Located near Munising in the Upper Peninsula, 330 mi/530 km northwest of Detroit, the Pictured Rocks Lakeshore is a remarkable landscape of high cliffs along Lake Superior that is unlike anything else in Michigan. The name comes from the rich colors of the rocks. Sand Point Beach is considered one of the top summer beaches in the U.S.
There is no road along the most scenic section of the lakeshore, so you'll have to choose between hiking the coastal trail (campsites are available for overnight outings), taking a boat tour from Munising or making a sea-kayaking excursion. Going by boat or kayak is probably the best way to see colorful rocks, but the hiking trail is also excellent, running atop the cliffs and descending to secluded camping areas that are often located where streams flow out into the lake. Scuba-diving trips can be arranged in Munising to visit the Alger Underwater Preserve, which contains colorful sea life and several shipwrecks.
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