, or phone reception (recipe for a great weekend!). If you would prefer to backpack instead of drive-up camp, be sure to review the backcountry camping guidelines ahead of time. If you are not a camper, we recommend staying in Munising, a charming town on the southern end of the park.

J&L Recommended: Little Beaver Campground

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Upper Peninsula Camping Tips:

• Read up on Bear Safety ahead of your trip - over 9,000 black bears live in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Although black bears are less of a threat than grizzly bears, bear spray is still a good precaution. This is an excellent video demonstrating how and when to use your bear spray.

• Opposed to grizzly bears, if a black bear approaches you be sure to FIGHT BACK.

• Before entering the park, buy bear mace from a store in Munising or Marquette - We used Frontiersmen and although we never needed to use it, felt it was a reliable choice.

• Bring a separate set of clothes to only wear in the tent to avoid the scent of food that could be on your clothes throughout the day

• Purchase unscented shampoo/soap/deodorant etc. and avoid any body sprays/perfumes/cologne when tent-camping

• Download your hiking trails on AllTrails ahead of your trip because phone service is limited to none while hiking. Check out our exclusive content for tips on how to navigate without service!

• Bring waterproof jackets/pants

Also Read: Camping Hacks

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Getting Around Pictured Rocks

What is the best means of transportation at Pictured Rocks?

The best way to get around Pictured Rocks is by car. If you are backpacking and require a shuttle to drop you at your starting point, see this link on park shuttles. See Related: Finding Budget Flights

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Is there cellular service at Pictured Rocks?

There is NO SERVICE within Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. SAFETY TIP: learn how to download interactive maps to your phone that can give you driving, walking, & biking directions even without cellular service!

Learn how to Download Offline Maps

Enjoy or Pictured Rocks tips? We'd love to hear from you in the comments below!

Happy Adventuring!

J&L