Porch Notes
America's First National Lakeshore Is in the U.P. — and the Cliffs Are Painted by Minerals
Outdoors
Long before there were “national lakeshores,” there was a stretch of Lake Superior coast so beautiful that people had marveled at it for centuries. In 1966, Congress made Pictured Rocks — northeast of Munising in the Upper Peninsula — the first national lakeshore in the United States. President Lyndon Johnson signed it into being on October 15, 1966.
The name comes from about 15 miles of sandstone cliffs that rise up to 200 feet straight out of the water — and they really do look painted. The colors aren’t paint, of course: they’re mineral stains. As groundwater seeps out of the rock and evaporates, it leaves streaks of iron (red), manganese (black and white), limonite (yellow-brown), and copper (pink-green). Over the ages, waves and ice carved the cliffs into arches, caves, and shapes like castle turrets — including the famous Miners Castle.
The park stretches about 42 miles along the shore and packs in waterfalls, dunes, beaches, and forests. The best way to see the painted cliffs is from the water, by boat cruise or kayak.
Where to see it
Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, with visitor centers in Munising and near Grand Marais, is open year-round and run by the National Park Service. Boat cruises and guided kayak tours operate from Munising from late spring through fall.