Overlooking Lake Superior’s South Bay, Munising is a small city on the edge of the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. It’s a convenient base for exploring the area’s waterfalls, beaches and hiking trails and is a launching point for boat tours to Grand Island.
Things to do in Munising
A highlight of staying in Munising is visiting Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, which is named after the multicoloured cliffs that dominate the landscape. Follow the hiking trail that leads to Twelvemile Beach and admire the unique sandstone formations of Chapel Rock and the Miner’s Castle. Be sure to admire the whitewashed tower of the Au Sable Light, which has watched over the coastline since 1874.
One of the main attractions within the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore is Munising Falls, which tumbles 15 metres over a sandstone cliff in the west of the park. Visit the Munising Falls Visitor Center to learn about the natural and cultural history of the area, then stretch your legs on the hiking trail that leads to viewpoints surrounding falls. The waterfall is particularly special in the winter when it freezes to form an ice column.
Several shipwrecks litter the lake floor surrounding Munising and one of the best ways to see them is on board a glass-bottom boat tour. Learn about the history of shipping on Lake Superior as you gaze down at a pre-Civil War wooden sailing ship, then spot bald eagles soaring in the sky above from the deck.
Getting around Munising
Munising is around 45 minutes’ drive from Marquette and just under two hours from Sault Ste. Marie. Sawyer International Airport is 45 minutes away and has regular flights to Chicago, Detroit and Minneapolis-St. Paul. Buses connect Munising with towns and cities across Michigan and travel throughout the city.