Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore |
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IUCN Category III (Natural Monument)
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 Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore
Location in Michigan
Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore
Location in the United States
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| Location | Alger County, Michigan, United States |
| Nearest city | Munising, Michigan |
| Area | 73,236 acres (296.38 km2) |
| Established | October 15, 1966 |
| Visitors | 476,888 (in 2005) |
| Governing body | National Park Service |
| Website | Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore |
| Official name: Pictured Rocks | |
| Designated: | February 17, 1965 |
Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore is a special place in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, United States. It stretches for 42 miles (67 km) along the shore of Lake Superior. This beautiful park covers about 73,236 acres (296 square kilometers).
You can see amazing views of the hilly shoreline between Munising and Grand Marais. The park is famous for its colorful sandstone cliffs, stunning waterfalls, and tall sand dunes.
The name "Pictured Rocks" comes from the 15 miles (24 km) of colorful cliffs. These cliffs can be as tall as 200 feet (60 meters) above the lake. Over time, nature has carved them into cool shapes like shallow caves, natural arches, and formations that look like castle towers or even human faces. Near Munising, you can also visit Grand Island, which is a separate recreation area.
In 1966, the U.S. Congress made Pictured Rocks the very first National Lakeshore in the United States. The National Park Service (NPS) takes care of the park. In 2005, nearly half a million people visited Pictured Rocks.
Contents
What Makes the Rocks Colorful?
The amazing colors in the cliffs come from different minerals in the rock. The main cliffs are made of 500-million-year-old sandstone, called the Munising Formation. Below this, there's even older rock called the Jacobsville Formation. On top, there's a hard layer of sandstone from the Au Train Formation.
When groundwater seeps out of the rocks and dries, it leaves streaks of minerals. These minerals create the different colors you see:
- Iron makes red streaks.
- Manganese creates black or white streaks.
- Limonite causes yellow-brown colors.
- Copper can make pink or green streaks.
A Look Back in Time
The waters around Pictured Rocks were once great for fishing. But the sandstone cliffs were dangerous for small boats. In 1658, a fur trader named Pierre Esprit Radisson traveled here. He saw his Native American friends offer tobacco to the spirits of the cliffs.
In the 1800s, many American writers visited and wrote about the beauty of Pictured Rocks. Geologist Henry Rowe Schoolcraft visited in 1820 and said it had "some of the most sublime and commanding views in nature." Around 1850, people even planned to build a tourist resort nearby.
After the logging industry ended around 1910, much of the land became state property. Michigan worked with the U.S. government to protect the area. In October 1966, Congress created Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. Their goal was to protect this beautiful shoreline for everyone to enjoy, learn from, and be inspired by.
On April 13, 2006, part of a famous rock formation called Miner's Castle collapsed. Fishermen in the area reported it. This kind of rockfall often happens in spring and fall because of freezing and thawing ice.
In 2009, a law was passed to protect 11,740 acres (47.5 square kilometers) of Pictured Rocks as the Beaver Basin Wilderness. This area includes 13 miles of shoreline.
Pictured Rocks in Pop Culture
In 2010, the singer Kid Rock filmed the music video for his song "Born Free" at Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore.
In 2014, a photo of kayakers under a rock arch at Pictured Rocks won a big national photo contest.
Getting There and Exploring
You can reach Munising, on the west side of the lakeshore, by highways M-28 and M-94. Grand Marais, on the east side, is reached by M-77.
Paved roads go into the Lakeshore from both ends. They are connected by County Road H-58. Roads get close to the shoreline only near Miners Castle, 12 Mile Beach, and the Grand Sable Dunes. To see the rest of the shoreline from land, you need to hike.
A 42-mile (67 km) section of the North Country Trail runs through the lakeshore. If you want to camp in the backcountry, you need a permit. This means you can't just camp anywhere in the park.
Many boat companies offer daily tours along the lakeshore from late May through the fall. Sea kayaking is another popular way to explore the park. It's a great way to see the natural rock formations. However, the water is cold and can be dangerous. It's important to have the right gear and maybe a guide if you're not experienced. The best places to launch kayaks are from Miner's Beach or the harbor in Munising.
In winter, people enjoy cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, snowmobiling, ice climbing, and ice fishing.
