Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore ⓘ

Located within Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, this picturesque lighthouse stands on Au Sable Point on the south shore of Lake Superior, approximately 12 miles west of Grand Marais, Michigan. Built in 1873-1874, the light tower's base diameter is 16 feet with a height of 86 feet. The tower extends 23 feet underground and is anchored in bedrock. A brick oil building and fog signal building were built in the 1890s. All of the buildings on site, along with the tower and keepers' quarters, make up the light station . The original keepers' dwelling was attached to the light tower in the back. In 1909, a new residence was built for the head keeper and the existing building expanded so it could accommodate two assistant keepers and their families. One family lived upstairs and one downstairs, with separate entrances. In 1945 the U.S. Coast Guard took over, replacing the civilian keepers. In total, the light station was continually staffed for 84 years, until the Coast Guard left in 1958. A third-order Fresnel lens reflected the first light, which was fueled initially by lard oil and then by kerosene. The fixed white beam could be seen 17 miles out on the lake. The lighthouse became fully automated in 1958 and transferred from the Coast Guard to the National Park Service in 1968. The lighthouse still operates - a smaller, solar-powered light now sits on the catwalk railing and shines over Lake Superior every evening. The national lakeshore also preserves other maritime sites.

It was a lonely life for the men and their families assigned to tend the light. The nearest village, Grand Marais, was 12 miles to the east, connected by a narrow path at the base of the dunes that was impassable during rough weather. Supplies and station personnel normally came by boat, landing at a small pier at the base of the foghorn building. In winter, snowshoes, sleds, and dog teams were frequently used. The light keepers kept journals recording daily events. Such diaries provide a fascinating glimpse into the history of this isolated station, which is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places. On December 8, 1876, Napoleon Beedon, who had taken over the job that year from the first lighthouse keeper, Casper Kuhn, described the inclement weather. A “light breeze” from the south, he wrote, had been replaced at 5 p.m. by a “frightful storm” that “blew down 50 trees or more close by the lighthouse” and caused him to fear that “the lighthouse and tower would blow down as they shook like a leaf the wind was N.H. West snowing and feesint it was the worst storm I ever saw on Lake Superior.” Frederick Boesler, Sr., who took over from Beedon in 1879, noted on September 25, 1883, that the weather was “clear, blowing hard from the northwest,” as the stranded steamer Mary Jarecki, which had been on the beach since July 4, was pounded to pieces before his eyes. Gus Gigandet arrived on May 21, 1884, with his wife and an assistant and noted in the journal, “I feel contented and satisfied with the station.” So he must have been, for he stuck it out at the lonely post for a dozen years, surmounting the worst weather Lake Superior had to offer. On November 5, 1886, for instance, he recorded “one of the heaviest gales from the northwest with a blinding snowstorm I have ever experienced” and the following July 7 the wind blew so violently that it caused “the tower to shake hard.” But life at the station was not all lonely monotony. Hunting and fishing were popular pastimes. The journal notes that on November 4, 1901, the lighthouse keeper’s assistant killed a bear so large that it required two men to drag the animal back to the station. The previous summer, the keeper bragged in the journal, he had caught 144 brook trout. And at least one assistant, William Laviate, whiled away the dull days of winter by taking a job in a local lumber camp. In 1881, Keeper Boesler noted that he had “grafted 24 fruit trees, 12 of cherry and 12 of apples.” The journals provided a comprehensive record of life at the station, recording news of the keepers’ families, the arrival of lighthouse tenders, the passage of lake vessels, daily chores, visitors, now and then the excitement that came when, despite the light and the foghorn, a vessel wound up on the reef. A 1909 account of the station reads:

“The main point on which the light house stands has been cleared of timber for a quarter mile each way from the station to facilitate the visibility of the light to the E’d and W’d. This clearing has grown up to second growth -- small stuff... Access is by boat or by wagon road to within 3 miles of station, thence by foot trail; this trail is cleared out so that a team without load can get to the light station.”

Over the years, numerous additions and improvements were made to the station. A brick oil house was added in 1895, the steam-powered fog whistle two years later, improved boat ways in 1901, a new seawall in 1906, a new residence for the keeper in 1909 and a new diaphone fog signal in 1928. In 1905, a rough road connecting the station to the Log slide was built, allowing eventual access to the public highway. Life at the station gradually changed as the 20th Century progressed. In 1943, a good road was built to the station from the west, making it accessible by cars or trucks. The quarters were modernized and in 1945, the U.S. Coast Guard took over, replacing the civilian keepers. In 1958 the Coast Guard converted the light station to an automatic, unattended light, and discontinued the fog signal. The third order lens was removed from the lantern in 1972 and replaced by a much smaller 300mm acrylic lens. The original lens was transferred to the National Park Service, and it is once again at the Au Sable Light Station. In January 1968, the Au Sable Light Station was transferred to the National Park Service. The Coast Guard continues to maintain the beacon and solar panel which charges the storage battery.

