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Pictured Rocks 2025

A Travel Diary

Pictured Rocks 2025

Painted cliffs and the big lake — July 2025

56Photographs
4Days
6Places
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The Painted Cliffs

Four days on Lake Superior's wild south shore — the sandstone cliffs of Pictured Rocks glowing above impossibly clear water, the waterfalls around Munising, a Fourth of July on the bay, the long empty beaches of Grand Marais, and a glass-bottom boat gliding over century-old shipwrecks. Michigan's Upper Peninsula at its summer best. Tap any photo to enlarge it, or open the map.

Four days on Lake Superior's wild south shore, where the sandstone cliffs of Pictured Rocks glow above water so clear it hardly looks real. We saw them best from the water, on a boat that runs the whole length of the painted rock.

Around Munising we chased waterfalls, spent a Fourth of July on the bay, walked the long empty beaches of Grand Marais, and glided over century-old shipwrecks on a glass-bottom tour. Michigan's Upper Peninsula at its short, bright summer best.

This trip ran 4 days, July 3–6, 2025. Along the way we spent time at Pictured Rocks by boat, The Lake Superior shore, The north woods & Munising, and Sable Falls & Grand Marais. The gallery below tells it day by day, in 56 photographs.

Planning your own trip? Read Pictured Rocks: our family itinerary & tips →

Day 1

Thu 3 Jul

The north woods & Munising

The north woods & Munising
The north woods & MunisingA log cabin in the north woods, all knotty pine and quiet.
The north woods & Munising
The north woods & MunisingA trophy buck keeping watch over the lodge.

Day 2

Fri 4 Jul

The north woods & Munising · Pictured Rocks by boat · A Lake Superior Fourth of July

The north woods & Munising
The north woods & MunisingMorning light through the trees on a boardwalk into the forest.
The north woods & Munising
The north woods & MunisingMunising Falls slipping down its sandstone amphitheatre.
The north woods & Munising
The north woods & MunisingGreen, green, and the sound of falling water.
Pictured Rocks by boat
Pictured Rocks by boatMiners Castle, the great sandstone landmark of Pictured Rocks.
Pictured Rocks by boat
Pictured Rocks by boatThe painted cliffs rising straight out of Lake Superior.
Pictured Rocks by boat
Pictured Rocks by boatMineral streaks staining the sandstone in reds and greens.
Pictured Rocks by boat
Pictured Rocks by boatA sea arch carved by the big lake's patient water.
Pictured Rocks by boat
Pictured Rocks by boatCaves and coves at the foot of the cliffs.
Pictured Rocks by boat
Pictured Rocks by boatTurquoise shallows over a sandy shelf below the rocks.
Pictured Rocks by boat
Pictured Rocks by boatLayer on layer of stone, written over ten thousand years.
Pictured Rocks by boat
Pictured Rocks by boatThe cliffs glowing gold in the late afternoon light.
Pictured Rocks by boat
Pictured Rocks by boatMiners Castle, the great sandstone landmark of Pictured Rocks.
Pictured Rocks by boat
Pictured Rocks by boatThe painted cliffs rising straight out of Lake Superior.
Pictured Rocks by boat
Pictured Rocks by boatMineral streaks staining the sandstone in reds and greens.
Pictured Rocks by boat
Pictured Rocks by boatA sea arch carved by the big lake's patient water.
Pictured Rocks by boat
Pictured Rocks by boatCaves and coves at the foot of the cliffs.
Pictured Rocks by boat
Pictured Rocks by boatTurquoise shallows over a sandy shelf below the rocks.
Pictured Rocks by boat
Pictured Rocks by boatLayer on layer of stone, written over ten thousand years.
Pictured Rocks by boat
Pictured Rocks by boatThe cliffs glowing gold in the late afternoon light.
Pictured Rocks by boat
Pictured Rocks by boatMiners Castle, the great sandstone landmark of Pictured Rocks.
Pictured Rocks by boat
Pictured Rocks by boatThe painted cliffs rising straight out of Lake Superior.
Pictured Rocks by boat
Pictured Rocks by boatMineral streaks staining the sandstone in reds and greens.
Pictured Rocks by boat
Pictured Rocks by boatA sea arch carved by the big lake's patient water.
Pictured Rocks by boat
Pictured Rocks by boatCaves and coves at the foot of the cliffs.
Pictured Rocks by boat
Pictured Rocks by boatTurquoise shallows over a sandy shelf below the rocks.
Pictured Rocks by boat
Pictured Rocks by boatLayer on layer of stone, written over ten thousand years.
Pictured Rocks by boat
Pictured Rocks by boatThe cliffs glowing gold in the late afternoon light.
Pictured Rocks by boat
Pictured Rocks by boatMiners Castle, the great sandstone landmark of Pictured Rocks.
Pictured Rocks by boat
Pictured Rocks by boatThe painted cliffs rising straight out of Lake Superior.
A Lake Superior Fourth of July
A Lake Superior Fourth of JulyStars and stripes over the wake on the Fourth of July.
A Lake Superior Fourth of July
A Lake Superior Fourth of JulyFireworks blooming over the bay.
A Lake Superior Fourth of July
A Lake Superior Fourth of JulyThe whole sky going up in color over Lake Superior.
A Lake Superior Fourth of July
A Lake Superior Fourth of JulyA small-town Fourth, the best kind.
A Lake Superior Fourth of July
A Lake Superior Fourth of JulyStars and stripes over the wake on the Fourth of July.

Day 3

Sat 5 Jul

Sable Falls & Grand Marais · The Lake Superior shore · Munising — brews & shipwrecks

Sable Falls & Grand Marais
Sable Falls & Grand MaraisSable Falls stepping down through the cedar.
Sable Falls & Grand Marais
Sable Falls & Grand MaraisClear water on its way to the lake.
Sable Falls & Grand Marais
Sable Falls & Grand MaraisA trail map at the edge of the Grand Marais woods.
Sable Falls & Grand Marais
Sable Falls & Grand MaraisThe falls trail, green and cool on a summer day.
The Lake Superior shore
The Lake Superior shoreThe long, empty beach at Grand Marais.
The Lake Superior shore
The Lake Superior shoreLake Superior stretching out past the sandbar.
The Lake Superior shore
The Lake Superior shoreShallow, warm water over rippled sand.
The Lake Superior shore
The Lake Superior shoreStorm clouds piling up over the big lake.
The Lake Superior shore
The Lake Superior shoreA sandspit reaching out into the blue.
The Lake Superior shore
The Lake Superior shoreThe far shore fading into the weather.
The Lake Superior shore
The Lake Superior shoreThe long, empty beach at Grand Marais.
The Lake Superior shore
The Lake Superior shoreLake Superior stretching out past the sandbar.
The Lake Superior shore
The Lake Superior shoreShallow, warm water over rippled sand.
The Lake Superior shore
The Lake Superior shoreStorm clouds piling up over the big lake.
The Lake Superior shore
The Lake Superior shoreA sandspit reaching out into the blue.
Munising — brews & shipwrecks
Munising — brews & shipwrecksThe Great Unicorn — a local brew in Munising.
Munising — brews & shipwrecks
Munising — brews & shipwrecksA loaded pizza after a day on the water.
Munising — brews & shipwrecks
Munising — brews & shipwrecksBy George Brewing's unicorn can, the local color.

Day 4

Sun 6 Jul

Munising — brews & shipwrecks

Munising — brews & shipwrecks
Munising — brews & shipwrecksPeering down at a shipwreck through the glass-bottom boat.
Munising — brews & shipwrecks
Munising — brews & shipwrecksGreen Lake Superior water over a century-old wreck.

Where we wandered