Other Outdoor Activities
Only a one hour drive east of Marquette Mineral-stained sandstone cliffs rise dramatically from Lake Superior at the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. The 70,000 acre park follows the south shore of Lake Superior for 42 miles. The awe-inspiring cliffs are shaped by wind, ice and pounding waves. The cliffs are colored in shades of brown, tan, and green by the iron, manganese, limonite and copper in the water. As the water trickles down the rocks or mountainous waves slam into the cliffs with a vicious suddenness, the sandstone Pictured Rocks are formed and changed. The sculptured rocks create images in your mind of fortresses and castles. Miner's Castle, Battleship Row, Indian Head, Lover's Leap, the Color Caves, Rainbow Cave, and Chapel Rock are only a few of the breathtaking sights which can be seen. There are scenic overlooks, beaches and campgrounds, but the Pictured Rocks are best seen by boat or by air. The Pictured Rocks can be reached at one
end by following Highway 28 or 94 to Munising. The other
end of the National Lakeshore may be reached by taking
Highway 77 to Grand Marais. A sandy road (H-58) wanders
in and out of the lakeshore connecting Munising and
Grand Marais. This is the road through the Pictured
Rocks National Lakeshore. There are Visitor Centers
at both Munising and Grand Marais. Pictured Rocks Boat Cruises (906) 387-2379 from Munising offers a lakeside view of the cliffs. Skylane Pictured Rocks Air Tours, offers an aerial view, and Grand Island Shipwreck Tours (906) 387-4477, also available at Munising, takes visitors to three shipwrecks on the bottom of the lake as seen through a glass viewing area. Check out the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore website at: Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore |
