View source for Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore

{{short description|U.S. National Lakeshore on Lake Superior}}
{{Distinguish|Picture Rocks (disambiguation){{!}}Picture Rocks}}
{{Use American English|date=July 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2025}}
{{Infobox protected area
| name = Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore
| iucn_category = III
| photo = Pictured Rocks Bridalveil Falls.jpg
| photo_caption = [[Bridalveil Falls (Michigan)|Bridalveil Falls]] emptying into [[Lake Superior]]
| mapframe = yes
| mapframe-zoom = 9
| mapframe-wikidata = yes
| map_caption = Location of Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore
| location = [[Alger County, Michigan|Alger County]], [[Michigan]], United States
| nearest_city = [[Munising, Michigan]]
| coordinates = {{coord|46|33|44|N|86|18|45|W|region:US|format=dms|display=inline,title}}
| coords_ref = 
| area_acre = 73236
| established = October 15, 1966
| visitation_num = 953,052
| visitation_year = 2024
| governing_body = [[National Park Service]]
| website = [https://www.nps.gov/piro/index.htm Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore]
| embedded1 = {{designation list
  | embed = yes
  | designation1 = Michigan
  | designation1_offname = Pictured Rocks
  | designation1_date = February 17, 1965}}
}}
[[File:Miners Castle, Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore.jpg|thumb|right|Miners' Castle after one turret collapsed in April 2006<ref>{{cite web|last=Hach|first=Larry|title=Miners Castle Turret Collapses|url=https://www.nps.gov/piro/learn/news/minerscastlecollapse.htm|publisher=Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore|access-date=April 24, 2012|date=April 14, 2006}}</ref>]]
[[File:Pictured Rocks Lakeshore Michigan3.JPG|thumb|200px|Pictured Rocks in the distance]]

'''Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore''' is a [[U.S. National Lakeshore]] in the [[Upper Peninsula of Michigan|Upper Peninsula]] of [[Michigan]], United States. It extends for {{cvt|42|mi}} along the shore of [[Lake Superior]] and covers {{convert|73236|acre|sqmi km2|0}}. The park has extensive views of the hilly shoreline between [[Munising, Michigan|Munising]] and [[Grand Marais, Michigan|Grand Marais]] in [[Alger County, Michigan|Alger County]], with picturesque [[Rock formations in the United States|rock formation]]s, [[waterfall]]s, and sand [[dune]]s.

Pictured Rocks derives its name from the 13 miles (24&nbsp; km) of colorful [[sandstone]] cliffs northeast of Munising. The cliffs reach up to 200 feet (60 m) above lake level. They have been naturally sculptured into a variety of shallow caves, [[natural arch|arches]], and formations resembling [[Turret (architecture)|castle turrets]] and human profiles. Near Munising, visitors can also visit [[Grand Island (Michigan)|Grand Island]], most of which are included in the separate [[Grand Island National Recreation Area]].

The [[89th United States Congress|U.S. Congress]] designated Pictured Rocks the first [[National Lakeshore]] in the United States in 1966. It is governed by the [[National Park Service]] (NPS), with 22 year-round NPS employees as of May 2006, and received 1,313,179 visitors in 2021.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Stats Report Viewer |url=https://irma.nps.gov/Stats/SSRSReports/Park%20Specific%20Reports/Annual%20Park%20Recreation%20Visitation%20(1904%20-%20Last%20Calendar%20Year)?Park=PIRO |access-date=2022-07-06 |website=irma.nps.gov}}</ref>

== Geology ==
[[File:Au Sable Light Station.jpg|thumb|[[Au Sable Light]], built in 1874 after numerous shipwrecks]]

