Chicago to Pictured Rocks, MI
 

Hello,
I am thinking about taking a trip to Pictured Rocks leaving this Saturday. Is it better to go through Wisconsin or Michigan from Chicago, timewise I mean. Is it a good place to visit or am I better off going to Bayfield, WI? I am mostly interested in getting away from the city and being outdoors. Thank you!

Where in the Chicago area are you starting from?

Pictured Rocks is about 3 hours northwest of the Mackinaw Bridge, so you are backtracking if you come through the LP.

If time permits drive thru MI and visit Sleeping Bear Dunes. http://www.nps.gov/slbe/..

We camped in Pictured Rocks, overlooking the lake, last summer and parts are somewhat remote and accessible only by dusty gravel roads.

noticed the last report about dusty roads. ;I am from Munising, Michigan, home of the pictured rocks and they are well worth the visit. Probably almost a toss up which way would be closest, through Wisconsin or Lower Michigan. I would go to Mapquest and find that out. Hope you have a nice visit. It has been an extraordinary summer, heat, very little rain so great for tourists. Have a good one. Halfpint

Thank you SuzieTrue, RedRock and Halfpint. We would be driving from the southwest suburbs.

Halfpint, since you are from Munsing, any other suggestions? We have a week and obviously some of that will be spent driving. I don't want the entire vacation to consist of just driving, so maybe it is a stretch to see Pictured Rocks? Small towns worht visiting? Anything to do if it rains? (I know you said little rain, but when I went to Grand Haven to visit friends it rained the entire weekend...my luck!) Thank you!

Well, if you do come to Munising (whereas I am visiting a daughter in Va. at this moment) there is not a whole lot to do if it rains. However as I have mentioned, the weather has been fantastic. The Miners Castle part of the pictured rocks is easily accessible by car (about 15 miles or so from Munising) and a must and then if you have time to see all the rocks, take the Pictured Rocks Boat Cruises from the city dock and that is a beautiful ride, between 2 1/2 and 3 hours and if you are later in the day, all the better as that is when the lighting on the rocks is beautiful and warm looking, whereas if you take the a.m. cruise, it is backlighted. And if the weather should be mediocre on you, the cruise to the shipwreck tours is also nice, more under cover (if you wish) with a glass bottom boat, so certainly not all is lost. Within 42 miles or so is Marquette, Michigan also with a lot of scenie beauty and there you drive around Presque Isle and that is nice (or walk around, less than 3 miles. Also on the way, if you come the Newberry, Michigan way, there is an Iswald Bear Ranch that I myself have been wanting to see and might this fall since it is about 1 1/2 hours from Munising, looks interesting. If I can be of anymore help, please reply. Halfpint

Halfpint, thank you for all the great information and taking time from your visit to post it!

shimkut,
Be aware that there is a fire burning near Newberry at this time. It is about 50% contained.

If you come over the bridge, a nice stretch break is at Seney Wildlife Refugee on M-77. Last month you could watch an osprey nest with the babies from the main building.

Another interesting thing to do in Munising is to head over to Grand Island. DH and I did a biking trip around the island last month but they also have a bus tour as well. There are some great views of the Pictured Rocks from the Island.

We stayed at the Holiday Inn Express on the western edge of town [near Grand Island] and the views of the Rocks from the pool area and breakfast room were great.

ST

SuzieTrue,
I did not know about the fire. Thanks for the heads up on that as well as Seney, Munsing and Holiday Inn Express information. Thank you for the help!

And about the fire. Was near there less than a week ago and the fire does not interfear with what you are thinking of. In fact the bear ranch I mentioned I myself want to go see next month, the owner last week said WHEN and IF he would have to evacuate (which was extremely doubtful) he would have had to put his bears asleep, etc and he was glad it had not come to that. Yes, that Holiday Inn Express does have a beautiful view. You would be coming in fron the East end of Munising and IT is on the west end, heading toward Marquette and Grand Island is great for hiking, however keep in mind, it is primitive so no MacDonald's around ANY corner (thank heavens). Also in the spring, the mosquitoes are rough, however I always feel by August, they have bitten everyone they can and August, September and October ARE WONDERFUL. hAVE A GREAT ONE. hALFPINT

halfpint-- Are the "ankle biters" gone this time of year. We were there in early July last year and they nearly drove us crazy in the campsite along the lake. A Spray with DEET did nothing to stop them or even slow them down. I would guess my question would be is there a time to go there and not be bothered by them.... Other than in the dead of winter....

I don't mean to discourage anyone from visiting the area, its well worth the trip. Even camping with the flys...and we will do it again next year.

Thanks Halfpint!

Good question, RedRock.

Please be aware of speed traps (I think they were along the lake near Munising) $80 or $90 fine. A bummer to an otherwise wonderful trip.