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Amazing scenery, unbeatable backcountry camping, Multiple cliff jumping opportunities, The clearest water around. Duration: 3-5 days
The time of the year is one of the most important factors of this trip. DO NOT under any circumstances plan this trip for a time during mid June - mid August. The black flies at this time of the year are more than a nuisance. They are seemingly resistant to even 100% DEET, and can bite through clothing. They WILL ruin your mood during the trip. There are also plenty of mosquitos at this time, but they seem like nothing compared to the flies. The best time to go is early summer or any time from late August - late October.
Lake Superior will generally be the warmest (about 60°F) around Labor Day weekend.
In order to backpack the entire 43 mile section of the North Country Trail that runs through the whole Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, most people choose to leave their car in Munising, take the $20 shuttle over to Grand Marais and hike back to their car in 3-5 days.
Permits are required for backcountry camping, and can be obtained at the Visitor Center right in Munising. The cost is $5 per person, per night.
We were picked up from the Munising Falls parking lot on a Saturday Morning, dropped off in Grand Marais about an hour later, then began our trip. We planned to complete the adventure in 3 days and two nights. Night 1 was spent at Sevenmile Campground, night 2 was at Chapel Beach, and we finished up the last 17 miles back to Munising Falls on day 3.
On the first day, we chose to leave the trail around Grand Sable Lake, where we hiked north towards Lake Superior, climbed down the huge dunes and walked along the beach until we headed back up the dunes to meet up with the trail around Au Sable Light Station.
The prettiest part of the whole trail will be the 9 mile section from Coves to Mosquito. There are plenty of overlooks off of the trail to stop and enjoy the fantastic scenery.
The first opportunity to cliff jump will be at Coves, where a rock outcropping to the west side of the Coves inlet will allow you about a 10 foot drop into the water. There is a similar opportunity on the rocks to the far west of Miner's beach.
The cliff jumping for the more adventurous type will be found at Chapel Beach. Hike up to the first cliff that juts out into the lake right next to the beach. Walk out to the very tip of this limestone outcropping, and the best spot to jump is right at the tip next to the tree that has grown out over the edge. This is a 65-70ft drop, so do this at your own risk. The water is plenty deep enough for you to not even come close to the bottom. The tour boats full of people passing by will cheer wildly for those brave enough to make the jump, and if you get lucky (like I did) there will be nice people in a pontoon down below willing to pick you up, give you a beer, and drop you back off at the beach if you jump.
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Backpack Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore
I went here last summer with my Boy Scout troop and we hiked from Au Sable to Munising in a week. Overall the we hiked about 54 miles and saw lots of amazing sights. A must see spot is the Au Sable dunes where we spent one night. Another is 12 mile beach, just watch out for the black flies and you will have a great experience. The cliffs that overlook Lake Superior are closer on the Munising side.
Backpack Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore
We backpacked around 30 miles of this beautiful park and it was incredible. Camp grounds were good, people were friendly, the back country permit wasn't very expensive. All around it was phenomenal and if you have the opportunity definitely check it out.
Backpack Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore
Hiked this mid-July 2015, bugs were minimal, scenery was phenomenal.
Backpack Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore
Did this trip as a precollege outdoor thing at my school with 13 strangers (11 other freshmen and two upperclassmen) and it was wonderful! Absolutely beautiful, totally worth it. We did go at the peak black fly season though and spent a lot of our time fighting them off (this was horrendous). Also the log slide is a very cool experience but definitely heed their warnings and I would recommend avoiding if you have a fear of heights!
Backpack Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore
Best place for a multiple day backpacking trip in Michigan. The cliffs are absolutely amazing, the trail is well marked and all the designated camping spots are conveniently at beautiful lookout locations. Provisions are easy to get in town and everything in the area is beautiful as well, even inland.
Backpack Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore
This is a great hike. The review is right though about the bugs, its best to do it in the spring or fall.
Always practice Leave No Trace ethics on your adventures and follow local regulations. Please explore responsibly!
Munising Falls is a 50' falls located inside the city limits of Munising. The trail to the waterfall is directly outside the visitor center and makes for a quick and easy hike after stopping by to pick up a permit or check in with a ranger.  The paved trail is cool and shaded as it follows a creek to a viewing platform at the base of the falls. There are also two sets of stairs that lead to ad...
Located right off of County Highway 58 across from Sand Point Road, Tannery Falls doesn't see the larger advertising that many other falls see in the area, but is a hidden gem within the town. At the start of the hike, you'll need to find a parking spot off of the highway, you might run into ticketing parking there. Once done, you can see the stairway for the trail. The trail is short, running ...
Wagner Falls is an easy-to-reach waterfall right off of 94. There are parking areas on both sides of the highway so even when the trail is busy you will likely find a spot. Its close proximity to the highway and short trail make Wagner Falls the idea place to go if you are limited on time but want a rewarding view.The trail to the falls is only a quarter-mile and ends at a viewing platform that...
Located in Munising, MI, Grand Island National Recreation Area is a part of the Hiawatha National Forest. While this section of the Upper Peninsula is known for Pictured Rocks National Park, many people fail to see or check out Grand Island. Secluded by ferry access, the island features 12 backpacking sites and two group sites along a 20-ish mile loop, along with six other sites on the eastern ...
A simple hike from the trailhead will take you through the woods and to the viewing deck of Miners Falls. There are well marked signs to the trailhead from the main road, which is extremely helpful with the lack of cell phone service in the area. The hike is 1.2 miles round trip and requires no hard terrain challenges to the viewing deck. However, what makes these falls unique is following a t...
Miners Castle to Au Sable Lighthouse
This trip works best with two cars where the first is dropped off at the Twelvemile Beach Parking Lot, and carpooled over to the Miner's Castle Parking Lot. Both lots can be easily found in the Pictured Rocks National Seashore Map, or on Google Maps. Start your day at Miner's Castle by checking out both the Upper Overlook and Lower Overlooks. In the morning around Golden Hour, the cliffs acros...