Kayaking & Boating

 

Pontoon boat along the Pictured Rocks cliffs

NPS photo

Lake Superior's rugged shoreline invites pontoon and other boaters to explore the beautiful Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore with its miles of colorful sandstone cliffs and long stretches of sandy beaches. Peaceful inland lakes also invite boaters to linger in the northwoods.

(Visit the kayaking page for information about sea kayaking on Lake Superior).

Shallow boat ramps for canoes, recreational kayaks, and other small boats are located within the park at Little Beaver Lake and Grand Sable Lake. Boats may be launched into Lake Superior at the City of Munising's boat ramp a mile west of the town harbor on M-28. Burt Township maintains a boat ramp in Grand Marais harbor.

Know Before You Go!

Check the marine weather forecast before venturing out. Watch the weather carefully while on the lake. The weather can change suddenly and unexpectedly. Just because it's calm in Munising Bay or Grand Marais Harbor does not mean it is calm along the more distant shores.

The Pictured Rocks cliffs rise 50 to 200 feet directly from the lake, offering precious few protected places if the wind and waves increase. Also check local weather buoys for real-time data and video from the buoy cams at www.greatlakesbuoys.org

 

Do you have the right kind of boat?

Motorized Boats

Boats and motors of any size are permitted on Lake Superior. Horsepower is limited to 50 on Grand Sable Lake. Note: Only electric motors may be used on Little Beaver Lake and Beaver Lake in the Beaver Basin Wilderness.

Slow / no wake speed must be maintained within 100 feet of the shoreline, any watercraft, pier, person, raft, swimming area, and swimmers. Do not exceed your boat's carrying capacity.

An appropriate type and size personal flotation device (PFD) (life jacket) is required by law for each person on board any boat. In Michigan, all children under the age of 6 years old must wear a PFD while riding on the open deck of a vessel when it is underway. For more information on boating regulations, visit www.uscgboating.org.

 

Canoes & Kayaks

Sea kayaks are the only kayaks equipped to go on Lake Superior. Canoes and recreational kayaks should NOT be taken out on Lake Superior. Lake Superior can be rough, and small craft are easily swamped. Instead take your canoe or recreational kayak to one of the park's beautiful inland lakes: Beaver Lake, Little Beaver Lake, and Grand Sable Lake.

A sea kayak is a long, slim boat designed for coastal paddling. It is usually between 14.5 - 18 feet long, and between 18 to 24 inches wide. The deck (top) covers the entire boat except for a small opening (cockpit) in which the person sits. The cockpit has a raised lip around it that allows a paddler to utilize a spray skirt to help keep water out of the boat. Sea kayaks also have bulkheads to prevent water from flooding the entire boat. A sea kayak is the only type of kayak that should be used on Lake Superior.

A recreational or general purpose kayak is for the casual paddler on placid rivers, ponds, or small lakes. It is smaller than 14 feet long and has a larger opening for the paddler to sit in. The larger opening can make it easier for water to enter the boat, making these types of kayaks prone to swamping. Their shorter size also makes them prone to being pushed around in the wind and waves. Recreational kayaks should NOT be used on Lake Superior or used on windy days.

A canoe is an open boat that is wider than a kayak. Their height makes them hard to control in windy conditions on open water. Unless packed with flotation, they can also fill with water and more easily swamp. Canoes should NOT be used on Lake Superior!

If you are using a canoe or recreational kayak, consider paddling on island lakes or nearby rivers (such as the Au Train River west of the park). At Pictured Rocks NL, Little Beaver Lake, Beaver Lake, and Grand Sable Lake are easy to access by vehicle.

At Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, we have responded to many rescues where kayakers were ill-equipped or ill-informed. Occasionally, kayakers will be properly prepared, and Lake Superior will still overwhelm them. We implore anyone interested in kayaking Lake Superior to seriously consider the risks and to properly prepare before getting in the water. Even experienced kayakers have been overpowered by the lake.

Before you set out to kayak Lake Superior, ask yourself these questions:

• Do I have the proper kind of kayak?
• Do I have the required life jacket and whistle?
• Do I know the marine forecast?
• Am I completely prepared for the conditions?
• Did I tell others where I'm going?
• Can I save myself (and get back in my kayak from the water)?

(Inexperienced kayakers and those without their own kayaks can take a guided tour of the Pictured Rocks cliffs with authorized private companies. A list of authorized kayak and other commercial tour companies is on our Guided Tours page.)

Do you have the right safety equipment to go out paddling?

• PFD (Personal Flotation Device) / Life Jacket - required
• Whistle or Air Horn - required
• Wet Suit / Dry Suit (for paddling on Lake Superior and during cooler weather on other lakes)
• Spray Skirt (for paddling on Lake Superior)
• Paddle Float
• Bilge Pump
• Paddle Leash
• Marine Radio

2. Do you have the right safety equipment to go out paddling?

• PFD (Personal Flotation Device) / Life Jacket - required
• Whistle or Air Horn - required
• Wet Suit / Dry Suit (for paddling on Lake Superior and during cooler weather on other lakes)
• Spray Skirt (for paddling on Lake Superior)
• Paddle Float
• Bilge Pump
• Paddle Leash
• Marine Radio
  
  PFDs are required by law for each person. They should be worn at all times and not stowed away. Life jackets work while on. It is very difficult to put on a life jacket once in the water. 75% of canoe/kayak fatalities were not wearing life jackets. Don't be a statistic!
  
