Travels with Charley

The cool camping blog. Trying to find gear, supplies, adventure and activities for the 21st century camper.

Monday, June 06, 2005

Destination - Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore

If you have ventured into Michigan for summer camping vacations you probably know about Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. What you may not know much about is the other Michigan National Lakeshore, Pictured Rocks. This 40 mile long shoreline park has 15 miles of continuous sheer cliffs towering over the lake, with numerous little bays, beaches and inlets as well. It also includes 3 drive in and a dozen hike in campgrounds, literally about 100 miles of hiking trails and the opportunity to fish in some of the same waters as Hemingway. You can hike above the cliffs, or take a boat ride along them.

The natual beauty of this park is its charm. Munising is a LONG way from anywhere and the place has a little lost-in-time feel to it. You really begin to have the "get away from it all feeling" up there, and when the weather is nice, and warm, it is truly a special spot.

Other activities include glass bottom boat tours of shipwrecks (but not the Edmund Fitzgerald!), a kayaking symposium, and a day trip to Grand Island. You may also prefer the Michigan State Forests or the Hiawatha National forest for campsites. And hey, why not snowmobiling?!

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