The colors in the cliffs are created by the large amounts of minerals in the rock. The cliffs are composed of the [[Munising Formation]] of 500-million-year-old [[Cambrian]] [[Period (geology)|Period]] [[sandstone]]. The Munising Formation sits atop [[Precambrian]] sandstone of the [[Jacobsville Formation]]. The mottled red Jacobsville Formation is the oldest rock in the park. On top of the Munising Formation, acting as a cap over the other layers is the hard sandstone of the younger [[Au Train Formation]] from the [[Ordovician]] Period. Streaks on the face of the cliffs come from groundwater leaching out of the rock and evaporating, leaving streaks of [[iron]] (red), [[manganese]] (black-white), [[limonite]] (yellow-brown), [[copper]] (pink-green), and other minerals.<ref>"Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, Michigan"; Park brochure, published Harpers Ferry, West Virginia; 2002</ref>
[[File:Pictured Rocks Michigan.jpg|thumb|Pictured Rocks seen from the Pictured Rocks Cruises.]]

== History ==
Although the Pictured Rocks shore waters are a rich fishing ground, the sandstone cliffs are dangerous to canoes and other open boats skirting the coastline. In 1658, the fur trader [[Pierre Esprit Radisson]] made this risky passage and noted that his [[Indigenous peoples of the Americas|Native American]] companions made an offering of [[tobacco]] to the local spirit of the cliffs.

During the [[Romanticism|Romantic Era]] of the 1800s, a series of American writers described their feelings upon sight of the Pictured Rocks.  Geologist and US Indian Agent [[Henry Rowe Schoolcraft]] visited in 1820 and remarked upon "some of the most sublime and commanding views in nature".<ref>Schoolcraft, Henry R. (1821). [https://archive.org/details/narrativejourna00unkngoog/page/n168 <!-- pg=150 --> ''Narrative Journal of Travels through the Northwestern Regions of the United States''], p. 150. E. & E. Hosford.</ref> In 1850, [[George Copway]] ''Kah-Ge-Ga-Gah-Bow'', a [[Mississaugas]] [[Ojibwe]] writer and Methodist missionary, published ''The Traditional History and Characteristic Sketches of the Ojibway Nation'', in which he cited the detailed description of the Pictured Rock by General [[Lewis Cass]].<ref>{{cite book |url=https://archive.org/details/traditionalhist00bookgoog |title=The Traditional History and Characteristic Sketches of the Ojibway Nation |date=1850 |access-date=February 17, 2018}}</ref>{{rp|24–7}} Around 1850, developers planned a tourist resort, Grand Island City, adjacent to the Pictured Rocks near the current site of Munising.

After the lumbering era ended around 1910, much of the land making up the current National Lakeshore reverted to the state of Michigan for unpaid property taxes.  Eager for federal help and recognition, the state cooperated with the federal government in the region's redevelopment. In October 1966, Congress passed a bill authorizing the establishment of the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore " to preserve for the benefit, inspiration, education, recreational use, and enjoyment of the public, a significant portion of the diminishing shoreline of the United States and its related geographic and scientific features."<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20020601235517/http://www.nps.gov/piro/adhi/adhit.htm The Pictured Rocks: An Administrative History of Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore (Table of Contents)<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> This was America's first National Lakeshore.

On April 13, 2006, one of the named rock formations collapsed: the Inner Turret of Miner's Castle in the Munising Formation. The collapse was reported via cell phone by fishermen in the area, according to chief ranger Larry Hach. Miners Castle consists of crumbly cross-bedded sandstone poorly cemented by secondary quartz, according to Research Ecologist Walter Loope of the [[U.S. Geological Survey]]. Rockfalls along the cliffs typically occur in the spring and fall due to freezing-thawing action.

