About Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore
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.
Plan a Visit
Core visitor information on this page is sourced from the National Park Service. NPD proximity sections use NPS reference coordinates and straight-line distance. Local source bundle updated Sep 27, 2026. View the official NPS page.
Weather & Conditions
Summers are pleasant with the average highs in June, July, and August in the 70s°F, and lows in the low 50s°F. The coldest months are December through March with average highs of 25°F to 32°F, and average lows in the teens. Annual precipitation averages 31 inches; average annual snowfall is…
NPS Reference Location
Park state / territory membership: Michigan. This map uses the National Park Service reference coordinate. It may represent an administrative or reference point rather than a park entrance, trailhead, visitor center, or the nearest access point. Use the official NPS directions below when planning travel.
Entrance Fees
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Operating Hours
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.
Activities
Current Alerts
The Munising Falls Trail within Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore is closed until further notice. Approximately 75-feet of the paved trail was washed out April 28th from recent heavy rainfall and seasonal snow melt.
Getting There
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.
View Official DirectionsContact & Address
The NPS-listed address may be an administrative office, visitor center, mailing/contact location, or other park facility rather than a park entrance.
Entrance Passes
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.
Topics & Themes
Things To Do
Commercial Tours
Several authorized companies offer guided kayak tours, ice climbing activities, and hiking/camping trips in the park.
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…
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…
Kayaking and Kayak Safety
Thinking about kayaking at Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore? Make sure you have the right kind of boat and are aware…
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…
Snowshoeing at Pictured Rocks
Snowshoeing is a very popular winter sport at Pictured Rocks. There is one official trail, but almost the entire park…
More Things to Do
Additional activities and experiences from the National Park Service.
Places To See in One Hour
You could easily spend half a day exploring any of these locations, but if you only have an hour to see some…
Swimming at Pictured Rocks
Pictured Rocks has several beautiful beach areas for swimming and wading in Lake Superior. Two of the park's inland lakes have sandy…
Non-Kayak Boating at Pictured Rocks
There's more to boating at Pictured Rocks than just kayaking! Bring your canoe, motorized boat, sailboat, or paddleboard to the park.
Backcountry Camping at Pictured Rocks
Pictured Rocks offers a variety of backpacking opportunities for individuals and groups. Most backcountry campgrounds are along the North Country National Scenic…
Pictured Rocks Cruises Boat Tour
Taking a narrated boat tour is the easiest way to view the colorful Pictured Rocks cliffs.
Visitor Centers
Munising Falls Visitor Center
See below for hours, directions, and contact information.
Grand Sable Visitor Center
See below for hours, directions, and contact information.
Miners Castle Visitor Contact Station
Buy your park pass and get trip-planning information!
Campgrounds
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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.…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
Coves Individual Backpacking Sites
Coves Campground is inland from the North Country Trail, hidden behind the pine trees and ferns. There are two entry points to the campground. The…
Mosquito River Individual Backpacking Sites
Mosquito River Campground is on the east side of the Mosquito River high above the lake. Depending upon which of the five campsites you choose,…
Potato Patch Individual Backpacking Sites
Potato Patch Campground is inland from the North Country Trail. Follow a trail through an open field with the sounds of a waterfall at your…
Cliffs Individual Backpacking Sites
Cliffs Campground rests high above Lake Superior inland from the North Country Trail. The three campsites are in an open area with little cover between…
Grand Sable Lake Boat-In Site
Grand Sable Lake on the park's east end has one boat-in backcountry campsite. Campers must provide their own boat and launch at the Grand Sable…
Nearby National Park Service Sites
These sites are ordered by straight-line distance between NPS reference coordinates. This is useful for comparison, but it is not road mileage. Trails, parkways, rivers, and distributed units may extend far from their reference point.
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