Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore
Munising, Michigan
7 hours (10 miles)

Kayaking the shoreline along Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore is an experience that you will not want to miss. This is arguably the most beautiful shoreline in the United States, with crystal clear water in the largest freshwater lake in the world. Sandstone cliffs of beautiful reddish and orange hues rise vertically out of the shoreline nearly 200 ft. Ride the swells as you can hear the waves crashing into these rocks which carved beautiful caves, arches, and other natural formations that early explorers used for landmarks over 200 years ago. Paddle the same water as the Voyageurs, trappers, geologists, and Native Americans did as a resident population slowly came to the Upper Peninsula during the fur trading and exploration eras.

We had been told of the variety in the color and form of these rocks, but were wholly unprepared to encounter the surprising groups of overhanging precipices, towering walls, caverns, waterfalls... mingled in the most wonderful disorder."
Henry Rowe Schoolcraft, 1820
Indian Agent and Wilderness Scholar

The cliffs are most prominent along the 15 mile stretch of shoreline between Sand Point and Little Beaver Lake. In some areas the cliffs rise over 200 feet above the lake.

The name "Pictured Rocks" is due to the pictures that seem to appear on the rocks from the multicolored sandstone and mineral stains on the rock surface. The cliffs are composed of Cambrian sandstone dating back about 500 million years. The stains on the sandstone are caused by water running down the cliffs filled with oxides of copper, manganese, iron, and other organic minerals.

You will want to allow about 6 hours for this trip and of course it is very weather dependant based on the sea conditions. Departing from Miner's beach you can paddle beside the towering cliffs, explore caves, paddle under water seeps, and explore the multi-colored details of the shoreline bedrock. Our paddle brings us past the intriguing Ford Cove, 200ft cliffs, shipwreck of the "Superior", and the alluring caves of the Bloody Chiefs at Mosquito River.

Tag Alongs welcome $75. Reservations required.

Itinerary

• Munising Falls Interpretive Center 9:30AM- 1505 Sand Point Road- Munising, Mi.

• Safety briefing & paddling practice 9:30 - 10:30

• Paddling 10:30 - 12:30

• Lunch 12:30 - 1:30

• Paddling 1:30 - 4:00

• Debrief and Load-up 4:00 - 4:30PM

On all of our Lake Superior Sea Kayak Trips we provide the below listed items:

You should bring: