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Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore Park &
Grand Marias, Michigan
Waterfalls,
Hiking & Camping
- South Shore Lake Superior Circle Tour
Sunset over Grand Marais, Michigan - Upper Peninsula
In 2006 we had a chance to stay at Grand Marais's Woodland Park campground and spend some time rock picking on Agate Beach. Previously we had visited the area on our way to sampling the eastern end of Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore - Sable Falls, the Grand Sable Dunes, and the Log Slide Overlook.
Woodland Park is operated by the city of Grand Marais. Rates are reasonable, its location very good (adjacent to Pictured Rocks and within walking distance of downtown Grand Marais), and the campground has a very scenic and expansive sandy beach which also offers some pretty good rock picking, including an opportunity to find the treasured Lake Superior Agate. The sites themselves aren't spacious but are level and adequate. They offer electric, water, and a dump station.
The town itself has a well protected harbor that offers sailing and boating opportunities essentially equal to an inland lake. It also has an expansive, sandy swimming beach. Even if it were not the eastern gateway to Pictured Rocks, I could see Grand Marais being a popular destination vacation area. Probably the main reason it isn't overrun with vacationers is that it is only reachable via a dead end road, Michigan Highway 77 - 25 miles off the beaten path. |
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Gramd Marais, Michigan Harbor - Bayshore Park and Swimming Beach |
~~~"Click" on smaller images for a larger picture~~~ |
< < < A "Laker" freighter heads west near Grand Marais as the sun sets.
This historic First Lutheran church across from the Woodland Park campground played its chimes every hour. |
 < < < The Woodland Park Campground sites offer some shade but are spaced more for RV's than tents.
The beach at Grand Marais, MI is an excellent Lake Superior Rock Picking site and some of the premier Lake Superior Agate finds have been in this vicinity. 
If I had continued to dig down through this submerged pile of pretty stones maybe I would have found one ! > > >
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| Go here for more information on visiting Grand Marais, Michigan |
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| Pictured Rocks, Grand Marais Area - Sable Falls, Grand Sable Dunes |
< < < Sable Falls is at the eastern (Grand Marais) edge of Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore park. It is a short .6 mile hike that ends in a flight of stairs that descends into the gorge formed by Sable Creek.
< < < Ross and Jo on the other side of the camera for a change. On the way to the falls, stop at the Grand Sable Visitor Center for maps and information.
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< < < A relatively short, handicapped accessible trail leads to the Log Slide Overlook. Both this trail and the one to the falls are among the few in the park that allow dogs.
< < < Looking east to the Grand Sable Dunes
The beach below the Overlook > > >
< < < Looking west towards the Au Sable Lighthouse |
Hiking Trails - There are a few more day hiking and walking trails at the Grand Marais end of the park, but you have to be willing to negotiate the sand road (County H58) that runs through the park to get to the trail head parking areas. Some of these also allow pets - if on a 6 foot leash. For ambitious day hikers without pets and overnight backpackers, the Lakeshore-North Country runs the entire length of the park and provides some great hiking with spectacular vistas. Several trailhead spurs intersect with the Lakeshore trail allowing longer day trips.
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Camping and Campgrounds - 3 drive-in campgrounds exist within the park providing water, tables, grills and toilets. There are no showers nor electric hookups so RV campers will have to dry camp. Also know that the access is via unpaved sand roads. Just south of the park are several more campgrounds located in Lake Superior State Forest, but are also limited in terms of services like electricity and showers.
In addition there are 13 backcountry campsites sprinkled along the Lakeshore Trail and 7 group sites. These are very rustic - wilderness style camp sites: no potable water and only a few have toilets. Camping is allowed only at designated sites and pets are not allowed on backcountry trails or in backcountry campgrounds.
Here's an Adobe PDF file from the National Park Service showing hiking trails and campgrounds. |
 Official Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore Website |
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Marquette Michigan
Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan
Michigan UP Copper Harbor & Keweenaw Peninsula
Ontario East Shore Lake Superior Tour
Advantage Motel and Hotel-Resort Lodging in Michigan UP Circle Tour Cities
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Minnesota North Shore
Waterfall Directory
North Shore Page 1:
Gooseberry Falls - Gooseberry River
Split Rock Falls - Split Rock River
Beaver Falls - Beaver River
North Shore Page 2:
High Falls - Baptism River
2 Step Falls - Baptism River
Manitou Falls - Manitou River
Caribou Falls - Caribou River
Cross River Falls -Cross River
Temperance River Cascades
North Shore Page 3:
Cascades - Cascades River
Cascade Falls - Cascades River
Devil's Kettle Falls - Brule River
High Falls - Pigeon River
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UP Lake Superior Camping Directory
"Understanding & Finding Agates"
Karen Brzys. Director,
Gitchee Gumme Agate & History Museum
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Fall Color Tour Map