On March 30, 2009, the [[Omnibus Public Land Management Act]] was signed into law, protecting {{convert|11740|acre|km2|1}} of Pictured Rocks as the Beaver Basin Wilderness, spanning the 13 miles of shoreline.<ref>[https://archive.today/20120805122304/http://www.nps.gov/piro/planyourvisit/beaver-basin-wilderness.htm "Beaver Basin Wilderness"], National Park Service; Accessed 9-28-2011.</ref>

==Representation in other media==
In 2010, singer [[Kid Rock]] filmed the video for his song "Born Free" at the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://home.nps.gov/piro/learn/photosmultimedia/index.htm |title=Kid Rock "Born Free" Video at Pictured Rocks |publisher=National Park Service |date=November 2010 |access-date=14 December 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=MTV news article with link to video: Kid Rock Goes Majestic in Born Free Video |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1651516/20101104/kid_rock.jhtml |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101108061135/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1651516/20101104/kid_rock.jhtml |url-status=dead |archive-date=November 8, 2010 |publisher=[[MTV News]] |date=4 November 2010 |first1=Kyle |last1=Anderson |first2=Tim |last2=Kash |access-date=14 December 2011}}</ref>

In early 2014, Courtney Kotewa's snapshot of kayakers passing under a rock arch at the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore was chosen as the grand prize winner of the 2013 Share the Experience photo contest, sponsored by the National Park Foundation.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://michiganradio.org/post/northern-michigan-be-featured-national-parks-pass |title=Northern Michigan To Be Featured On National Parks Pass &#124; Michigan Radio |publisher=[[Michigan Radio]] and [[Interlochen Public Radio]] |date=May 2, 2014 |access-date=4 May 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140504224254/http://michiganradio.org/post/northern-michigan-be-featured-national-parks-pass |archive-date=4 May 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=2013 Share The Experience Photo Contest |url=http://www.nationalparks.org/connect/2013-share-experience-photo-contest |publisher=[[National Park Foundation]] |date=2014 |access-date=4 May 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140504034123/http://www.nationalparks.org/connect/2013-share-experience-photo-contest |archive-date=4 May 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==Access and accessibility==
[[File:Indian Head Pictured Rocks Michigan.JPG|thumb|250px|right|Indian Head as seen during Pictured Rocks Cruises]]
Munising, on the western end of the lakeshore, is accessed by [[M-28 (Michigan highway)|M-28]] and [[M-94 (Michigan highway)|M-94]].  Grand Marais, on the eastern end, is reached by [[M-77 (Michigan highway)|M-77]].

Vehicular access to much of the park is seasonal. Only the road to the visitor's center is plowed. All other park roads are closed from December to March, and County Road H-28 is only partially plowed. Snowmobiles are permitted into the interior of the park year round.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Winter Road Closures - Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore (U.S. National Park Service) |url=https://www.nps.gov/piro/planyourvisit/winter-road-closures.htm |access-date=2025-09-08 |website=www.nps.gov |language=en}}</ref>

Paved highways penetrate the Lakeshore from both ends, connected by County Road [[H-58 (Michigan county highway)|H-58]].  Roads come close to the shoreline only near Miners Castle, 12 Mile Beach, and the Grand Sable Dunes. The rest of the shoreline is seen from land only by hiking. A 42-mile (67-km) section of the [[North Country Trail]] spans the lakeshore. A permit is needed for backcountry camping, which is allowed along many miles of the National Lakeshore. This means that [[dispersed camping]] is not allowed in the park.

Many boat companies offer daily trips along the lakeshore from [[Memorial Day]] weekend through the fall season.  [[Sea kayak]]ing is another popular way to explore the park. While this may be the best way to see the natural formations, it is a strenuous trip in cold, dangerous water, not to be undertaken lightly or without proper equipment. Guides are available. The most efficient port of entry for kayaks is from Miner's Beach or the harbor at Munising. In addition, pontoons can be cheaply rented locally.

Winter sports activities include [[cross-country skiing]], [[snowshoe]]ing, [[snowmobiling]], ice climbing, and [[ice fishing]].