Restoration efforts at the station began in earnest in 1988 with initial historic investigations of the double keeper’s quarters and light tower. These activities included paint and plaster analysis, researching historic room sizes and uses, and shingle detail. Projects included fabrication and installation of missing interior wood trim, restoring the walnut balustrade and repairing the plaster walls and ceilings.Since 1988, several of the structures have been painted, both inside and out, doors, windows and screens have been restored, and the front porch on the double keepers dwelling was reconstructed to the 1909-1910 period. In 1988 an Historic American Buildings Survey crew measured the buildings which led to detailed structural drawings.During the summer of 1992, the upper light tower exterior was painted the historic black color and the lens room was restored. In 1993 the interior of the tower was painted and work in the lens room was completed. In 1996, the magnificent Fresnel lens was returned to the light station lens room after an absence of many years. In 1999 a large photovoltaic system was installed at the station to power the museum, information station and volunteer quarters. In recent years the park has implemented recommendations prescribed in the Au Sable Cultural Landscape Plan. Brush and trees were removed from the area that would have been historically kept clear of vegetation to keep the light visible and to reduce the hazard of fire. Crews have rehabilitated dune blowouts and stairs to the beach as well as the extensive sidewalk system. Landscape work will continue to maintain the historic setting.

Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore completed restoration of the 1910 single keepers quarters as a seasonal volunteer residence and information station and museum. The station is open mid-June to the end of September for guided tours. The first floor of the assistant keepers quarters was refurnished through donations and purchase, reflecting the time when Keeper John and his wife Martha Brooks lived at Au Sable.

Towering above Lake Superior are the most prominent of Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore's geographic and scientific features – the multicolored sandstone cliffs for which the lakeshore is named. These cliffs reach to a height of 200 feet above the lake and extend 15 of the 42 miles of shoreline within park boundaries. Equally important as these cliffs in geographic and scientific significance are the Grand Sable Dunes , sand dunes perched atop five square miles of high sand bluffs at the eastern portion of the lakeshore. Miles of unspoiled beaches are a third prominent feature of the lakeshore. T he scientific features of the park reach far beyond the visually spectacular. Because of its location within the transition zone between the boreal and eastern deciduous forest biomes, Pictured Rocks has elements of both forest types. Hardwood forests of maple and beech are prevalent, but conifers dominate some sites. Soils range from well-drained sandy soils to hydric soils. Streams, ponds, marshes, bogs, and other aquatic habitats are abundant. Lake Superior wields a powerful climatic force over the region; by keeping adjacent lands warmer in winter and cooler in summer, it greatly influences physical conditions and hence biotic communities. Along with university researchers and other partners, the national lakeshore's Science and Resource Stewardship Division conducts studies on resource management issues involving wildlife, water quality, invasive species, and forest health. For more information on the park's science mission and activities, go to:

Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore abounds with rich and healthy plant communities, including upland forests, swampy lowlands, bogs and fens, vegetated dunes, successional fields, inland lakes, and riparian groves. Over 900 plant species have been identified. The park's proximity to the moderating effect of Lake Superior results in many micro-habitats that shield plants normally ranging further south and north. Rare arctic disjuncts such as dwarf raspberry and arctic crowberry, which normally live far to the north in Canada, find a home in cooler, sheltered pockets of Upper Peninsula forests like those at Pictured Rocks. The lakeshore's upland forests are dominated by sugar and red maple, beech, yellow birch, and hemlock. Wetland soils that have developed since the most recent glacial recession give rise to spruce, tamarack, alder, and white-cedar communities. Streams and lakes are ringed with balsam and striped maple. The Grand Sable Dunes contain a rare collection of habitats with jack pine pockets, willow, the federally threatened Pitcher’s thistle, Lake Huron tansy and several state threatened species of fern. Larger submerged aquatic plants and those that are emergent from the water surface provide habitat for algae, protozoa, invertebrates, and fish. There are 76 plants generally categorized as aquatic in the park’s waters. The smallest plants of Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore include hundreds of taxa of algae including dinoflagellates, green algae, chrysophytes, and diatoms.

For more information... Freshwater Plants - Pictured Rocks webpage Trees and Shrubs - Pictured Rocks webpage Wildflowers - Pictured Rocks webpage Lichens - Pictured Rocks webpage Forests - Pictured Rocks webpage Beech Bark Disease - Pictured Rocks webpage Michigan Rare and Endangered Plants - Michigan Natural Features Inventory website

Though animal life is abundant within Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, visitors do not usually see many animals during their visit beyond chipmunks and perching birds. A walk down park trails may reveal bear scat, a pile of pine cone bracts from a feeding red squirrel, or deer tracks in the mud. Keep an eye open for beaver-chewed tree stumps around a pond or a raven's nest high on a rocky ledge. Wildlife in this varied landscape of wetland, sand dune, rocky shore, and northern forest includes white-tailed deer, black bear, gray wolves, and an occasional moose. Migratory and nesting songbirds share the park with bald eagle, osprey, and several species of hawks and falcons. Fisher, mink, American marten, beaver, skunk, red squirrel, and numerous small rodents such as shrews and mice inhabit lakeshore habitats. Butterflies, dragonflies, and other insects abound during the summer. Many species of fish, as well as aquatic organisms such as freshwater mussels and tiny crustaceans, live in the park's lakes and streams. The national lakeshore contains nearly 300 native vertebrates, with 58 fish , 12 amphibian , 5 reptile , 182 bird and 42 mammal species currently identified. One Federally listed endangered species, the piping plover , has habitat within park boundaries. Several Michigan state-listed species are also protected within the lakeshore.

