Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore Travel Guide

This is likely the most famous viewpoint of the park. A six mile drive up Miners Castle Road lands you in a parking area and a small set of exhibits and washrooms. From there, on the left is an observation platform where you can view the castle. In 2006, one of the "turrets" fell off into the lake, making this look a little less like a castle. Still, the rainbow of colors on the rock formations against the beautiful blue of Lake Superior is quite amazing. You can then take a short trail along the lake and come up alongside the Castle. By far, this is the highlight of the Lake Shore, and a must-see.

For some additional shots along this viewing area, please visit my travelogue.

As you head north from Munising Falls, the road ends at Sand Point, where you can catch a trailhead, view the lake, or hike this trail. The trail is a nice one to take if you want to stretch your legs. It's a half mile loop trail, almost completely on a raised boardwalk through a marsh area. There are a number of exhibits discussing some of the viewpoints, and you can pick up a guide at the beginning of the trail. While not as pretty as the lakeshore itself, this is a quick trail and worth the time to get a glimpse of the wetlands.

This set of falls is on the eastern side of the park, near Grand Sable. It's actually one of the first highlights you can reach as you come in from that side of the park. Leave your car in the lot, and take the short trip down to the falls. Once again, it is a trip down a staircase, so keep that in mind. The falls themselves are very scenic, tumbling a total of 75 feet. You can continue along the path you take to the falls and hike out to a view of Lake Superior, but we decided to head back to the car instead.

The last major waterfall that I would call easily accessible in the Munising area. A little before the Miner's Castle overlook, you can turn off and park and take a trail to these falls. The actual trail is about a half mile each way, so it's a little more of a hike, capped off by a pair of overlooks. To get to the second, you need to descend down a 77-stair staircase. The effort is again worth it - the trip down the trail is pretty, and the 50 foot waterfall is powerful and beautiful.

After about a one mile drive out of Munising, you'll hit the parking lot for the Munising Falls Interpretive Center. This is also a trailhead to a few trails, including the brief one to the falls. The path itself is only about a quarter mile long, and it is paved, with just a small incline. At the end, you are rewarded with a viewing platform of the falls, which are about 50 feet high. This is a nice, scenic canyon, and yet another easy stop with a nice reward for your time.

Just north of the junction of 94 and 28, you can catch a glimpse of these falls. There's no parking area or hike - just a wide shoulder that you can pull onto and take a look from a distance. Again, these falls aren't technically in the park, but you can visit them with almost no effort.

Not technically a part of the lakeshore, you can still visit these falls with relative ease. They're near the junction of routes 94 and 28, and if you get a map of the park at the visitor center in Munising, you'll find the small parking lot relatively easily. At the parking lot, there is a map of a number of falls in the region. From there, it's about a quarter mile easy hike to a small landing with a view of these very pretty waterfalls.