The administrators of Pictured Rocks have worked to make much of its rugged environment wheelchair accessible.<ref name=WebAccess>[https://www.nps.gov/piro/planyourvisit/accessibility.htm Pictured Rocks Accessibility]</ref> Features include:

* Interagency Visitor Center, Munising Falls Interpretive Center, and Miners Castle Information Station in Munising
* Grand Sable Visitor Center in Grand Marais
* Each drive-in campground has at least one handicapped-accessible campsite with an extended picnic table, boardwalk, pedestal fire grate, and nearby restroom
* Log Slide overlook
* Miners Castle overlooks (except lower overlook trail, which includes stairs and is steep)
* Munising Falls viewing platform, with a paved trail
* Boardwalk at Sand Point Marsh Trail, with large-print guide
* Sand Point Beach parking with paved sidewalks, fully accessible picnic site, and boardwalk toward Lake Superior<ref name=WebAccess/>

==Points of interest==
[[File:Pictured Rocks - Grand portal.jpg|thumb|Rock arches and sea caves are popular with kayakers]]
[[File:Chapel Rock in Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore.jpg|thumb|Photo of Chapel Rock at dawn from the shore, looking over Lake Superior]]
[[File:Grand Sable Dunes.JPG|thumb|215px|Grand Sable Dunes]]
[[File:Sand Point Boathouse - Munising Coast Guard (7a52e054-e4a9-4a69-9c30-ebd113d12cd7).JPG|thumb|Munising Coast Guard Station]]
From the west (Munising) to the east (Grand Marais):

* [[Munising Falls]], Interpretive Center
* Sand Point, National Lakeshore Headquarters
* Munising Coast Guard Station Boathouse Museum
* Miners Castle rock formation, paved road to overlook (suffering major rockfall April 13, 2006)
* [[Miners River]], emptying into [[Lake Superior]] near Miners Beach.
* [[Miners Falls]] interpretive trail
* Grand Portal Point rock formations
* Mosquito Falls
* Mosquito River
* Chapel Rock
* Chapel Falls
* [[Beaver Basin Wilderness]]
* Twelvemile Beach
* Shipwrecks
* White Birch Forest
* Au Sable Point, [[Au Sable Light]]
* Log Slide
* [[Grand Sable Dunes]]
* [[Grand Sable Lake]]
* [[Sable Falls]], Interpretive Center

===Waterfalls===
<gallery>
File:Munising Falls 804x603.JPG|[[Munising Falls]]
File:Miners' Falls, Michigan1.jpg|[[Miners Falls]]
File:Sable Falls 4a.JPG|[[Sable Falls]]
</gallery>

Pictured Rocks is the site of many of Michigan's waterfalls. Most of the waterfalls resulted from water running over the cliffs of the Munising Formation. This lime and sandstone formation exists between [[Tahquamenon Falls]], some {{convert|75|mi|km}} east, to [[Laughing Whitefish Falls]], {{convert|30|mi|km}} west of the Lakeshore. Pets are not allowed on most of the trails.<ref>[https://www.nps.gov/piro/planyourvisit/waterfalls.htm Waterfalls]</ref>

* ''[[Munising Falls]]''—A {{convert|50|ft|m|adj=on}} waterfall over a sandstone cliff. Along the trail may be seen ferns, wildflowers, and an occasional mink. The trail is fully accessible to people with disabilities and dogs are allowed.<ref name=waterfall>Waterfalls site bulletin, Pictured Rocks NL, Munising, Michigan</ref>
* ''[[Miners Falls]]''—This self-guiding [[interpretive trail]] passes Miners Basin and ends at Miners Falls.  There are 77 steps leading down to the viewing platform.  The falls drops {{convert|50|ft|m}} over the sandstone outcrop.<ref name=waterfall/>
* ''[[Bridalveil Falls (Michigan)|Bridalveil Falls]]''—Bridalveil is a seasonal waterfall.  In the summer, it may not exist or be only a trickle.<ref name=waterfall/> 
* ''Mosquito Falls''—This falls drops over an {{convert|8|ft|m|adj=on}} rock shelf on the Mosquito River. River otters and beavers live in the stream along the trail.<ref name=waterfall/>
* ''Chapel Falls''—Two viewing platforms along the way provide views of the scenic Chapel Basin. Chapel Falls cascades some {{convert|60|ft|m}} down the sandstone cliffs on its way to Chapel Lake.<ref name=waterfall/>
* ''Spray Falls''—This waterfall is best seen from Lake Superior. The 1856 shipwreck of the ''Superior'' is at the base of the falls in {{convert|20|ft|m}} of water.<ref name=waterfall/>
* ''[[Sable Falls]]'' - Sable Falls tumbles {{convert|75|ft|m}} over several cliffs of Munising and Jacobsville sandstone formations on its way to Lake Superior.<ref name=waterfall/>