  A sound-producing device such as a whistle or air horn is also required by law. It must be audible for one half mile for 4 to 6 seconds. The device should be attached to you. Storing it in a bag in your boat will mean that it is not available in emergencies, such as when you are in the water needing to signal for help, or a motorboat is coming at you in the fog, or in high waves.

3. Can you save yourself?

Help is not a phone call away! You are on your own!

Cell phones may or may not work at Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. Even if you are able to get a 911 call out, help is still far away, 30 minutes at least. Rescue time of 60 to 90 minutes or longer is more likely. If the weather is very rough, no one will be able to respond until the weather calms down.

You need to be able to perform a self-rescue. Read, research on-line, take lessons. And then practice, practice, practice! Paddle with others. Make sure they know how to perform rescues too.

Always wear your life jacket! Wear a wetsuit. Cold water kills!

Leave a float plan with someone who cares about you. This includes information such as your name, type of boat and equipment used, and your planned route and schedule. Don't forget to tell them when you get back so they would know when to start searching.

Sea kayaks with a spray skirt, recommended equipment, the right skills, and good weather are what's needed for safe paddling on Lake Superior.

Alternative Places to Paddle

Your decision on where to go paddling should depend on your type of boat, experience level of each person in your group, and the weather. Several inland lakes offer great paddling for recreational kayaks. Good choices that have a boat launch include:

• Grand Sable Lake (within the park)

• Little Beaver Lake / Beaver Lake (within the park)

• Kingston Lake (Michigan State Forest Lake along Alger County Road H-58)

Launching Locations for Lake Superior

Personal sea kayaks can be carried from parking lots to Lake Superior at these park locations:

• Sand Point Beach
• Miners Beach (both west and east ends; requires use of medium staircase)
• Twelvemile Beach Campground and Day-Use Area (requires use of long staircase)
• Lower Hurricane River Campground and Day-Use Area (requires use of short staircase)

Kayak Camping

Kayak camping at water-accessible backcountry sites is allowed at Pictured Rocks. HOWEVER, we strongly suggest you speak to a park ranger about kayak camping rules, regulations, and safety considerations before planning a trip. See the Backcountry Camping Planner (pdf) for more kayak camping information. As with all backcountry camping, kayak camping requires a reservation and a permit. Only certain designated sites are available for camping by boat.

 

Sailboats & Paddleboards

Lake Superior

Small sailboats and paddleboards can be launched into Munising Bay at Sand Point Beach. Munising Bay is a good place for sailing and paddleboarding since it is generally a more sheltered area. Larger boats should use the municipal boat ramps listed above to enter Lake Superior.

Inland Lakes

Little Beaver Lake, Beaver Lake, and Grand Sable Lake are also suitable for small sailboats and paddleboards.

 

Personal Watercraft

Personal watercraft (PWC) such as jet skis may travel within the lakeshore from the western boundary near Sand Point to the eastern end of Miners Beach. PWC are not permitted elsewhere within the lakeshore's 1/4 mile offshore jurisdiction along the Lake Superior shoreline.

Due to horsepower restrictions, PWC are not allowed on inland lakes within Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore.

According to State of Michigan law, PWC must not operate from one hour before sunset to 8:00 am. When traveling within 200 feet of the shoreline, PWC must travel at a slow / no-wake speed perpendicular to the shoreline.

 

Water Skiing

Water skiing is authorized on Lake Superior and Grand Sable Lake in accordance with state and federal laws. On Grand Sable Lake, horsepower is limited to 50.

 

Other Regulations

Boats may pull up on beaches within the park, including beaches in the Beaver Basin Wilderness but pets are not allowed on beaches within the wilderness zone or any beaches east of Miners Beach to the western edge of Twelvemile Beach Campground. Pets are not allowed on Mosquito or Chapel Beaches. Pets are also not allowed in boats on Little Beaver or Beaver Lakes.

 

All boats, including kayaks and canoes, must clean, drain, and dry their vessels to prevent the spread of invasive species.

Protect the Resources!

It is crucial that we all work together to help limit the spread of invasive species to other, non-invaded bodies of water. Please:

• Clean, drain and dry boats and all fishing equipment before visiting other lakes or water areas. This is required by Michigan law!

• Use only approved bait; dispose of unused worms or other bait in the trash. Do not throw in water or on land.

Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore contains many pristine lakes and streams that are threatened by unwelcome visitors—invasive aquatic plants and animals. These non-native organisms can negatively impact wildlife habitat, upset the food chain, and out-compete native species. Hitchhikers spread from lake to lake by boat, trailer and fishing equipment, and expelled bilge water.

Invasive species are unpleasant. No one wants to catch round gobies while fishing. Or try to reel in a fishing line clogged with spiny water fleas. Or canoe through thick mats of Eurasian watermilfoil on a formerly pristine lake. Or walk on a beach littered with hundreds of sharp zebra mussel shells. Aquatic invasive species do more than just diminish your enjoyment of the outdoors. They damage ecosystems and cause millions of dollars in economic damage.

Prevention is the key! Once established, invasive species are very hard to eradicate.

 

Don't Have Your Own Boat?

Check out commerical tours in the park!

 

Boat Rentals

Pontoon boat and other rentals for use on Lake Superior are available in nearby communities. Check with local tourism organizations for information. more ...

 

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