Michigan borders more of North America’s Great Lakes than any other state, a geographical perk that affords it gorgeous beaches and shorelines rivaling America’s Atlantic and Pacific coasts. Due to its much larger population and greater geographic accessibility, Michigan’s Lower Peninsula gets most of the attention. However, the less-visited Upper Peninsula is a much more pristine and immersive Great Lakes destination, boasting charming small towns, amazing outdoor excursions, and some of the best lakeside views in the country. Upper Peninsula parks offer gorgeous adventures on both land and in the water, including some of the Midwest’s most scenic hikes. One particular Upper Peninsula trail that should rank high on any trekker’s bucket list, touted by some as the “hike of a lifetime,” is the Chapel Loop in Michigan’s ethereal Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore.
Pictured Rocks is arguably the crown jewel of the Upper Peninsula’s outstanding Great Lakes beauty. Protected and administered by the National Park Service, Pictured Rocks is close to the Upper Peninsula’s pristine and breathtaking paradise of Munising. As an outdoor destination, Pictured Rocks contains virtually everything that makes Michigan’s Great Lakes shores so beautiful, from picturesque lakeside cliffs to serene beaches, and even enchanting waterfalls. And while you’d have a hard time finding a trail in Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore that doesn’t include amazing scenery, the Chapel Loop Trail is your best bet for experiencing the best the park has to offer in one unforgettable hike.
An unforgettable tour along many of the best sights in Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore
Michigan has some truly incredible outdoor destinations, from the remote wilderness of Isle Royale National Park to the underrated yet scenic paradise of Bois Blanc Island. Yet Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore may have them all beat when it comes to picture-perfect views and fantastic lakeside experiences. Much of the park’s 42 miles of shoreline along the Lake Superior coast features eye-catching beaches, immense dunes, and lovely lakeside forests. However, the park’s defining feature is undoubtedly its epic, sandstone cliffs, many of which reach heights as high as 200 feet above the water!
The Chapel Loop Trail is an excellent way to experience many of Pictured Rocks’ top sights in a single day. From the parking area, the trail follows a roughly 10-mile loop through the park’s lovely forest region and out across the Lake Superior shoreline. During the first section of the hike, you will pass by Mosquito Falls, arguably the most beautiful inland falls in the park. Once you get to the lake itself, you’ll be treated to expansive views of the park’s famed lakeside cliffs and unique rock formations at the scenic Grand Portal Point.
After you’ve gotten enough pictures, you can move on to Chapel Beach, famed for its charming bluffs and bright sand. Here, you can also get great shots of the famed Chapel Rock, a tall and complex sandstone pillar carved by wind and water erosion, and bearing a single white pine tree. If you bring your swim gear, Chapel Beach is also a great place to go swimming and cool off after a long hike. Following the lakeside jaunt, Chapel Loop concludes with a journey past Chapel Falls, another one of the park’s loveliest waterfalls.
A stunning display of Lake Michigan’s ancient beauty
