America's Most Surreal Lakefront Is an Ancient Psychedelic Playground

Hidden among the deep forests and wild shores of Lake Superior, you'll uncover one of the most scenic areas in the States.

Michigan is the undisputed king of jaw-dropping lakeshore drives, with almost 3,200 miles of waterfront covering three Great Lakes, endless adorable towns, and enough lighthouses to fill a whole damn library full of coffee-table books about lighthouses. 

But even by Michigan standards, Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore is astounding. Located deep in the reclusive Upper Peninsula, right by the small town of Munising, it's the crown jewel of Michigan's scenic waterfronts. The deep-blue waves of inland sea Lake Superior form the base of miles and miles of jagged, multicolored limestone cliffs. They rise from the choppy waters like a panoramic wall—one that looks like it was attacked by a gigantic toddler with a paintbrush.

Here are the coolest things to see at Pictured Rocks, and how to best experience this isolated, unforgettable stretch of land—from the car, the kayak, and the trails.

pictured rocks
Tranquil forest soon gives way to jagged limestone cliffs | Esther Tuttle/Unsplash

Getting to Pictured Rocks Lakeshore

Journeying to this rugged stretch of wilderness is an adventure unto itself. For a proper Upper Peninsula road trip, start with a visit to the impossibly quaint Mackinac Island before journeying over a harrowing five-mile suspension bridge, stocking up on Lehto's Pasties, and cruising along this hidden coast. Lighthouses, shipwrecks, waterfalls, and friendly small towns like Grand Marais await: we've got you covered with a full itinerary.

Regardless of your starting point, you’re in for a breathtaking first reveal when you finally emerge from the dense, emerald treelines of Hiawatha National Forest and arrive at your destination. Cell service and GPS can be spotty in these parts, so plan ahead or pick up an official park map at the visitor's center in Munising.

Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore
Hike in past the treeline for unobstructed views of Pictured Rocks | Posnov/Moment/Getty

The colorful cliffs of Pictured Rocks

You can get a panoramic glimpse of the rocks from the roadway, rising out of Lake Superior's South Bay. The most lively section spans about 15 miles, just northeast of Munising. At their most stark, they're streaked with kaleidoscopic mineral stains that look like a cross between candle wax and chalk. 

Miner’s Castle
One of the most well-known rock formations at Pictured Rocks | Rodrigo Avanse/Shutterstock

Miner’s Castle

As if a whole shoreline full of trippy painted cliff faces wasn't enough, Pictured Rocks is also home to wild rock formations and natural arches that extend from the cliff walls into the icy waters. The most famous of these geographical oddities is Miner's Castle, a natural formation that looks like an ancient, abandoned fort and is accessible by car. 

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Chapel Rock
A view of Chapel Rock from below | Ali Majdfar/Moment/Getty Images

Chapel Rock

Perhaps the dreamiest rock formation is Chapel Rock. A moderate hike through the woods leads to a tall rock spire rising from the water. This tower is capped with a 250-year-old white pine tree, whose roots wrap down the rock and stretch across the gap to the mainland, like some sort of ancient suspension bridge, in order to plug into the dirt for nutrients. It's gobsmacking to see it from the forest—and even more ethereal when gazing up from the pristine beach below. 

Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore
See the trippy colors of Pictured Rocks up close via boat or kayak | genesisgraphics/ E+/Getty

A kayaker’s playground

There's no better way to get up close and personal with the rocks than via kayak or canoe. Traverse the waves on a guided tour and paddle through arches while gazing upon this weird natural wonder. The closer you get, the more the colors pop. If you’re hesitant about dipping half your body into one of the coldest freshwater lakes in the world, you can always book a boat cruise.

Lake Superior near Munising, Michigan
Kayakers can explore sea caves along the shore of Lake Superior | John McCormick/Shutterstock

Paddle through sea caves

While you're paddling through the waters of Lake Superior, you'll start to notice caves carved into the surface of the rocks. From the massive Rainbow Cave to endless tiny alcoves painted with slants of sunlight, each nook and cranny of the rocks is worth exploring. And if you're particularly adventurous, in the winter they turn downright ethereal when they ice over.

Grand Sable Dunes
The Grand Sable Dunes sit high above Lake Superior | Kenneth Keifer/Shutterstock

The Grand Sable Banks

As you explore the roads and trails along Pictured Rocks, you'll discover a rich array of waterfront landscapes, including a dense white-birch forest and, further west, the sandy dunes of the Grand Sable Banks. Basically, every bend reveals something new and unexpected. For those who don't mind a little stress on the calves, the soft sands of Grand Sable Dunes are steep enough to keep the “crowds" at bay.

Miners Beach Falls
A small waterfall at Miner’s Beach | Paul Bryan/Shutterstock

Some of the best beaches in the Upper Peninsula

The Upper Peninsula's pretty isolated: 3% of the state's population lives in the area, which constitutes 40% of Michigan's landmass. So when people refer to any of the many, many beaches along this stretch of Superior as “popular” or “crowded,” take it with a grain of salt. 

Miners Beach is basically the gateway to the colorful parts of the rocks: Here you'll observe natural arches and big waves without much physical exertion. Sand Point offers up some killer sunsets on soft shores along crystal (and cold!) waters. The easiest bet is Twelvemile Beach, which offers day-use areas and camping (whenever that's allowed again).

Grand Island East Channel Lighthouse
A lighthouse nestled within vibrant foliage on Grand Island | Thanasis/Moment/Getty

Historic lighthouses

If you're looking for a lighthouse, you'll find it at Au Sable Point. The beach here includes a campground and debris from various shipwrecks, which may or may not make you skeptical about the actual effectiveness of lighthouses. And just a hair north of Munising, the East Channel Light on Grand Island was constructed entirely of wood in 1868. It sits on private property on the expansive island across from the Pictured Rocks, so you’ll have to cruise by on a boat tour or kayak.

The small town of Munising is home to an eye-catching waterfall | Photo ©Tan Yilmaz/Moment/Getty Images

Waterfalls on waterfalls on waterfalls

The Upper Peninsula has more waterfalls than pasty shops, thanks to the extreme amount of snow melt that this perpetually frozen region endures. The Pictured Rocks area is home to some of its most breathtaking. Spray Falls drops 70 feet into the waters of Lake Superior, the ripples partially obscuring an old shipwreck underneath. Sable Falls is best viewed from an easily-accessible platform underneath, while Mosquito Falls offers up a short-and-wide plunge where you might spot a beaver.

If any of that sounds like too much work, Munising Falls is located in the small town that kicks off this whole epic lakeshore and can be viewed from a paved path. And hey, you can—and should—grab a pasty from Muldoon's while you're there.

Pictured Rocks
Capture the sight of water frozen in time | Posnov/Moment Open

Come in the winter for dramatic frozen waves

Summer is the best time to visit Pictured Rocks, but summer’s kind of an abstract in the UP: a short window of euphoric weather and slightly-less-cold water that is often obscured by clouds of flesh-chomping black flies. So don't fret if you miss that warm-weather window. 

In autumn, the rocks somehow manage to become more colorful, with leaf-peeping that makes New England seem downright monochromatic. In spring, the snow melt results in cascades of water charting new paths for the various falls. And in winter—by far the most dominant season here—massive icicles form on the cliffs like building-size stalactites, while the waves below freeze into what resembles ice volcanoes. Ice climbing is a thing, and you can book a guide to help you do it here or here.

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Andy Kryza is a former senior editor at Thrillist who could really, really use a pasty right now. Follow him to Da U.P. @apkryza