===Grand Sable Dunes===
The Grand Sable Dunes, at the eastern end of the Lakeshore, are a [[perched dune]] formation.  Sand washed ashore by [[wave]] action was then blown upslope by northerly [[prevailing winds]] until it came to rest atop a glacial [[moraine]].  The Grand Sable Dunes today form a five-mile-long sand slope that rises from Lake Superior at a 35° angle.  The summits of the tallest dunes are as high as 275 feet (85 m) above lake level.

Glacial melt during the last major advance/retreat called the Marquette Readvance created the conditions for the formation of the Grand Sable Banks. Dominant northwesterly winds eventually caused blowing sand to become perched on the banks.<ref>Rapson, Samantha [http://www.geo.msu.edu/geogmich/grand_sable.htm] accessed March 25, 2011</ref> Today, the Grand Sable Banks rise to heights of up to 300&nbsp;ft. at a 35-degree angle from the shore of [[Lake Superior]]. The Grand Sable Dunes perched on top of these banks offers a desolate sandscape with jack pine forest near the edges.<ref>Hunt's Guide to Michigan's Upper Peninsula [http://hunts-upguide.com/grand_marais_grand_sable_bank___dunes.html] accessed March 25, 2011,</ref>

In the late 19th century, loggers in the area built a wooden log slide from the top of the dunes at the Grand Sable Banks to Lake Superior below to facilitate the transportation of timber from the area.<ref>Moon Travel Guides. [http://www.moon.com/destinations/michigan/michigan-s-upper-peninsula/the-eastern-upper-peninsula/pictured-rocks-national-lakeshore/s/grand-sable-dun] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101125233320/http://moon.com/destinations/michigan/michigan-s-upper-peninsula/the-eastern-upper-peninsula/pictured-rocks-national-lakeshore/s/grand-sable-dun|date=2010-11-25}} accessed March 25, 2011</ref> The location is a popular spot to view the Grand Banks and climb on the dunes. Visitors may also take a trail from the Grand Sable Visitors Center near the eastern end of the dunes or stop along a section of the dunes that border on [[Grand Sable Lake]].
{|
| [[image:Grand Sable Dunes 1.jpg|thumb|150px|alt=View of Grand Sable Dunes |View of the dunes with Lake Superior in the background]]
| [[image:Grand Sable Banks.jpg|thumb|150px|alt=Grand Sable Banks |A view of the Grand Sable Banks looking east from the logslide location]]
| [[image:Grand Sable Banks Log Slide.jpg|thumb|150px|alt=log slide |A view of the former logslide site from the top of the banks]]
| [[image:Grand Sable Lake.jpg|thumb|150px|alt=Grand Sable Lake |A view of the dunes overlooking Grand Sable Lake]]
|}

