Trip Report: Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore

We're on the road this week, initially checking out the Upper Peninsula (The U.P.) of Michigan beginning with Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. While not a full-fledged national park, it is a unit of the National Park Service. 

There are massive sand dunes along the Lake Superior shore and they are the main feature of the park. 

Once you get yourself to the bottom, you've got to get yourself back to the top. I only went down a few feet to get pictures of the guys climbing down but it was a struggle to climb back up. The dunes are over 300ft tall.

There are numerous warning signs about going down and about them having to send rescue teams to get you back up. Rescues are not at all uncommon. 

Sandstone cliffs are the highlight at Miners Castle.

 

Far view.

Close-up. Lake Superior storm waves and winter lake effect snowfall that often tops 200" all sculpt the lakeshore.

Miners Falls is also nearby.

Only a .6mi walk from the nearest parking lot, it's definitely worth the mostly downward stroll. (Although the stroll is mostly upward heading back.)

When you're in the U.P., be sure to nibble on some Pasties. They're everywhere.