Explore America’s Other Coast

When it comes to summer adventure, some places are a cut above. Michigan’s Upper Peninsula is one of them. Here, the far north wilderness meets the wild splendor of the Great Lakes in a remarkable landscape formed by glaciers millenia ago. Along the Lake Superior coast near Munising, you’ll find everything from inland hikes through lush woods to paddling trips beneath multi-colored cliffs. And wherever you go, the U.P. invites you to embrace your wild side at whatever pace you choose.

Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore

Spanning 42 miles between Munising and Grand Marais, Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore is one of the most scenic stretches of shoreline in the country, highlighted by a 15-mile stretch of colorful sandstone cliffs and rock formations that lend the park its name. The Pictured Rocks cliffs, which climb from 50 to 200 feet above Lake Superior, also boast stunning features like arches, turrets, waterfalls, and hidden coves. From mid-May through mid-October, a National Park Service-authorized boat cruise lets you see it all.

Or get a closer look on a guided kayak tour (find outfitters in Munising). Guided trips are generally recommended at Pictured Rocks, since the dramatic shoreline offers very few landing points in case of sudden weather changes. Guides will also ensure you don’t miss any highlights, like waterfalls, sea caves, and shipwreck sites.

The view from the water is fantastic, but it’s not the only way to explore Pictured Rocks. Within the park, there are 100 miles of hiking trails, along with 13 backcountry campsites (by reservation) for overnight backpacking trips. The 10-mile Chapel Rock/Mosquito River Loop is a great way to experience the diverse landscape; it follows the North Country National Scenic Trail along the sweeping shoreline before heading inland along the river.

Grand Island

Just a half-mile offshore from Pictured Rocks lies Grand Island—another outdoor playground with towering cliffs, dense forests, and pristine shoreline wilds. Part of the Hiawatha National Forest, Grand Island offers a summer’s worth of hiking, mountain biking, kayaking, and camping, with not a paved road in sight.

Visitors have multiple ways to explore this largely untouched landscape. The Grand Island Interpretive Bus—one of the only vehicles permitted on the island—offers narrated tours as it travels to scenic views and historical sites along Grand Island’s dirt roads. You can also mountain bike on the island’s 21-mile perimeter trail, which offers intermediate riders an unforgettable 4- to 6-hour trip filled with striking Lake Superior views. The trail serves just as well for backpacking, with 21 campsites and two cabins available for reservation.

Much like Pictured Rocks, Grand Island saves some of its most jaw-dropping views for those who see it from the water, with layers of mutli-hued rock that tower nearly 300 feet above the lake. Full-day kayak rentals are available to explore the island’s tucked-away beaches, coves, and lighthouses.

Hiawatha National Forest

If you want big and wild, lose yourself in Hiawatha National Forest, a million-acre refuge that offers forest, river, and lake escapes near the Pictured Rocks area and the wider U.P.

If you want a low-key paddling experience, the Au Train River Canoe Trail provides a peaceful outing with no rapids or portages. The leisurely float is great for wildlife viewing, and if you’re looking to experience even more of the Hiawatha’s rich natural tapestry, you can hike the nearby Au Train Songbird Trail, a two-mile forest loop where birds abound. And just outside the National Forest, you’ll find the one-mile roundtrip Laughing Whitefish Falls Trail, a peaceful hike leading to one of the region’s most unique and impressive waterfalls. (And for a region with 17 cascades, that’s saying something.)

Meanwhile, mountain bikers can head to the Valley Spur area for 23-plus miles of beginner and intermediate singletrack trails. The trail system consists of two main loops—the 10-mile Just Beechy Loop and the 11-mile Hemlock Valley Loop. There’s also the shorter Cedar Streak Trail and plenty of ways to mix and match segments on this fast, flowy system.

Munising Area

If you’re basecamping in Munising or nearby, you don’t have to go far for more of the good stuff. In addition to the six stunning beaches inside Pictured Rocks, Au Train Beach west of Munising offers a relaxing escape where the Au Train River meets the lake.

In Munising, you can also enjoy the kind of culinary adventure that only the U.P. can deliver. The region is home to several foods as unique as the peninsula itself, like its iconic pasties, available at places like Muldoons and Miners Pasties, or freshly caught Lake Superior whitefish, found at Cap’n Ron’s food truck or at cozy and creative eateries like Tracey’s at Roam Inn. And you should treat every roadside thimbleberry stand as a must-stop, where you can grab some locally foraged jam to savor until next summer, giving yourself just one more reason to come back.

Your trip begins at michigan.org.