Fourteen small backcountry campgrounds string along roughly 40 miles of Lake Superior shoreline inside Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, spaced two to five miles apart along the North Country Trail. Each site is designated and requires advance registration, so there is no showing up and picking a spot. The terrain shifts considerably from one end of the park to the other: forested cliff-edge sites like Cliffs, lakefront sites with direct beach access like Coves, and wooded inland sites like Lowney Creek, which sits on the shore of Beaver Lake and provides water for filtering. The eastern half of the park sees noticeably less foot traffic than the western section near Chapel.
What campers actually encounter on the trail varies by segment. The route moves through young forest, older-growth valleys, open dunes, and cliff edges with open sightlines over Lake Superior. Wildlife sightings, including blue herons, loons, and toads, are regularly noted by visitors. Mosquitoes are a real factor at several sites, particularly at Potato Patch and wooded spots like Lowney Creek site four. Anna C. notes that the Cliffs site provides "shielding from the wind, which are quite the amenities when visiting the shoreline in early spring or fall." Weather on the lake shifts fast, and a rain layer is worth packing regardless of the forecast.
Shared amenities at most sites include a fire ring, bear box or food pole, and a backcountry toilet. Cliffs has no reliable water source at camp, though small seasonal streams exist closer than the Miners Castle visitor center. Coves requires a short hike down a dune to reach Lake Superior, which reviewers describe as a usable swimming and water-filtering source. Shuttles are available at several trailheads for point-to-point trips, and Little Beaver Lake Campground serves as a drive-in alternative for those who want lake access without the full backpacking commitment.
Cleanliness is a recurring concern in reviews. Multiple visitors report finding toilet paper and waste along trail corridors and at campsite perimeters, even at sites with pit toilets. Leave No Trace compliance varies widely among the user base here. Reservations cannot be modified once booked, and campers must stay at the registered site, so accurate mileage planning matters before finalizing any itinerary. No pets are allowed. For tent camping outside Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, options exist in the surrounding region if a backcountry permit is unavailable or the route doesn't fit your timeline.
Book well ahead for summer weekends, particularly for sites on the western end of the park, and bring bug spray rated for heavy use if traveling in July or August.
Description
Overview
Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore hugs the Lake Superior shoreline for more than 40 miles along Michigan's northern coast. Lake Superior is the largest, deepest, coldest, and most pristine of all the Great Lakes. In addition to boating and kayaking on the lake, the park's backcountry offers nearly 100 miles of walking and hiking trails and opportunities for solitude, inspiration, physical challenge, renewal, and camping. Access to Pictured Rocks' backcountry is primarily along the 'Lakeshore Trail', a part of the 42-mile long North Country National Scenic Trail where you can experience forests, dunes, beaches, waterfalls and wonderful panoramic views.__Please download the Backcountry Camping Planner form the park website for complete details. The backcountry campgrounds are accessed by hiking or kayaking only. A backcountry camping permit is required year-round for all overnight trips into the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore backcountry. Permits are not required for day hiking. To assist in planning an overnight backcountry trip into Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, take time to carefully plan and prepare for your adventure. Pictured Rocks offers fourteen backcountry campgrounds, that are located at 2 to 5 mile intervals along the Lakeshore Trail. Private shuttle services are available._The permit holder must print and retain one copy of the permit when hiking to the campground; permit must be visibly secured to tent at campsite. You will be assigned a campsite number at every backcountry campground. Permit holder may have only one permit reserved at one time. Camp only in designated sites and follow permit itinerary. You must camp within 15 feet (4.5 m) of the numbered post at your chosen campsite. Individual campsites are available for groups of 1-6 people, and 3 tents or hammocks maximum (or a combination thereof). Group sites are available for groups of 7-20 people, and 10 tents or hammocks maximum (or a combination thereof). Group campsite reservations must camp in designated group sites. Each campground has a specific capacity; campsites within each backcountry campground are identified by a numbered post.
Recreation
Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore offers 100 miles (161 km) of hiking trails leading to waterfalls, beaches, forest wilderness, cultural sites, and breathtaking cliff-top views of Lake Superior. Whether you have only a few minutes, hours, or days to see a portion of the lakeshore, one of these hikes may be for you. Lake Superior's rugged shoreline invites individuals to explore the beautiful Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore with its miles of colorful sandstone cliffs and long stretches of sandy beaches. Watch the weather carefully while on the lake. The weather can change suddenly and unexpectedly. Just because it's calm in Munising Bay or Grand Marais Harbor does not mean it is calm along the more distant shores. The Pictured Rocks cliffs rise 50 to 200 feet (15 to 61 m) directly from the lake, offering precious few protected places if the wind and waves increase.