The park works hard to make many areas wheelchair accessible. Some accessible features include:
- Visitor Centers in Munising and Grand Marais.
- Handicapped-accessible campsites with special picnic tables and restrooms.
- Overlooks at Log Slide and Miners Castle (most of them).
- Paved trails and viewing platforms at Munising Falls and Sand Point Marsh Trail.
- Accessible picnic sites and boardwalks at Sand Point Beach.
Cool Places to See
Here are some popular spots from west (Munising) to east (Grand Marais):
- Munising Falls, with its visitor center.
- Sand Point, where the National Lakeshore Headquarters is located.
- Miners Castle rock formation, which has paved roads to overlooks.
- Miners River, flowing into Lake Superior near Miners Beach.
- Miners Falls interpretive trail.
- Grand Portal Point rock formations.
- Mosquito Falls and Mosquito River.
- Chapel Rock and Chapel Falls.
- Beaver Basin Wilderness.
- Twelvemile Beach.
- Shipwrecks.
- White Birch Forest.
- Au Sable Point, with the Au Sable Light lighthouse.
- Log Slide.
- Grand Sable Dunes.
- Grand Sable Lake.
- Sable Falls, with its visitor center.
Amazing Waterfalls
Pictured Rocks has many beautiful waterfalls. Most of them are formed by water flowing over the cliffs. Remember, pets are not allowed on most of the waterfall trails.
- Munising Falls is a 50-foot (15 m) waterfall over a sandstone cliff. The trail is easy to access for everyone.
- Miners Falls is a 50-foot (15 m) waterfall. You'll need to go down 77 steps to reach the viewing platform.
- Bridalveil Falls is a seasonal waterfall. In summer, it might just be a small trickle or even dry.
- Mosquito Falls is an 8-foot (2.4 m) waterfall on the Mosquito River. You might see river otters or beavers here!
- Chapel Falls cascades about 60 feet (18 m) down sandstone cliffs. There are two viewing platforms along the trail.
- Spray Falls is best seen from Lake Superior. An old shipwreck from 1856 lies at the bottom of the falls in 20 feet (6 m) of water.
- Sable Falls tumbles 75 feet (23 m) over several cliffs on its way to Lake Superior.
Grand Sable Dunes
The Grand Sable Dunes are at the eastern end of the Lakeshore. They are "perched dunes," meaning sand was blown up from the lake by strong winds and piled on top of a hill left by glaciers.
Today, the Grand Sable Dunes form a five-mile-long sand slope. They rise from Lake Superior at a steep 35-degree angle. The tallest dunes are as high as 275 feet (85 m) above the lake!
In the late 1800s, loggers built a wooden slide from the top of the dunes down to Lake Superior. This helped them move timber. Today, this spot is popular for viewing the dunes and climbing on them. You can also take a trail from the Grand Sable Visitors Center or stop along a section of the dunes next to Grand Sable Lake.
Fun Things to Do
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Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore offers many fun activities all year round. These include hiking, back-country camping, kayaking, boating, swimming, scuba diving, and fishing. In winter, you can enjoy snowmobiling, ice climbing, and cross-country skiing. The beautiful scenery and many activities attract lots of visitors. In 2018, a record 800,000 people visited the park!
Boating and Kayaking Adventures
The colorful rock formations are a huge draw for kayakers and boat tours in the summer. Visitors love to see the unique rock shapes and vibrant colors. If you want to kayak near the cliffs, it's important to know that the water can be cold and dangerous. You'll need special equipment for sea-kayaking and good knowledge of the area to stay safe.
Scuba Diving for Shipwrecks
Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore is a popular spot for scuba diving. The rough waters of Lake Superior have caused many shipwrecks over the years. Divers can explore these underwater historical sites. A popular diving area is the Alger Underwater Preserve.
Winter Wonderland Sports
Because of "lake-effect snow" from Lake Superior, Pictured Rocks and the Munising area get a lot of snow. This makes it perfect for snowmobiling, with special trails in the park. The long winter and constant melting snow also create amazing opportunities for ice climbing. There are over 50 named ice formations, attracting climbers from all over the world. Even if you don't climb, the ice formations are cool to see!
Images for kids
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Chapel Rock
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Munising Coast Guard Station
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