Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore

Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore

The Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore is one of the four national parks in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, renowned for its fascinating and colorful sandstone cliffs, many trails and abundant boating and kayaking opportunities. Pictured Rocks is named after the 24 km long, colorful sandstone cliffs that lie to the north-east of Munising. The cliffs rise 60 meters above the lake level and are naturally formed into shallow caves, arches and shapes resembling castle turrets and profiles of people. The lakeshore encompasses more than 60 kilometers of Lake Superior, the deepest and largest of the Great Lakes. Pictured Rocks is almost like two parks wrapped into one, as water lovers can choose from a wide range of water and paddling activities, while the park's wildlife area is a treasure trove of hiking trails, waterfalls and other stunning natural features. During springtime, the hiking trails are covered in colorful wildflowers, and in autumn the park glows with orange, red and yellow foliage, and in the colder months the landscape is covered in snow. The Grand Sable Dunes are located at the eastern end of the Lakeshore. The sand, washed ashore by the waves, was blown upwards by the northerly wind until it came to rest on the top of a glacial moraine. Today, the Grand Sable Dunes make up a five-mile-long sand slope that rises at a 35° angle from Lake Superior. The highest peaks of the dunes are 85 meters above lake level.