Last Updated: July 2, 2026
Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore stretches along the southern shore of Lake Superior in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, and it earns every superlative thrown at it. The park is named for its stunning multicolored sandstone cliffs — streaked with minerals that paint them in shades of copper, iron, and manganese — rising as high as 200 feet above the water. Add in around 17 waterfalls, miles of pristine beach, and some of the clearest water in the Great Lakes, and it’s easy to understand why Condé Nast Traveler called it the most beautiful place in Michigan.
