Lakeshore Trail

A 3 day hike from Munising Falls to Little Beaver Lake in the UP's Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. The majority of the hike follows the Lakeshore Trail, one of the premier footpaths in Michigan.

Munising Falls Trailhead GPS Coordinates: 46.423597, -86.624339

Beaver Basin Trailhead GPS Coordinates: 46.555694, -86.365461

Route Type: Multi-day Point-to-point

Difficulty: HARD

Mileage Hiked: 23.0 miles

Min. Elevation: 600'

Max Elevation: 850'

Trails Used (blaze color): Beaver Lake (unblazed), Lakeshore (blue)

Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore - Lakeshore Trail, Alger County (July 27-29, 2004)

Lakeshore Trail Hike Route Map
The route...
Lakeshore Trail Hike Route Map - Day 1
The track for the first day of my hike of the Lakeshore Trail at Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, as depicted a la Google Earth...
Munising Falls Trailhead
Day 1 - Entering the backcountry just north of the Munising Falls Trailhead.
Munising Falls
Day 1 - Munising Falls is at the end of an 800 foot side trail at the Lakeshore Trail trailhead. It drops about 75 feet off the Pictured Rocks Escarpment and is one of the more popular sites to see in Pictured Rocks.
Munising Falls Trailhead
Day 1 - I am not up on my fungi, if anyone knows what this is called feel free to let me know!
Munising Falls Trailhead
Day 1 - A shot of myself at the begining (or end) of the Lakeshore Trail at Munising Falls.
Lakeshore Trail
Day 1 - This is one of the first good views offered from the Lakeshore Trail heading north. I believe it was taken just after the junction with the Sand Point Trail. Sand point is the near point to the left. The town of Munising is barely visible in the center distance. Grand Island is to the right.
Lakeshore Trail
Day 1 - There are 2 or 3 of these types of waterfalls in the first 6 miles of the trail. They bear a striking resemblance to Munising Falls but are even more beautiful (I think) because of their remoteness.
Lakeshore Trail
Day 1 - A couple miles north of Sand Point the escarpment begins to drop more shrply to the lake. This is the first true cliff-top overlook as you are heading north along the trail.
Lakeshore Trail
Day 1 - Looking back into the wilderness from where the Lakeshore Trail emerges at the Miners Castle area.
Miners Castle
Day 1 - Miners Castle is perhaps the most famous of the Pictured Rocks landmarks. Here is the obligitory photo. It is beautiful but after 7 miles of solitude the crowds here can be bothersome.
Miners Beach
Day 1 - At the end of the day taking a quick dip in cool Lake Superior was just what we needed. This beach is just north of Miners Castle.
Miners Beach
Day 1 - A small unnamed stream leaps off a rock shelf at the north end of Miners Beach.
Potato Patch Campsite
Day 1 - Potato Patch Backcountry Campsite was our home the first night of the trip. The camp sits atop the escarpment just north of Miners Beach.
Lakeshore Trail Hike Route Map - Day 2
The track for the second day of my hike of the Lakeshore Trail at Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, as depicted a la Google Earth...
Lakeshore Trail
Day 2 - A mile or so north of Potato Patch you arrive at the beginning of high cliffs section of Pictured Rocks. The lake is a good 150 feet below here.
Lakeshore Trail
Day 2 - A shot north of the cliffs just before the trail drops to the Mosquito River.
Lakeshore Trail
Day 2 - This is (in my opinion) the most beautiful section of Pictured Rocks. These are the highest cliffs found in the park and there is the perfect luch spot on top of the point.
Lakeshore Trail
Day 2 - Looking back at Arch Rock about 2 miles north of the Mosquito River. As you can see you can easily Mark your progress up the shore here. Miners Castle from the day before is the point in the distance to the extreme right.
Mosquito River
Day 2 - The Mosquito River had very few of its namesake insects around on this day to our relief. A nice stream to relax by before the climb back up the escarpment.
Indian Head Point
Day 2 - Photo op on Indian Head Point with Lake Superior about 20 feet behind me and 200 feet DOWN.
Indian Head Point
Day 2 - The view is stunning (these pictures don't do it justice) from the top of Indian Head Point. Hundreds of seagulls were nesting in the cove to the left, 200 feet below.
Lakeshore Trail
Day 2 - It amazes me the places wildlife will grow. That has to be one tough tree!
Lakeshore Trail
Day 2 - The grand-daddy of all landforms in Pictured Rocks NL. The low lake levels have revealed more of the fallen debris under the portal. Five years ago you could have taken a kayak under the portal!
Lakeshore Trail
Day 2 - You pass a handful of these cliff-top beaches along this stretch of shoreline. It is a very strange feeling when standing on one of these beaches looking at the lake trying to figure out what looks different. Its the fact that at the edge of this beach there's a 200 foot drop to the water!
Lakeshore Trail
Day 2 - Grand Portal Point
Lakeshore Trail
Day 2 - Battleship Row - There were some beautiful watercolors along this bit of trail.
Chapel River
Day 2 - Chapel River
Lakeshore Trail
Day 2 - The Lakeshore Trail north of Spray Falls.
Coves Campsite
Day 2 - The end of a 12-mile day at Coves Camp Entrance.
Twelve Mile Beach
Day 2 - Looking North up Twelve Mile Beach from Coves Camp
Lakeshore Trail Hike Route Map - Day 3
The track for the third day abort of my hike of the Lakeshore Trail at Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, as depicted a la Google Earth...
Twelve Mile Beach
Day 3 - Start of Twelve Mile Beach at Coves Camp
Beaver Creek
Day 3 - Beaver Creek
Beaver Lake Trail
Day 3 - Woods Along Beaver Lake
Beaver Lake
Day 3 - Beaver Lake - Our final destination was at Beaver Lake Campground at the far end of the lake.