Michigan | Kayaking Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore

 

The idea to drive up and through Michigan’s Upper Peninsula was a last minute decision. I had been visiting family in Chicago when I booked an engagement session at Sleeping Bear Dunes near Traverse City, MI. Ultimately, I planned to head over to Door County, Wisconsin to finish off my summer break with a cabin getaway off the lake and decided to take a giant scenic route up the Michigan and Wisconsin coasts. As I talked about my plans with family, they told me about the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore up by Munising. The pictures looked nice and I was looking for any excuse to kayak and take photos, so I decided to check it out. Many hours later, after driving through Traverse City, driving over the Mackinac bridge, and waving hello to Mackinac Island, I arrived in the UP and set up camp at Grand Marais.

I let my kayak in at Miner’s Beach right in the heart of Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore- which is right between Munising and Grand Marais. As I kayaked around Miners Castle and East along the Pictured Rocks I realized that this whole experience was even cooler than I had expected. I’me glad I had kayaks- although there are many scenic boat tours, none of them really get close enough to appreciate the intense color of the rocks. It really looked like someone just took a paintbrush all over the rocks to create a work of art. It was magnificent. We kayaked all the way down to Lover’s Leap – a cool natural archway- before deciding to head back. It was a grey and drizzly day, but there were plenty of other kayak tours and individuals on the water with me. In total, I kayaked 11 miles and took who knows how many photographs. Here are a few of my favorites. If you’re ever traveling through the Michigan UP, I highly recommend making a stop here!

Thanks for reading ~ Shelley Hartman, Michigan + Destination Wedding Photographer