10 Tips for Visiting Pictured Rocks

Visitors at the Log Slide Overlook.

NPS Photo.

1. Plan Your Route

Chasing waterfalls? Looking to explore historical sites? Backpacking through the park? However you choose to explore your park, start here! If you are driving through the park, download self-guided tours on the NPS App. Research Things to Do and Places to Go on the NPS website.

If you’re planning on backpacking through the park, learn about shuttle services.

2. Find the Right Tour for You

The best way to see the Pictured Rocks cliffs is from the water with an experienced guide! Check out authorized commercial tours in the park, including boat cruises and kayak tours.

There are also guided photography workshops and guided backpacking within the park. If you’re visiting in winter, check out opportunities for guided ice climbing.

3. Be Prepared for Bugs

Stable flies, deer flies, mosquitos, and other biting insects abound at Pictured Rocks in the summer! Many of these insects are not deterred by bug sprays. To not let biting insects ruin your trip, we suggest packing long pants, socks that cover your ankles, and even an over-the-head bug net. And as always, remember to do a tick check after being outdoors! Learn more about biting insects at Pictured Rocks.

4. Know Where Your Pet Can Go

Leashed pets are welcome in several areas of Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, including Sand Point Beach; Miners Castle, Miners Falls, and Miners Beach; the Au Sable Light Station grounds; and Munising Falls. Some areas – such as the Chapel/Mosquito loop - are closed to pets due to terrain and sensitive habitats. Learn more about pets at Pictured Rocks.

When visiting the park with your pet, be sure to keep them on a leash (6 feet maximum), dispose of their waste properly, and keep them a safe distance from wildlife.

5. Know Your Limits on the Water

Paddling on Lake Superior is extremely different from paddling on small, inland lakes and rivers. Lake Superior behaves far more like a sea than an inland lake or pond, and only experienced sea kayakers should attempt to paddle on the open lake. Waves and wind can be very powerful on the lake - you cannot get out of Lake Superior along the cliffs if bad weather strikes.

Recreational kayaks (less than 14’) and canoes are not equipped to go out on Lake Superior. Sea kayaks (typically 14.5’-18’ long, with a small cockpit) are the only kayaks equipped for paddling on Lake Superior and should only be operated by experienced sea kayakers.

While paddling, you must have a personal floatation device (PFD) and a sound-producing device, such as a whistle or air horn. It is also recommended to wear a wet or dry suit; have a spray skirt, paddle float, bilge pump, paddle leash, and marine radio. You should also be able to perform a self-rescue on a sea kayak, as emergency response can be delayed due to bad weather and remote locations. Always check the marine forecast before heading onto the lake. Being ill-equipped and unprepared can truly make the difference between life and death on the lake.

If you’re looking to paddle in the park with your recreational kayak, consider paddling one of the park’s smaller inland lakes, such as Little Beaver, Beaver, and Grand Sable Lake. Though these lakes are smaller, it is still important to have a PFD, a sound-producing device, and check the weather before heading out.

Go with a Guide - A guided sea kayak tour may be a great option for you if you are looking for a kayaking experience along the Pictured Rocks cliffs!

Learn more about paddling at Pictured Rocks.

6. Make Your Reservations

All camping in Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore is reservation-only. Reserve your spot in any of the 3 drive-in campgrounds or in the backcountry on recreation.gov! If you are planning on camping in an RV in a drive-in campground, check size restrictions before booking. The Little Beaver Campground does not allow pets due to its proximity to the Beaver Basin Wilderness.

7. Pack Your Patience

The park’s most popular trails, such as the Chapel-Mosquito loop, can get very crowded during the summer months. Plan to arrive early, consider carpooling with friends, or try a different trail! There are no bad trails in the park – try hiking a different section of the North Country Trail or one of the park’s interior trails.

8. Stop by a Visitor Center

Grab your pass, a map, and information at the park’s two visitor centers – located on either side of the park. Rangers are available to help you 9am-5pm daily at the Munising Falls Visitor Center and Grand Sable Visitor Center beginning June 1.

9. Don’t Rely on your Cell Phone!

Cell service in many parts of the park can be spotty, don’t rely on it! Download maps and check weather conditions ahead of time – better yet, pick up a paper map from the visitor center! Tell others where you are going and when you plan to be back.

Don’t rely on your phone’s flashlight if you get caught in a sticky situation! This will quickly drain your phone’s battery. Bring a flashlight with you in your emergency kit!

10. Leave No Trace

We all want to keep Pictured Rocks beautiful and safe for generations to come! Refresh yourself on Leave No Trace principles before coming to the park.

To help keep Pictured Rocks’ wildlife wild, store all food (and anything else with a scent!) properly, in park-provided bear boxes or in a hard-sided vehicle. Never feed wildlife, as this will train them to come to humans for food.

Dispose of your waste properly. There are many park-provided trash receptacles throughout the park, please dispose of all your trash in these receptacles! Yes, this includes apple cores, banana peels, and orange peels – though these items will eventually decompose, they are not natural parts of the environment, and they are unsightly for other visitors! Nobody wants to see your food scraps.

In terms of human waste, please deposit this in park-provided toilet facilities. Portable, tent-style personal toilets are NOT permitted in the park, as they are a safety concern for our custodial staff. If park toilets are unavailable, do your “business” at least 70 steps away from trails, campsites, and water sources. If you are depositing solid waste, do so in a hole that is at least 6 inches deep. Bury when done. If you have brought toilet paper, pack it out with you.