Grand Marais is a hiker’s and backpacker’s paradise. Nowhere else can you find such a diversity of trail opportunities. From wilderness and scenic hiking in Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore to day hiking along the Sucker River in the Grand Marais School Forest, there’s something for everyone’s taste and skill level. For many years this area has been developed with the backpacker in mind. There are incredible overlooks, historic buildings and sites, diverse ecosystems, waterfalls, rock cliffs and bluffs, wilderness lakes and streams, wildlife, and remote coves. Don’t forget to check out Camping in and around Grand Marais for more information.
Hiking in Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore
There are incredible hiking opportunities in Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. Begin with Sable Falls. Then you can hike Grand Sable Dunes. Gaze at shipwrecks lining the beach below the Au Sable Point Lighthouse. Fish the Hurricane River. Wander through the Birch Forest at Twelve Mile Beach. Stand at the top of Spray Falls or hike into the inland sea caves at Beaver Lake. This is a marvelous place to hike. If you feel like a longer hike, a shuttle bus is available in the summer months to ferry hikers to the trailheads near each visitor center. Information on backpacking and backcountry camping can be found at the Pictured Rocks website. Hiking in Pictured Rocks can get very remote. Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore follows the Lake Superior shoreline west all the way to Munising, a distance of 46 miles.
Day Hikes
Looking for a shorter hike? Visit this list of day hikes in Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, and here is a map to help you plan your day.