Facilities
Backcountry camping is spread across the National Lakeshore. Facilities are entirely primitive and located in the most remote regions of our park. There are 72 available backcountry campsites. 7 of these campsites are group campsites. Only one of these sites are a designated "boat-in" campsite. All campsites have food storage boxes on-site. Please store all food in these containers to protect from wildlife. All campsites are located along the North Country Trail, spanning only a small portion of the entire trail length. Pack in, pack out. There are no designated trash disposal areas at these campsites. There is no electricy or hookups located along the North Country Trail and backcountry campsites. There is no potable water located along the North Country Trail. A reminder to bring items to sanitize any lake or stream water for safe consumption. Certain parts of the North Country Trail are located along frontcountry camping. These campgrounds will have vault toilets for public use.
Natural Features
Sandstone cliffs, beaches, sand dunes, waterfalls, inland lakes, deep forest, and wild shoreline beckon you to visit Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. The power of Lake Superior shapes the park's coastal features and affects every ecosystem, creating a unique landscape to explore. Hiking, camping, sightseeing, and four-season outdoor opportunities abound!
Charges & Cancellations
Cancellation Policy: Prior to printing your permit, you may cancel any time before your reservation date and receive a 50% refund of all backcountry camping permit fees ($5 per person, per night). The $15 reservation fee is non-refundable. If you have printed your permit, there are no refunds. Change Policy:Prior to printing your permit, you may make changes to your permit before your reservation date. Changes may be made to the group size, campground, and the duration of your trip. An additional $15 non-refundable fee will be charged for changes.Changes may be made to the group size through your Recreation.gov account or through the Call Center and may incur additional backcountry camping permit fees or be refunded these fees depending on whether you increase or decrease your group size. If decreasing your numbers, you will receive a full refund of the backcountry camping permit fees for the numbers you are decreasing only. A change to the duration of the trip or campground may only be made through the Call Center. For changes to the duration of the trip, you may incur additional backcountry camping permit fees or be refunded these fees depending on whether you increase or decrease your number of nights. If decreasing your numbers, you will receive a full refund of the backcountry camping permit fees for the numbers you are decreasing only.To change your entry date, you must cancel your permit and reserve a new permit. All fees apply. No Show Policy: If you do not print your permit by 11:59 p.m. on the first day of your scheduled trip, your entire backcountry camping permit will be canceled. No refunds. Please cancel your reservation if you are unable to use it to open space for others.
Fee Info
Reservation Fee: $15 non-refundable reservation fee is required for each permit reserved. Backcountry Camping Permit Fee: $5 per person/per night. Children 5 and under are free.Entrance Fee: Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore charges an entrance fee separate from reservation and camping permit fees. You may pay the fee if you stop at the visitor center or purchase in advance. The park also honors Federal interagency passes (e.g., annual, senior, access, 4th grade, Golden Age pass etc.).
RV Road Trip Guides
Map & DirectionsPictured Rocks National Lakeshore Backcountry Sites is located in Michigan near Grand Marais
Directions
https://www.nps.gov/piro/planyourvisit/directions.htm
Address
PO Box 40
Munising, MI 49862
Coordinates
46.5622222 N
86.305125 W
Connectivity
T-MobileNo Coverage- VerizonNo Coverage
- AT&TNo Coverage
Connectivity
- T-MobileNo Coverage
- VerizonNo Coverage
- AT&TNo Coverage
Access
- Drive-InPark next to your site
- Walk-InPark in a lot, walk to your site.
- Hike-InBackcountry sites.
- Boat-InSites accessible by watercraft.
Site Types
- Tent Sites
- Group
Features
For Campers
- Phone Service
- Reservable
- Toilets
- Alcohol
- Fires
Drive Time
- 3 hrs 30 min from Green Bay, WI
- 3 hrs 50 min from Appleton, WI
- 4 hrs 24 min from Traverse City, MI
- 4 hrs 41 min from Wausau, WI
