Munising, MI - Pictured Rocks, Dunes, Log Slide

One of only four national lakeshores, PRNL is 42 miles long on Lake Superior's coast with more than just the 15 miles of vibrantly colored cliffs. Today, we explored the 5 miles of massive and ancient sand dunes, a waterfall (of course!), some forests and boardwalk trails, and a lighthouse.

Our first stop was the Log Slide Overlook Trail. In the 1900s, cities were growing and needed lumber. (By 1920, the timber supply was depleted, so this logging boom was short-lived). Loggers built a long wooden chute on the 500-foot dune slope to slide logs down into Lake Superior where they could be floated to saw mills in Grand Marais. Fast-moving logs sometimes caught the wooden chute on fire, or worse, out-of-control logs injured or killed workers. I guess that is why it was called, "The Devil's Slide". We trudged through deep, soft sand a short distance to the overlook. Pictures couldn't really capture the steepness of the slope!

Our 2nd stop was Great Sable Dunes. Sable means "sand" in French. The Great Sable Dunes are a rare kind of dune called a "perched dune", found in only a few places worldwide. Since heat radiating off the dunes causes intense fog, this part of the lake is treacherous. Hence the nearby Au Sable Lighthouse, still in use. Just to the East, Sable Falls cascades 75 feet over stone ledges and boulders as it flows to Lake Superior. The Sable Falls Trail is mostly boardwalk and 168 steps through scenic forest to the beach.

Our last point of interest was Miner's Castle Overlook Trail with 2 viewing platforms. This famous rock formation is an iconic part of PRNL, best viewed from the lake, but the overlooks from above the rocks was also dramatic.Read more