Alger County: Pictured Rocks and Trails along Lake Superior

On the southeastern shore of Lake Superior, Alger County is home to Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. Its landscape ranges from multicolored sandstone cliffs and long beaches to sand dunes, waterfalls, inland lakes, wetlands, and deciduous and coniferous forests. The lakeshore covers approximately 73,236 acres. The cliffs rise 50 to 200 feet and stretch along 15 miles of shoreline. The name Pictured Rocks comes from the different colors and patterns of the sandstone and mineral deposits on the cliffs.

Hikes and Scenic Overlooks

The trails offer different distances and destinations to help you plan your outings. Reach Chapel Falls via an easy 2.5-mile loop; the waterfall is 60 feet high. The Sable Falls Trail is a 0.4-mile loop: 168 steps lead to the foot of the falls, followed by a path to a beach on Lake Superior. A longer option is the Chapel Loop, which passes through hardwood forests and stretches for more than four miles along the Pictured Rocks shoreline.

Miners Castle is the only cliff area in Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore accessible by vehicle. Its two upper overlooks are wheelchair accessible and just a short distance from the parking lot. Lake Superior Overlook Beach also has a wheelchair-accessible viewing platform with lake views. The site has day-use parking; a short flight of stairs leads down to the beach. Log Slide offers views of the Grand Sable Dunes. A short walking trail there also passes historic logging equipment.

Lighthouse and History

Au Sable Light Station was built in 1874. A 1.5-mile walking trail leads there from Hurricane River Campground. Guided climbs include a brief overview of the lighthouse’s history and function, a tour of the assistant keeper’s quarters, and a climb up 98 steps to the top. Exposed shipwreck remains lie along the shoreline on the beach below the trail.

At Bay Furnace Historic Site and Interpretive Trail, a short, accessible one-eighth-mile loop circles the stabilized ruins of a blast furnace. Pig iron was produced there between 1870 and 1877. Check the site’s condition before traveling.

Grand Island and Munising

Grand Island is a 13,500-acre extension of Hiawatha National Forest with a rich natural and cultural history. A passenger ferry runs to the island from Grand Island Landing on the mainland; check the ferry schedule before planning your trip. Grand Island offers a narrated interpretive bus tour that lasts two and a half to three hours and includes nine stops. Those who want to explore the island by mountain bike will find a 20-mile main route that runs around the island’s perimeter.

The waters also offer special attractions: Alger Underwater Preserve includes dive sites such as sea caves, intact shipwrecks, and underwater interpretive trails. In the preserve, an intact 145-foot schooner lies in Murray Bay at a depth of 30 feet. The 71-foot tugboat Steven M. Selvick is part of the Glass Bottom Shipwreck Tour departing from Munising. Check in advance whether this tour is currently operating.

In Munising, the Farmers’ & Artisans’ Market offers fresh produce, baked goods, meat, and crafts weekly from mid-June to mid-October. The season is limited; check the schedule for the current year before visiting.

Practical Information

The main road through Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore is Alger County Road H-58. Every vehicle entering the lakeshore must have a Pictured Rocks Pass or an America the Beautiful federal lands pass. Camping is permitted only with a reservation and at designated sites. Following storm damage in April 2025, the Munising Falls Trail was temporarily closed; check its current status with the National Park Service before your visit.

Explore more destinations: Munising, Shiawassee County, Ogemaw County, Menominee County, Eaton, St. Joseph, Saginaw, Mecosta County.

For the main travel overview: Michigan.