Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore
In A Nutshell
Operating Hours & Seasons
Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore is open year-round, 24 hours day, though many roads are closed by snow in the winter. There is no entrance fee.
Four Seasons to Enjoy
There is no particular "best" season to visit the Lakeshore for each has its own charm and variety of activities. In the spring, wild flowers bloom in great profusion to add to the beauty of the natural area. The summer brings pleasantly warm weather and abundant sunshine. Autumn boasts a colorful display as the hardwood forest changes color. A mantle of snow sets the stage for winter activities.
Operating Hours - Visitor Centers
The Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore - Hiawatha National Forest Interagency Visitor Center is open year round, Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (closed Sundays and holidays). It is open daily from Memorial Day weekend through mid-September with extended operating hours.
The Grand Sable Visitor Center, Munising Falls Interpretive Center, and Miners Castle Information Center are open from Memorial Day to Labor Day, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Park headquarters at Sand Point in Munising is open year round, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, but closed on federal holidays.
Environmental Factors
The lakeshore is located approximately 46 degrees north latitude and 86 degrees west longitude. The coldest months average well below 0°C (32°F) and the warmer months about 22°C (70°F).
Lake Superior greatly ameliorates temperature extremes, slowing spring warming and the onset of winter. The average date of the last freezing temperature in spring is June 8, and the average first fall freeze is September 23; however, freezing can occur during any month. The freeze-free period, or growing season, averages 107 days annually.
The big lake's presence also increases precipitation in the lakeshore. Annual precipitation averages 79 cm (31 inches); annual snowfall is 320 cm (126 inches). Snow generally covers the ground from late November through late April.
The area is within the second-most cloudy region of the United States, characterized by an annual mean cloud cover of 70 percent. Much of the cloudiness occurs in autumn and winter and can be attributed to cool air flowing over Lake Superior being warmed along the shore and forming clouds. This condition also often results in rain, fog, and snow. Spring is relatively clear due to the cold water surface of the lake.
The prevailing wind is from the west, with average velocities ranging from 12 to 15 kilometers per hour (7 to 9 mph). High winds and storm conditions on Lake Superior are not uncommon. The highest recorded one-minute wind speed is 98 kilometers per hour (59 mph).
Pictured Rocks In Depth
News from the Parks
State Pushing its Plan to Thin Federal Elk Herd
January 7, 2009 - 3:39pm
Unhappy with federal alternatives, the State Game and Fish Department is pushing its own plan to thin an overpopulated elk herd at North Dakota's Theodore Roosevelt National Park.
January 7, 2009 - 3:39pm
Unhappy with federal alternatives, the State Game and Fish Department is pushing its own plan to thin an overpopulated elk herd at North Dakota's Theodore Roosevelt National Park.
Northwestern Hawaiian Isles Might Met U.N. Designation
January 7, 2009 - 3:11pm
The Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands could become the second United Nations World Heritage site in Hawaii, joining Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.
January 7, 2009 - 3:11pm
The Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands could become the second United Nations World Heritage site in Hawaii, joining Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.
Full Slate of Activities this Month at Saguaro National Park
January 7, 2009 - 3:09pm
A series of programs are under way at Saguaro National Park. Explore the natural and cultural history of the park. Come along on a naturalist-led evening walk or join a local expert for a presentation in the visitor center. Programs will be offered at both districts. There is no charge for interpretive programs, but park entrance fees apply.
January 7, 2009 - 3:09pm
A series of programs are under way at Saguaro National Park. Explore the natural and cultural history of the park. Come along on a naturalist-led evening walk or join a local expert for a presentation in the visitor center. Programs will be offered at both districts. There is no charge for interpretive programs, but park entrance fees apply.
Park Service Rolls Out Bike Sharing
January 7, 2009 - 3:08pm
About 300 National Park Service employees have the opportunity to get around D.C. in an environmentally-friendly way. In a one-year demo program between the NPS and Lousiville, Ky.-based Humana Inc., the health-benefit company is giving 30 bikes to NPS employees to help them cut down on auto gas emissions.
January 7, 2009 - 3:08pm
About 300 National Park Service employees have the opportunity to get around D.C. in an environmentally-friendly way. In a one-year demo program between the NPS and Lousiville, Ky.-based Humana Inc., the health-benefit company is giving 30 bikes to NPS employees to help them cut down on auto gas emissions.
A Plan for Stimulus Money: National Parks
January 7, 2009 - 3:05pm
There are any number of things that could be done with the upcoming, huge stimulus package to put Americans back to work and and improve infrastructure. About $2.5 billion of that could go to our national parks, says the National Parks Conservation Association, and they have a plan.
January 7, 2009 - 3:05pm
There are any number of things that could be done with the upcoming, huge stimulus package to put Americans back to work and and improve infrastructure. About $2.5 billion of that could go to our national parks, says the National Parks Conservation Association, and they have a plan.