== Recreational activities ==
Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore offers a variety of recreational opportunities for visitors year-round, including hiking, [[Dispersed camping|back-country camping]], kayaking, boating, swimming, [[scuba diving]], fishing, and winter activities including [[Snowmobile|snowmobiling]], [[ice climbing]], and [[cross-country skiing]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nps.gov/piro/planyourvisit/outdooractivities.htm|title=Outdoor Activities - Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore (U.S. National Park Service)|website=www.nps.gov|language=en|access-date=2019-11-02}}</ref> The beautiful scenery, and variety of opportunities to enjoy the park attract significant visitors, including a record 800,000 in 2018.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlive.com/life/2019/03/pictured-rocks-set-a-new-visitors-record-in-2018.html|title=Pictured Rocks set a new visitors record in 2018|last=Bingham|first=Emily|date=2019-03-08|website=mlive|language=en|access-date=2019-11-02}}</ref>

=== Boating and kayaking ===
[[File:Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore (444b2713-afcd-4189-a58c-124451dafa67).jpg|thumb|A tour boat at Pictured Rocks]]
The colored rock formations attract kayakers and boat tours during the summer, as visitors flock to see the varied rock formations and colored rocks. Due to the danger of kayaking on the water near the cliffs, specialized equipment for [[Sea kayaking|sea-kayaking]] and knowledge are required to safely paddle near the cliffs.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nps.gov/piro/planyourvisit/kayaking.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070105030045/http://www.nps.gov/piro/planyourvisit/kayaking.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 5, 2007|title=Kayaking - Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore (U.S. National Park Service)|website=www.nps.gov|language=en|access-date=2019-11-02}}</ref>

=== Scuba diving ===
Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore is a popular scuba diving destination in the Midwest and country, as the turbulent waters of Lake Superior have created many shipwrecks to explore over the years. A popular destination is the [[Alger Underwater Preserve]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nps.gov/piro/planyourvisit/swimming-diving.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070713235940/http://www.nps.gov/piro/planyourvisit/swimming-diving.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 13, 2007|title=Swimming & Diving - Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore (U.S. National Park Service)|website=www.nps.gov|language=en|access-date=2019-11-02}}</ref>

=== Winter sports ===
[[File:Ice climber near Miner's Falls.jpg|alt=ice climber near Miner's Falls|thumb|An ice climber explores ice formations near Miner's Falls, Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore]]
Due to the [[lake-effect snow]], Pictured Rocks and the [[Munising, Michigan|Munising]] area have some of the highest snowfall across the country. This snowfall creates the perfect opportunity for snowmobilers, with dedicated snowmobile and cross-country ski trails in the park. Additionally, the long winter and constant runoff from snowmelt create one of the best ice-climbing opportunities in the country, with over 50 named ice formations.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://midwestoutside.com/midwest-ice-climbing/ice-climbing-in-michigan-the-midwests-best-kept-climbing-and-winter-sports-secret/|title=Ice Climbing in Michigan - The Midwest's Best Kept Climbing and Winter Sports Secret|website=Midwest Outside|language=en-US|access-date=2019-11-02}}</ref> Ice climbing in Michigan attracts climbers from across the Midwest, the country, and even internationally. Additionally, the ice formations attract visitors to sightsee and explore the interesting ice features.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nps.gov/piro/learn/nature/ice-caves-and-ice-formations.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170416125322/https://www.nps.gov/piro/learn/nature/ice-caves-and-ice-formations.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=April 16, 2017|title=Ice "Caves" and Ice Formations - Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore (U.S. National Park Service)|website=www.nps.gov|language=en|access-date=2019-11-02}}</ref>

