Munising, Michigan - Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore

Our last stop along Lake Superior Upper Peninsula was Munising, MI.  We visited the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore - another Gem we happened to find along the way.  

It has three distinct sections along the shoreline - cliffs, beaches and sand dunes.

Munising Falls

Water fall over a sandstone cliff by the park visitor center

Sand Point Beach - 

The Ranger at the visitor center told us to go see the pink beach if it's still there (the wind will blow it away)There was still enough left for us to see what she was talking about.

The pink sand is actually fine garnet (like the January birthstone), that has eroded from one of the sandstone layers of the Pictured Rock cliffs - usually after a storm on Lake Superior.  The garnet "talc" (fine sand), is then washed up on the shores at Sand Point and makes a pink sand beach.  So when you are walking on the pink beach, you are actually walking on very tiny/fine garnets!

Miners Castle Overlook -

In 2006, Miners Castle lost one of its rock turrets, caused by erosion, so it looks a little less like a castle now...

Pasties?!?
We kept seeing signs advertising Pasties.   A Pasty (rhymes with nasty – not very appetizing when you say that - LOL) is basically a meat-and-root-veggie hand pie (originated in Cornwall, England), that the men working in the mines ate.  It is usually made with ground beef, carrots, rutabaga and diced potatoes - served with or without gravy.  They are very popular with the locals in this area.  

We decided we needed to try one.. John got a beef one and I got a chicken one so we could sample both...  They are pretty good, however nothing great, so I don't think we need to try them again - LOL

Lake Superior is huge, like an ocean!
That's probably why the Ojibwe called it the great sea.  It's the largest lake in the world in surface area (3rd largest in volume) - It's said if Lake Superior were emptied into a pool the size of the lower 48 states it would fill it to 5ft deep!

We took this video on the beach showing the winds/waves on the lake.

Lake Superior definitely looks and acts like an ocean with the waves crashing in on the beach, I can only imagine what the winter storms look like with waves of 20ft (sometimes as high as 30ft!) – I can see how it can be a beast and can understand the force which has caused so many shipwrecks over the years.  

We even saw this sign that "only Sea Kayaks" are recommended on this lake!

We camped in Munising Tourist RV Park, a great site, right on the lake shore of Lake Superior.   However, we had one night of high winds on the lake - made me kinda wish we didn't have that lake front site that night - LOL!  But at least I didn’t have to worry about rising waters...

Thankfully the next evening was completely different  

Perfect to enjoy a fire and sunset!

Unfortunately, even on the sunny beautiful days, it was too windy on Lake Superior for our Pictured Rocks Lake Cruise...as we got this notice ☹️

We regret to inform you that we have been forced to cancel your Pictured Rocks Cruises today due to high winds and waves.  Waves are expected to reach heights of 6 to 8 feet in the afternoon.

So instead we explored more of Pictured Rocks by foot & car... got in lots of hiking this day (+24K steps & +13 miles!)

Chapel Basin Trail-

This area was named by early European explorers as it was found on early maps as La Chappelle. 

 Chapel Falls

Chapel Rock is formed from Cambrian age sandstone.

The archway between the rock and the mainland collapsed in the 1940's ( part of the ever changing park) The lone pine tree on Chapel Rock is still attached to the mainland  by its root system.  It's amazing that 70 plus years after the archway collapsed under the roots they are still connected to the mainland.

Chapel Beach 

We enjoyed lunch on the beach and views of pictured rocks cliffs before our hike back

Au Sable Light Station -
Was built in 1874. We took the guided tour, our 3rd of a lighthouse on Lake Superior, and while some stuff is a repeat of what we’ve heard before, we learn more about the life of these light house keepers in what was very remote locations in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s.

This one had a portable library box.

At one point there were more than 700 of these being transferred between the lighthouses to give the staff/families at remote stations reading material.  They were built to look nice when on a table for use, but sturdy for packing to transfer & ship between the light houses.

First time to see the official US Light House Service stamped dishes

All of the lighthouse tours have talked about the tough inspections at the lighthouse, when the inspectors showed up (unannounced!). It sounds similar to a military inspection, not only checking that the lighthouse & mechanics were being well taken care of,  but also the house & grounds - sometimes there was a white glove test for dust, even in the dustpan!

We got to go up into the tower, the tallest we have climbed so far - at 87 feet tall, it was 98 steps up the spiral staircase to the top of the tower.  A nice view of the sand dunes from the top.

Another cool Fresnel lens, that was fueled initially by lard oil and then by kerosene. The fixed white beam could be seen 17 miles out on the lake. 

In 1945 the U.S. Coast Guard took over all the lighthouses replacing the civilian keepers. This lighthouse became fully automated in 1958 and transferred from the Coast Guard to the National Park Service in 1968.  

This Lighthouse now emits a light from an automated LED beacon.

Exposed shipwreck remains are usually visible on the coastline hike to the lighthouse, however the lake was up about 12 ft, so couldn’t see much.

Lastly, we visited Sable Falls & Dunes

The ranger at the visitor station encouraged us to see the falls here, saying it’s rare you can say you saw a waterfall in the middle of sand dunes!

We had a good view of the sand dunes from the top of the lighthouse... apparently the dunes are the highest point of the park

Our view of a sand dune up close at the end of Sable Falls Trail

John decided to cross the river, walking on a log to cross over, so I took a video of his crossing back, just in case he fell - LOL

We had to laugh at this sign on the trail to the falls!

Goodbye Lake Superior.. we've enjoyed ya!

Where2Next?
We will continue our exploration to the other Great Lakes