Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore - Kayaking at Pictured Rocks (U.S. National Park Service)

For Your Safety	Kayaking site bulletin (text) - pdf
Backpacking	Kayaking site bulletin (map) - pdf
Boating	Leave No Trace site bulletin - pdf

Kayakers enjoying their day on Lake Superior. Grand Island is in the background.

NPS photo by Gregg Bruff

Kayak on Lake Superior

Miles of colorful sandstone cliffs from 50-200 feet high rising from directly from Lake Superior's rugged shoreline and long stretches of white sand beach invite kayakers to explore the beautiful Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore.

Within the national lakeshore, put-in points for kayaks are Sand Point, Miners Beach, Twelvemile Beach and Hurricane River. Additional put-in points in the Munising area include Grand Island Landing, Munising City Marina, Munising/Brown's Addition boat ramp, and the Anna River. In Grand Marais, you may launch at the Grand Marais harbor beach and marina.

Lake Superior is unpredictable! Kayakers must be prepared for cold temperatures, high winds, fog, and rough seas that may occur at any time. Be constantly alert to changing conditions and should consult the current before starting any trip (NOAA 1-906-475-5212 or Marine Band Radio Channel 16).

A backcountry camping permit is required for overnight stays at Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. Reservations are possible, and there is a fee for backcountry camping. Pets are not permitted in the lakeshore's backcountry.

Campgrounds easiest to identify from Lake Superior are Mosquito Beach, Chapel Beach, Beaver Creek, and Sevenmile Creek. Other campgrounds (Coves, Pine Bluff, Benchmark, and Au Sable Point East) have special markers -- three wood posts at beach level -- to identify them from the water. Backcountry campgrounds NOT accessible from Lake Superior are Cliffs, Potato Patch, Coves group site, Trappers Lake, and Masse Homestead.

Front country drive-in campgrounds also accessible by kayak from Lake Superior are Twelvemile Beach and lower Hurricane River. These campgrounds are first-come, first-serve only; no reservations.

For your safety ...
Sea kayaks ride low in the water and are difficult for other boaters to see. Consider using a brightly colored kayak.

The Pictured Rocks cliffs extend for 15 miles and include sheer walls all the way to the water line. These exposed cliffs offer no way off the water if wind and waves increase.

Be aware of boat tours that leave Munising on a regular basis during the summer months. They run fairly close to the shoreline with a turnaround point at Chapel Beach. Give them plenty of room.

Most storm systems come from the northwest -- you are fully exposed to the winds when paddling on Lake Superior. There are no protected anchorages at any backcountry or front country campgrounds.

Hypothermia occurs when your body's core temperature is reduced below normal levels. Cold water conducts heat away from your body 25 times faster than cold air. Uncontrollable shaking, slurred speech, or difficulty moving are all warning signs -- you must be warmed immediately. If submerged in Lake Superior, it is important to conserve body heat to increase your chances for survival. Wear your flotation device, huddle with others or pull legs together and up to your chest to help conserve heat. Do not attempt to swim long distances.

Wet or dry suits are recommended due to Lake Superior's cold water. U.S. Coast Guard approved Personal Flotation Devices (PFD) are required for each person.

Be prepared with provisions for at least one extra day. In your gear, include a first aid kit, emergency signal device, self-contained stove, an extra paddle, compass, maps, insect repellant, tow line, rain gear, waterproof matches, and dry storage containers.

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