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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.

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