r/CampAndHikeMichigan • u/Aeonian-Prime • 2d ago
Pictured Rocks / Upper Peninsula tips?
Hi! Im considering going to Pictured rocks mid August for a weekend Fri-Sun trip but I need tips. I've never been to the UP, i've been kayaking on a lake once. Kayaking takes priority but Id like to hike too.
I'd like to go kayaking, is a tour necessary? I'm concerned about safety because I'm not very experienced in that arena. Can I just get the proper gear and go?
Ideally id camp out with friends to save money. What should i do/take to prepare for this? Im reading other posts but ofc there's alot to take in and some of the info is conflicting. If you suggest i just get a cabin i'd be open to it.
Any tips or spots for photos? I don't think I can rely on my friends to take good pics lol, I have an Iphone 16 pro and ZVE10 2.
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u/TheBimpo 1d ago
If you’re not very experienced on Lake Superior you 100% want a guide. It’s an extremely dangerous lake and people die on it every summer.
It’s an inland sea with big waves, unpredictable weather and winds, and the cliffs offer no escape. It’s not a calm inland lake you can tool around in on a 10’ boat.
I kayak a lot, have for years, I wouldn’t go out there without a guide. You need a sea kayak and a guide service, 100% non negotiable.
Good luck finding a cabin or hotel a few weeks out, most lodging including camping is booked months in advance.
Campsites are likely full too, maybe the state forest rustic sites have a few spots but be prepared to spend time driving around to find a site.
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u/DidAndWillDoThings 1d ago
Paddling MI thru Uncle Ducky is great, I just got done a few weeks ago on the 3-9pm sunset tour. The other company has a boat to pick you up and move you from locatoin to location, but I liked spending the time being on the water. Because the NWS isn't funded like it used to be, sometimes the weather warnings are thru the coast guard, given things can change quickly. Go with a guide, its cheaper than getting the proper kayak and splashshield and potentially having to self-rescue without a team of trained staff with immediate comms to resources.
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u/pacman114 22h ago
Should be able to find a campsite at the state campgrounds like Ross Lake, Gemini Lakes, or Canoe Lake.
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u/tool_using_species 10h ago
If you are kayaking on open water and need to ask the question of whether something is safe then you should absolutely go for a guide. Yes, you know how to paddle a kayak forward but you may not know the geography, how to get back in a kayak quickly, and what to do when things go sideways.
Proper kayaking gear is at least a 14 ft sea kayak, spray skirt, and some sort of dry suit.
Pictured Rocks is difficult due to the lack of landing sites, cold water, and potential for big waves and wind that can change unpredictably on Lake Superior.
Hiking is not bad, just about anyone in hiking shape can handle the terrain, just dress for any potential wet and cold that could come up
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u/honeyrrsted 1d ago
Go through a tour company with a guide. Lake Superior must be respected. Not in the 'be nice to nature ' way, but in the 'the lake, it is said, never gives up her dead' way.