Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore

A couple of weeks ago, the New York Times had an article proposing five alternative, less crowded national protected lands to consider in place of some of the most visited national parks. Their proposed substitution for Acadia National Park in Maine: Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore in Michigan.

Last summer we spent three days on Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. We rented an Airbnb in Marquette, a college town (home of Northern Michigan University), and a terrific base for a family vacation in the UP.

One day we drove 40 minutes east to Munising and took a 2.5 hour boat ride with Pictured Rocks Cruises and saw the lakeshore from the waters of Lake Superior. Written into federal law in 1966 and opened in 1972, Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore was the first National Lakeshore. It is named for the 15 miles of cliffs rising out of the lake but the full park is over 71,000 acres of land. If our girls had been older, we would have considered the spectacular option of seeing the lakeshore from a kayak; there are a number of companies that offer different types of paddling packages. 

The lakeshore is nothing less than stunning. Sandstone cliffs display layer upon layer of geologic time while mineral seepage creates the multitude of colors that give the “pictured rocks” their name – red and orange from iron, green and blue from copper, black from manganese and white from limonite. The cliffs have been shaped over millions of years by land, water and wind resulting in varied formations – arches, caves and edges that look carved with specific force and intent.

There is one particular sandstone outcropping that has gathered attention for decades. It is known as Chapel Rock. The rock pillar has stood away from the mainland shore since 1940 when the natural rock bridge that once attached it collapsed. On top of the pillar there is a singular, steadfast pine tree standing proud. Get closer and you will see that the tree remains connected to the mainland by its root system. The sight has tremendous impact both visually and emotionally: The strength and endurance, but also fragility, of nature all bound up together.