Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore is a National Lakeshore in Michigan. This guide combines the park's official information with computed sunrise, sunset and Milky Way times, satellite climate data and 14 photo locations inside or next to the park.
Best photo spots in Pictured Rocks
We matched 14 named overlooks, waterfalls, peaks and other features to Pictured Rocks. Each has its own page with sun directions and a monthly golden hour table.
Waterfalls (6)
Waterfall
Waterfall
Waterfall
Waterfall
Waterfall
WaterfallNatural Arches (1)
Rock Formations (1)
Beaches (2)
Lighthouses (1)
Sand Dunes (2)
Wilderness Areas (1)
Sunrise, sunset & golden hour
At Pictured Rocks the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 54° (NE) at the June solstice and 124° (SE) in late December. Sunset moves from 307° (NW) in June to 236° (SW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 67° in summer but only 20° in winter.
| Month (15th) | Sunrise | Golden hour ends | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Sunset az. | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 8:26 AM | 9:14 AM | 4:36 PM | 5:25 PM | 240° | 8h 59m |
| February | 7:50 AM | 8:33 AM | 5:28 PM | 6:11 PM | 253° | 10h 21m |
| March | 7:59 AM | 8:39 AM | 7:11 PM | 7:51 PM | 268° | 11h 52m |
| April | 6:59 AM | 7:39 AM | 7:52 PM | 8:33 PM | 285° | 13h 34m |
| May | 6:12 AM | 6:56 AM | 8:29 PM | 9:13 PM | 299° | 15h 00m |
| June | 5:52 AM | 6:39 AM | 8:54 PM | 9:41 PM | 306° | 15h 48m |
| July | 6:08 AM | 6:53 AM | 8:50 PM | 9:36 PM | 303° | 15h 28m |
| August | 6:44 AM | 7:26 AM | 8:15 PM | 8:57 PM | 292° | 14h 13m |
| September | 7:24 AM | 8:04 AM | 7:19 PM | 7:59 PM | 275° | 12h 35m |
| October | 8:03 AM | 8:45 AM | 6:19 PM | 7:00 PM | 259° | 10h 57m |
| November | 7:48 AM | 8:34 AM | 4:27 PM | 5:13 PM | 244° | 9h 25m |
| December | 8:23 AM | 9:14 AM | 4:08 PM | 4:59 PM | 236° | 8h 36m |
Computed for the park's reference point (46.5644, -86.3163); large parks span several minutes of difference.
Milky Way & dark skies
From Pictured Rocks, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from April through August. June gives the longest window (about 2.5 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 15° above the southern horizon. Our light-pollution model puts the sky at about Bortle 1 (excellent dark-sky site), which is excellent for astrophotography.
| Month | Core visible (15th) | Hours | Max altitude |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| February | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| March | 6:02 AM – 6:12 AM | 0.2 | 11° |
| April | 4:04 AM – 5:04 AM | 1.0 | 14° |
| May | 1:59 AM – 3:49 AM | 1.8 | 15° |
| June | 12:29 AM – 2:59 AM | 2.5 | 15° |
| July | 12:07 AM – 1:47 AM | 1.7 | 15° |
| August | 10:57 PM – 11:47 PM | 0.8 | 13° |
| September | 9:42 PM – 9:42 PM | 0.0 | 11° |
| October | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| November | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| December | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
1 Estimated Bortle 1 — Excellent dark-sky site. The Milky Way casts faint shadows; zodiacal light and airglow are obvious.
Weather & best time to visit
Summers are pleasant with the average highs in June, July, and August in the 70s°F, and lows in the low 50s°F. The coldest months are December through March with average highs of 25°F to 32°F, and average lows in the teens. Annual precipitation averages 31 inches; average annual snowfall is about 140 inches, although winters with more than 200 inches are not uncommon. Snow generally covers the ground from late November through late April.
Weather overview: National Park Service.
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show September as the clearest month (about 68% average cloud cover) and January as the cloudiest (81%). August is the warmest month and February the coldest, which matters for gear, snow access and how long batteries last at night.
Average cloud cover (%)
Average high (°F)
Photography permits, drones & fees
Permits. Under federal law (54 U.S.C. 100905), still photography in National Park Service areas needs a permit only when it (1) takes place where members of the public are not allowed, (2) uses models, sets or props that are not part of the location's natural or cultural resources or administrative facilities, or (3) would cause the park to incur additional administrative costs to monitor the activity. Ordinary visitor and most landscape photography needs no permit. Commercial filming rules are separate and have changed in recent years — confirm current requirements with the park before a paid shoot.
Drones. Launching, landing or operating unmanned aircraft (drones) is prohibited in National Park Service units under a 2014 Superintendent's closure (36 CFR 1.5), except where a park has issued specific written approval. Flying from outside the boundary over park land can also violate park rules and disturb wildlife.
| Entrance fee | Cost (USD) |
|---|---|
| Entrance - Private Vehicle | $25.00 |
| Entrance - Motorcycle | $20.00 |
| Entrance - Snowmobile | $15.00 |
| Entrance - Per Person | $15.00 |
Fees as published by the NPS when this page was built — confirm on nps.gov before you go.
Getting there
Pictured Rocks NL is located on the south shore of Lake Superior in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, between the towns of Munising (west) and Grand Marais (east). Access the west side of the park via Michigan highways M-28 and M-94 to Munising. State highway M-77 leads to Grand Marais on the east side. Alger County Road H-58 runs parallel and through the park, providing access to spur roads that lead to scenic overlooks, trailheads, campgrounds, beaches, etc. Most park roads are closed in winter due to snow.
Directions: National Park Service.
Activities
- Auto and ATV
- Scenic Driving
- Astronomy
- Stargazing
- Biking
- Road Biking
- Boating
- Motorized Boating
- Jet Skiing
- Boat Tour
- Camping
- Backcountry Camping
- Canoe or Kayak Camping
- Car or Front Country Camping
- Group Camping
- RV Camping
- Climbing
- Ice Climbing
- Fishing
- Freshwater Fishing
- Fly Fishing
- Food
- Picnicking
- Guided Tours
