10 Breathtaking Photos of Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore : Pictured Rocks Cruises

The Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. Photo courtesy of Tim Trombley.

North of the Mackinac Bridge in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula is where you’ll find breathtaking sandstone cliffs and formations, white sandy beaches, and dunes – sights unlike any you’ve seen before. Stretching for 42-miles along the prestigious Lake Superior shoreline, the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore offers a unique landscape that’s been carved out over time by what the Ojibwe called Gichigami or the “big sea.” These 10 photos will not only take your breath away, but prove why Condé Nast Traveler called Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore the most beautiful place in Michigan.

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1. Awe-Inspiring Vista: Grant Portal Point

A beautiful sunset is captured at Grand Portal Point. Photo courtesy of Tim Trombley.

A beautiful sunset is captured at Grand Portal Point. Image courtesy of Tim Trombley.

Grand Portal Point offers one of the best views in Pictured Rocks park. With plentiful caverns, unique formations, a suspended archway, and a massive rock face, Grand Portal and the point it creates along the lakeshore make you feel jarringly small if you choose to slowly cruise past. The rock walls captivate your eye and make you realize the scope of this great land. Grand Portal Point can also be viewed by water or hiking around the Chapel Basin/Mosquito area.

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2. Painted Rocks: Multicolored Sandstone Cliffs

Mineral stain along the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. Photo courtesy of Craig Blacklock.

Mineral stains along the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. It’s no wonder some mistakenly call them “painted rocks“. Photo courtesy of Craig Blacklock.

Michigan’s Pictured Rocks gets its name from the streaks of mineral stain that color the cliffs. Groundwater seeps out of the cracks and runs down the rock face giving it that gorgeous colorful pattern. Iron (red and orange), copper (blue and green), manganese (brown and black), and limonite (white) are among the most common color-producing minerals.

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3. The Magic of Spray Falls

View from a Pictured Rocks Cruise of Spray Falls. Photo courtesy of Tim Trombley.

This remote waterfall is considered one of the most picturesque aspects of Pictured Rocks and is the grand finale on the popular Spray Fall cruise. If you’re up for it, the North Country Scenic Trail offers a 9.6 mile round trip hike to the falls. Yet, it’s definitely viewed best from a deck, as you can see both the water shoot roughly 70 feet over the Pictured Rocks cliffs directly into Lake Superior and the 1856 shipwreck “Superior” at the base of the falls. Some days, if you’re lucky, you can even catch a rainbow.

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4. Up Close and Personal: Kayaking a Sea Cave

Kayaking through a sea cave in Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore

Kayak through Sea Caves with Pictured Rocks Kayaking.

Vibrant colors of mineral strain paint the face of the rocks and caves that surround the lakeshore. Since its cliffs’ mineral stains seep into Lake Superior, Pictured Rocks is best viewed from the water. Kayaking gives paddlers intimate views of the sandstone cliffs, sea caves and formations. In the summer, guided kayak tours are offered every day.

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5. A Towering Rock Formation: Miners Castle

Miners Castle, a popular landmark in the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. Photo courtesy of Tim Trombley.

Miners Castle, a popularly photographed landmark in the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. Photo courtesy of Tim Trombley.

Miners Castle is one of the most famous landmarks along the Pictured Rocks shoreline. Erosion over long periods of time created the interesting rock formation that gave this place its name. Unfortunately, in 2006, one of the turrets unexpectedly fell into the lake, so visiting while most of the structure still stands is a must!

Pictured Rocks Cruises and Pictured Rocks Kayaking both offer views of Miners Castle from the water, but the cliff is also accessible by land if you’re able to make the hike. Stairs and a steeper trail lead to the lower overlook adjacent to Miners Castle.

Miners Castle Kayaking Tour

6. Cruisin’ the Pictured Rocks

A Pictured Rocks Cruises boat passes large formations along the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. Photo courtesy of IG user @glundteigen.

Typically, the only thing that disturbs the clear waters of Lake Superior are the cruises that take you to the lakeshore. Launching from Munising Bay, Pictured Rocks Cruises offers three distinct tours from mid-May through mid-October. You can travel 32 miles round trip and view the brilliantly colored cliffs, sea caves, cascading waterfalls and pristine beaches. If you want to take your own photos of Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, it’s your best option.

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7. Lovers’ Leap: A Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore Icon

Kayakers paddle near and under Lovers’ Leap. Photo courtesy of Pictured Rocks Kayaking.

Most kayakers’ favorite feature is Lovers’ Leap, an imposing arch of rock that extends from the Pictured Rocks shoreline to an outcrop located directly in Lake Superior. Lore has it that a couple displayed their love for one another by jumping off the top of this rock arch together. Of course, please do not attempt this – the water at the base is only a few feet deep.

Top 7 Highlights of a Pictured Rocks Kayaking Tour

8. Michigan’s Bridalveil Falls

Bridalveil Falls in Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. Photo courtesy of MI Playground.

Bridalveil Falls is a striking, seasonal waterfall that you’ll often see as a featured picture on postcards. It’s a sight that’s best viewed from the water, as it can only be seen while on a cruise or on a hike — at a distance from trails at the lower Miners Castle overlook or from the west end of Miners Beach.

9. An Intricate Marvel: Chapel Rock

Chapel Rock. Photo courtesy of Tim Trombley.

Chapel Rock, as seen on a boat tour. Photo courtesy of Tim Trombley.

This stunning remnant of Cambrian age sandstone was carved by Lake Nipissing high water some 3,800 years ago and was dubbed Chapel Rock by French explorers. There once was an archway connecting the rock to the mainland, but it collapsed in the 1940s. The lone white pine growing atop Chapel Rock is about 250 years old.
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10. Photos of Pictured Rocks in Fall

The East Channel Lighthouse in Fall from the deck of a Pictured Rocks Cruise. Photo courtesy of @colerobertfisher.

If the spectacular colors of Pictured Rocks in the summer aren’t enough for you, then you have to visit in Autumn. The scarlets, yellows, burgundies, oranges, and violets of the trees that line that clifftops enhance the scenic beauty of Pictured Rocks into something truly extraordinary.

What are you waiting for? Kayak, cruise, or hike to take in the sights along Lake Superior’s shoreline now. While these photos of Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore may be beautiful, in person, these sights take on a whole different meaning.