» recommended day hikes

MORE INFO SOON.

» the lakeshore
The following locations are described starting from the southwest side of the park (Munising) and heading towards the northeast side (Grand Marais). Note that due to the lack of paved roads in the area, getting from one side of the park to the other is time consuming. Last time I checked, the rangers recommended driving the paved highways, M-28 and M-77, although there is a dirt road (H-58) that kind of follows the lakeshore and will look shorter. I think they are working on paving H-58 so this may change in the future (check with a ranger).

» Munising Falls

Munsing Falls is a 50 foot waterfall that can be reached via a short and pleasant hike. If you like waterfalls, this is a good one to check out.

Munising Falls in summer and winter.

» Sand Point

Sand Point is a nice sandy beach with good views of Munising Bay and Grand Island. It is accessible year-round.

Sand point in the fall and winter.

» Lakeshore Trail: Sand Point to Miners Beach

This section of trail is nice, but it's not the most interesting section. The trail goes along the top of the cliffs but for most of the time the cliffs are far from Lake Superior until you get really close to Miners Castle. Trees tend to obscure the views of the cliffs.

» Miners Castle

In the summer, Miners Castle can be reached via a very short walk from the end of Miners Castle Road and it should not be missed. In the winter, the road is not plowed and getting to Miners Castle can be a bit of a journey (7 miles round trip). The snow is usually packed down from snowmobiles so you can ski it pretty fast.

Miners Castle in summer, fall, and winter.

» Miners Beach

In the summer, Miners Beach can be reached via a very short walk. It's a big beach (about 1.5 miles long) so you might want to check out both ends. The southwest side is where Miners River meets Lake Superior and on the northeast side there is a small waterfall.

In the winter, the road is not plowed and getting to Miners Beach can be a bit of a journey (8 miles round trip). The snow is usually packed down from snowmobiles so you can ski it pretty fast.

Left: Miners River and Miners Beach. Right: The northeast end of Miners Beach.

» Miners Falls

Miners Falls is a 50 foot waterfall that can be reached via a 1.2 mile trail (roundtrip). It's a nice waterfall and usually has a good amount of flow. The trailhead is located off Miners Castle Road, well inland from the Lakeshore Trail.

Miners Falls.

» Lakeshore Trail: Miners Beach to Mosquito Beach

This section of trail is where the cliffs really start to get interesting. If you want to day hike along the cliffs this can be a good place to start because you get to the good stuff right away rather than having to make a long trek through the woods. The section of trail between Mosquito Beach and Chapel Beach has the best views but this section has some really great views too.

Views from the trail, summer and winter.

» Mosquito Beach

Mosquito Beach is a beautiful and islolated beach. There is a small sandy area but it is mostly rock slabs. The Mosquito River flows into Lake Superior here. From the southwest side of the beach you can get a view of the distant Lover's Leap (sea arch).

Views from the trail, summer and winter.

» Lakeshore Trail: Mosquito Beach to Chapel Beach

This is arguably the most scenic section of cliffs, it can only be accessed from a long trek along the Lakeshore Trail or by starting at the Chapel trailhead and hiking through a lot of woods. The Chapel Loop is 9.8 miles and about 5 miles of that is in the woods, away from the Lakeshore.

Views from the trail.

» Chapel Beach

This is a small, beautiful, and remote beach (although it can get crowded from boaters). It is a sandy beach bookended by cliffs and has the nice Lower Chapel Falls and Chapel Rock at the northeast end.

Views from the trail, summer and winter.

» Lakeshore Trail: Chapel Beach to Twelvemile Beach

The section from Chapel Beach to Spray Falls does not have many views, but once you get to Spray Falls the trail stays very near to the cliff edge and is one of the nicest sections of the Lakeshore Trail all the way to Twelvemile Beach (the cliff views aren't quite as good as the previously described Chapel to Mosquito Beach section though).

Views from the trail, fall and summer.

» Log Slide Overlook

In the summer, Log Slide Overlook can be reached via a very short walk and it should not be missed. In the winter, the road is not plowed and getting to Log Slide View can be a bit of a journey, 10 miles round trip.

Left: Looking west. Right: Looking east.

MORE TO COME...
» Lakeshore Trail: Hurricane River to Au Sable Point

Shipwrecks

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Hurricane River, a shipwreck, rocks, and the beach.

» Au Sable Point

Lighthouse, good view of Grand Sable Dunes.

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Left: Au Sable Point Lighthouse. Right: Looking towards the Grand Sable Dunes.