Courtesy of NPS
When most people think of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, they think of outdoor adventures! Winter in the Upper Peninsula is no exception! One thing that is on our bucket list is exploring Pictured Rocks in the winter!
Pictured Rocks is beautiful in every season, but winter brings an unique sense of adventure to the area! There are a lot of activities at Pictured Rocks during the snowy season - cross country skiing, snowmobiling, ice climbing, winter camping and more! Some winters, the Pictured Rocks area receives more than 200 inches, so you will have no shortage of fun in the snow!
Cross Country Skiing: There are more than 20 miles of trails for you to explore on your cross country ski adventure! With the amount of snow that the area receives, it is a beautiful spot to bundle up and explore! There are some downhill runs, so you always have to be aware of your surroundings.
Ice Climbing: This is always dependent on the temperatures, but typically, ice climbing is available at Pictured Rocks anywhere from mid - December - April. The best ice climbing is available between Munising Falls and Sand Point.
Winter Camping: It is important to be prepared for winter camping and to make sure that you have done your research on the area and on how to winter camp! When winter camping at Pictured Rocks, you will need to have a reservation and a permit (for your safety, so they know you are out there!). You are unable to snowmobile back to the camp sites, but you can snowshoe or cross country ski to the sites.
Of course, when exploring in the Upper Peninsula (or anywhere!) use caution and always be safe! There is so much to do at the Pictured Rocks National Park, that you will definitely want to head there this winter!