Exploring Munising, MI

Miners Castle has a new look. On Thursday morning, April 13, 2006, the right tower broke off and fell 90' into the water.

For a water level view of the Pictured Rocks, take a Pictured Rocks Cruise down the length of the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. See such natural sculptures as Lovers Leap, Grand Portal, Miners Castle, Indian Head, and many more.

Munising also has the Alger Underwater Preserve, a graveyard of ship wrecks that date back to the 1800s and early 1900s.
The preserve and especially the waters around Grand Island are a haven for scuba divers who view the wrecks that lie 10 to 100 feet below the surface. The Alger Underwater Diving Preserve at Munising was the first preserve established in Michigan, and is one of the most popular in the Great Lakes. Scuba dive with Capt. Peter Lindquist of Shipwreck Diving Tours.

Even non-divers can enjoy the treasures of Lake Superior with Capt. Peter Lindquist's Glass Bottom Boat Shipwreck Tour, a narrated cruise of Lake Superior Shipwrecks out of Munising. Explore shipwrecks aboard the Miss Munising, a 60' Coast Guard Certified steel vessel equipped with specially designed through the hull glass viewing areas. Visit three shipwrecks on the bottom of the lake as seen through a glass viewing area.

Visit Beautiful Munising Falls This picturesque waterfall drops about 50' over a sandstone cliff and is only a short walk down a paved path from the Pictured Rocks Interpretive Center to the observation platform. Path is about 300 feet with places to sit and enjoy this waterfall and delightful shaded canyon along Munising Creek. Take H-58 east at the blinking light and go to Washington Street and turn north. Go about 1/2 mile to the parking lot across from the hospital.

Be sure to stop in the Pictured Rocks Interpretive Center and see the exhibits on iron making, logging, wildlife, and how the cliffs were formed. Open daily during the summer months.

Visit AuSable Lighthouse, built in 1874 to warn sailors off from the very dangerous sandstone reef. The area between Au Sable Point and the Pictured Rocks area proved to be a natural "ship trap" when vessels were blown onto the lee shore by a strong north wind or lost their way in snow or fog. During the summer months a ranger is on duty at the keeper's house to give interpretive tours of the keeper's house and the light tower.

For wilderness recreation, visit Grand Island about one half mile off shore from Munising. Grand Island is the largest island on Lake Superior's south shore, and the most beautiful. A perfect spot for camping, mountain biking, hiking, fishing, kayaking, skiing and snowmobiling. Visitors may access the island by means of a passenger ferry which travels to Grand Island's Williams Landing. Bike rentals at the Ferry landing. Bus tour of Grand Island available.

Enjoy Sand Point Beach on Lake Superior
Named one of the "Five Top Summer Beaches in America" by the Weather Channel.
Enjoy this undeveloped white sand beach and the cool clean waters of Lake Superior.
Launch your kayak, stroll along the uncrowded beach, sit in the sand, or wade in the shallow water.

Kayaking on Munising Bay

A wonderful spot for watching the sunsets over Grand Island. Restrooms.
Take H-58 east to Sand Point Road (also called Washington Street).
Turn north and go almost to the end of the road.

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Have a Great Winter Vacation in Munising!

Great snowmobiling on hundreds of miles of trails.
Cross-Country Skiing and Snowshoeing
Ice Climbing for the adventurous
Wonderful Photographic Opportunities
Birdwatchers will love seeing the winter birds.

Take a waterfall tour of the Waterfalls in Alger County: The area around Munising in Alger County has delightful waterfalls for visitors to enjoy. Two waterfalls can be viewed from your car, others are a short stroll through the woods on an easy path, while a few require a serious hike into the woods. Pick up your map at the Visitor Center at the blinking light in Munising.

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Photos by Mary Deloria
Photo of storm over Lake Superior by Mark Bolen, Digisharp Photography
Snomobile Photo: Trail View Cabins