One of Ancient Greece’s first philosophers, Thales, theorized water was the source of all natural phenomena — a groundbreaking conception at the time. Since school’s out for summer, however, let’s skip philosophy class and dive into a lesson about how water sources abundant experiences and activities here in Munising.
Summer pours aquatic activities into the home of the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore as itineraries brim with everything from kayaking, waterfall hikes, boat tours, relaxing beach days, scuba diving and more. As the season heats up, Munising shines like a lighthouse to visitors embarking for a reservoir of rejuvenating recreation and relaxation. Between the splendor of Pictured Rocks, the might of Lake Superior and the enchantment of waterfalls, Munising can inspire anyone to determine that everything — or at least their summer itinerary — is all about water.
If you’re looking to shore up a Munising itinerary that highlights how to refreshingly receive a fill of aquatic adventure and tranquility in the area, we’ve got a quick primer for you below.
Camera-Ready Rocks
Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore typically tops any Munising itinerary with its captivating 50- to 200-foot sandstone cliffs towering over Lake Superior. Pops of red, orange, blue, green, brown, black and white all display along a 15-mile stretch of Pictured Rocks — though the entire National Lakeshore spans 42 miles. One of only four National Lakeshores, Pictured Rocks offers 12 miles of beaches, nearly 5 miles of massive sand dunes, several waterfalls and lighthouses. And that only encompasses the shoreline as the park also includes miles of hiking and biking trails, remote lakes, streams and forest.
The perspective from the water reveals a stunning viewpoint of the cliffs’ majesty, and you’ll discover plentiful boating and kayaking opportunities via rentals and tours in the area. Multiple put-in-points get you into the water to serenely paddle along the rugged lakeshore in awe of the vivid, imposing cliffs. With Lake Superior’s capricious water conditions, a kayak tour allows guides to expertly, and safely, navigate you along the shore. Varying in length and duration across all skill levels, tours also guarantee inspection of geologic formations — like Miners Castle, Chapel Rock, Painted Coves — that help compose Pictured Rocks’ striking elegance.
Paddling Michigan, Pictured Rocks Kayaking and Yooper Yachts are three available kayak outfitters in the area. Learn more about kayaking Pictured Rocks here.
If you prefer a no-paddling-required voyage to appreciate Pictured Rocks’ grandeur, numerous boating tours can transport you close to the expansive cliffs. Pictured Rocks Cruises comfortably delivers visitors breathtaking sights of the sandstone cliffs, beaches, sand dunes and waterfalls along the lakeshore. These boat tours are as educational as they are gripping. And if you really want to turn up the thrills, Riptide Ride combines beautiful scenery and breezy fun for a lively tour of the Grand Island coastline, near Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. The jet-propelled ride upon a Navy Seal vessel injects some speed on the tour as well as 360-degree spins adjacent to the island for sensational sights.
One Lake To Rule Them All
Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore deservedly captures widespread admiration but Lake Superior on its own astounds in both beauty and immensity. The largest freshwater lake in the world hosts numerous opportunities for aquatic entertainment and leisure. Miles of sandy pristine beaches provide the perfect environment for appreciating the wondrous Lake Superior. Several designated beaches are accessible in the area, though many people simply pull off the road and elect their own spot for a dip into the lake’s revitalizing waters. Among the designated beaches, Sand Point Beach garners acclaim as a popular beach for enjoying the water and watching sunsets. The Weather Channel even previously named it among the “Top Five Summer Beaches in America.”
Casting off into Lake Superior also reels in excitement. Boarding a boat for some fishing can lead to prized catches of trout, salmon and whitefish. Several charters are available in the area, and most captains even specialize in family fishing that results in a cooler full of trout or salmon.
But it’s not only fish that lurk below the cool, clean waters of Lake Superior. Michigan Shipwreck Tours out of Munising Bay offers a chance to observe boats that succumbed to the mighty lake before the turn of the century. A glass bottom boat floats travelers across the shipwrecks resting below transparent waters, highlighting how powerful Lake Superior can be. These shipwrecks reside in Alger Underwater Preserve, a sanctuary that also features sea caves. The preserve welcomes scuba divers seeking a closer examination of shipwrecks like The Bermuda (1870), Smith Moore (1889), Kiowa (1929) and more.
Where You Do Go Chasing Waterfalls
A deluge of waterfalls scattered throughout the area prompts an unforgettable adventure to behold cascading spectacles. Waterfalls flow through an array of gorgeous locations around Munising, from deep in the forest to right off the road to over sandstone cliffs in Pictured Rocks. Varying in size, each display a stirring scene worth chasing. Chapel Falls, for example, rewards travelers at the end of a one-mile trek with its 60-foot-high fall — and ambitious hikers can continue the same trail for another two miles to Chapel Rock and Lake Superior. Other waterfalls like Wagner Falls, meanwhile, can be viewed along a .1-mile path directly from the road.
Waterfall chasing in Munising fosters choose-your-own-adventure excursions, where visitors pair kayaking, hiking, biking, picnicking with their splashy sightseeing. All the above only touches the surface of the water-based exploration that awaits here. If you like water, then Munising is a tall glass that quenches any summertime thirst. Water may not be the originating principle of nature like Thales posited long ago, but it certainly keeps any summer itinerary in Munising afloat with memorable entertainment.