==Climate and weather==
{{Weather box
|location = Grand Marais, Michigan
|Jan high F = 25.3
|Feb high F = 27.4
|Mar high F = 36.4
|Apr high F = 49.2
|May high F = 62.1
|Jun high F = 70.4
|Jul high F = 75.9
|Aug high F = 74.8
|Sep high F = 67
|Oct high F = 55.8
|Nov high F = 41.5
|Dec high F = 29.7
|year high F = 51.3
|Jan low F = 11.2
|Feb low F = 10.6
|Mar low F = 17.9
|Apr low F = 29.3
|May low F = 37.9
|Jun low F = 45.7
|Jul low F = 51.9
|Aug low F = 52.8
|Sep low F = 47.1
|Oct low F = 38
|Nov low F = 28.2
|Dec low F = 17
|year low F = 32.3
|Jan rain inch = 2.3
|Feb rain inch = 1.4
|Mar rain inch = 1.6
|Apr rain inch = 1.6
|May rain inch = 2.5
|Jun rain inch = 2.9
|Jul rain inch = 2.5
|Aug rain inch = 3.2
|Sep rain inch = 3.6
|Oct rain inch = 3
|Nov rain inch = 2.6
|Dec rain inch = 2.5
|year rain inch = 29.8
|Jan snow inch = 47.3
|Feb snow inch = 30.7
|Mar snow inch = 16
|Apr snow inch = 4.8
|May snow inch = 0.3
|Jun snow inch = 0.0
|Jul snow inch = 0.0
|Aug snow inch = 0.0
|Sep snow inch = 0.0
|Oct snow inch = 0.9
|Nov snow inch = 12.6
|Dec snow inch = 41.7
|year snow inch = 154.2
|source 1 = <ref name="Weatherbase: Historical Weather for Grand Marais, Michigan, United States of America">{{cite web
| url = http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather.php3?s=913302
| title = Weatherbase: Historical Weather for Grand Marais, Michigan| access-date = June 5, 2009
}}</ref>
|date=August 2010
}}
{|
|-
|{{climate chart
|  Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore
| -11.6| -3.7| 58
| -11.9| -2.6| 36
| -7.8| 2.4| 41
| -1.5| 9.6| 41
| 3.3| 16.7| 64
| 7.6| 21.3| 74
| 11.1| 24.4| 64
| 11.6| 23.8| 81
| 8.4| 19.0| 91
| 3.0| 13.2| 76
| -2.1| 5.3| 66
| -8.0| -1.3| 64
|float=left
|clear=left
|source = <ref name = "nasa">{{Cite web|url= http://neo.sci.gsfc.nasa.gov/dataset_index.php|title= NASA Earth Observations Data Set Index|access-date= 30 January 2016|publisher= NASA|archive-date= 6 August 2013|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130806035941/http://neo.sci.gsfc.nasa.gov/dataset_index.php|url-status= dead}}</ref>
}}
|}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
*{{Cite book |last=Craig Blacklock |title=Pictured Rocks: From Land and Sea  |year=2012 |isbn=978-1892472250}}
* Stonehouse, Frederick. ''Dangerous Coast: Shipwrecks of Pictured Rocks'', Avery Color Studios, June 1997. {{ISBN|0-932212-93-X}}.

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* [https://www.nps.gov/piro/index.htm NPS Site]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20140207103734/http://www.uptrails.com/ UP Trails Guide]
* [http://www.tdtcompanion.com/NPS/PicturedRocks/Default.aspx Accessibility information from The Disabled Traveler's Companion]
* [http://www.fishweb.com/maps/alger/pictured_rocks/index.html Michigan Interactive Tour of Pictured Rocks] fishweb.com
* [https://www.flickr.com/search/?q=Pictured%20rocks&ss=2&ct=0&mt=all&w=52027561%40N00&adv=1 Flickr photos of Pictured Rocks ]

{{SeashoreLakes}}
{{Upper Peninsula of Michigan}}
{{Greatlakes}}
{{Protected areas of Michigan}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore| ]]
[[Category:National Park Service areas in Michigan]]
[[Category:Protected areas of Alger County, Michigan]]
[[Category:Cliffs of Michigan]]
[[Category:Dunes of Michigan]]
[[Category:Landforms of Alger County, Michigan]]
[[Category:Cambrian Michigan]]
[[Category:Landmarks in Michigan]]
[[Category:Protected areas established in 1966]]
[[Category:1966 establishments in Michigan]]
[[Category:Rock formations of Michigan]]
[[Category:Marshes of the United States]]