Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore

Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore in Munising, Michigan, was the first National Lakeshore established in the United States when it was created in 1966. Stretching for more than 40 miles along the southern shore of Lake Superior, it preserves a remarkable landscape of colorful sandstone cliffs, secluded beaches, waterfalls, forests, sand dunes, and crystal-clear water.

Erin and I visited Pictured Rocks during one of our summer trips through Michigan. While the overlooks from land are beautiful, we decided to take one of the boat cruises along the shoreline. It quickly became apparent why so many visitors recommend seeing the park from the water. The towering cliffs, sea caves, arches, and rock formations can only be fully appreciated from Lake Superior, where centuries of wind, waves, and ice have sculpted the shoreline into one of the Midwest’s most spectacular landscapes.

The cliffs take their name from the colorful mineral stains left by groundwater seeping through the sandstone. Iron creates shades of red and orange, copper produces blues and greens, manganese leaves black streaks, and limonite creates whites and yellows. Together they form natural paintings across the face of the cliffs, giving the park its distinctive name.

One of the things that impressed me most was the clarity and color of Lake Superior. Depending on the light, the water changed from deep blue to brilliant turquoise, making it hard to believe we were looking across one of the world’s largest freshwater lakes rather than an ocean coastline.

As our boat slowly followed the shoreline, I found myself appreciating the power of nature to shape the landscape over thousands of years. Every cliff, arch, and sea cave told the story of water, wind, and time working together. Pictured Rocks is one of those places that reminds us of some of America’s most beautiful coastlines are found not along the ocean, but beside the vast inland seas of the Great Lakes.