Wildlife Populations Due to the park's long narrow shape, wildlife populations and ranges extend far beyond the lakeshore's official borders. The health of many species depends on their connection to the greater "metapopulation" in surrounding areas and the condition of ecosystems outside lakeshore boundaries. Habitat fragmentation and other threats could "cut-off" park wildlife from the larger regional population, resulting in genetic isolation and loss of species vitality. Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore works with adjacent landowners and other government agencies to maintain wildlife corridors and habitat health throughout the region.

Wildlife Viewing For your safety and the well-being of the animals, always keep a safe and respectful distance when viewing wildlife. Wild animals are unpredictable – especially when approached. Nesting birds can become quite stressed when humans get too close, which might lead to nest failure. Leave frogs and turtles undisturbed. Never feed squirrels, chipmunks, or any other animals. Show respect for all the creatures that live in this special place.

For more information... NPS Wildlife Management - NPS website Michigan Endangered and Threatened Species - Michigan Natural Features Inventory website Piping Plover in the Great Lakes - U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service website

Due to its geographic location and proximity to Lake Superior, Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore is greatly impacted by environmental factors of weather and climate. The park is located approximately 46 degrees north latitude and 86 degrees west longitude. The average high temperatures in winter months are about 25°F (-4°C) and during summer months about 70°F (22°C). Lake Superior moderates temperature extremes, preventing deep cold for much of the winter, slowing spring warming, and keeping summers relatively cooler overall. The average date of the last freezing temperature in spring is June 8, and the average first fall freeze is September 23; however, freezing can occur during any month. Ice on Lake Superior's southern shore can last until June. Lake-effect snow is a common feature of this climate and occurs when air moving across the lake is significantly cooler than the warmer lake surface. Cold winds sweeping across long expanses of warmer lake water can pick up a great deal of water vapor, which freezes and is then deposited over land. Other environmental factors affecting Pictured Rocks include: Climate Change Air Quality Water Quality Non-Native Species Disturbed Lands Soundscape / Noise

Habitat for the federally listed endangered piping plover is found at the far eastern end of the lakeshore. Plovers have not nested in the park in recent years, but they consistently produce successful nests on beaches just outside lakeshore boundaries in Grand Marais. Park staff assist U.S. Fish and Wildlife staff and volunteers to monitor plover nests each summer. The park's tall cliffs provide perfect nesting habitat for the peregrine falcon, a Michigan state-endangered species. Peregrine falcons were released in the national lakeshore in 1989 and 1991 as part of a Midwest peregrine reintroduction program and have since nested successfully here in subsequent years, as well as on nearby Grand Island. Forests right along the Lake Superior shoreline also provide habitat for the merlin, a small state-listed falcon that prefers open space. Several pair of merlin successfully fledged young in 2013 under the watchful eye of park biologists. The bald eagle is a fairly common year-round resident, and several pairs nest within the lakeshore. Visitors to the Pictured Rocks cliffs are occasionally treated to the sight of eagles soaring overhead and perching in tall pines along the bluffs. Nesting eaglets at the park have been tested for lead, mercury, and other environmental contaminants as part of regionwide studies assessing pollutants in the Great Lakes. Several other raptor species are found here, including northern goshawk, northern harrier, sharp-shinned hawk, red-tailed hawk, red-shouldered hawk, osprey, barred owl, and great-horned owl. Park scientists are especially concerned about how these birds of prey will respond to changes in the forest canopy caused by beech bark disease , as well as how the loss of mature beech trees will affect the raptors' prey species. More than 25 species of warblers have been found in the park, including many that migrate from wintering grounds in Central and South America to nest in the lakeshore's protected forests. Watch for sandhill cranes and wild turkeys along park roads. Other birds of interest include upland species such as ruffed grouse, spruce grouse, and American woodcock. Lake Superior beaches and the park's diverse aquatic environments provide habitat for many water and shorebirds such as great blue heron, spotted sandpiper, common loon, red-breasted merganser, and American bittern.

Twelvemile Beach campground. NPS Photo Drive-In and Backcountry Camping All campsites require a reservation. There is no drop-in camping. All reservations are made on Recreation.gov. Reservations can be made beginning 6 months in advance.

Reservations are made on Recreation.gov! See below for more information about reservations. General Information All campgrounds require a reservation. There is no drop-in camping. Drive-in campgrounds are open from May 15 through October 15 . After October 15 th , water systems and toilets are shut down. Backcountry (hike-in) camping is permitted year-round with proper reservations and permits. Campsites do not have any hookups. Camping anywhere outside of designated campgrounds is not allowed . This includes beach camping and dispersed camping. Overnight car camping (sleeping in vehicles) in parking lots is not allowed . Campgrounds Overview Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore has three rustic drive-in campgrounds: Little Beaver Lake (8 sites), Twelvemile Beach (36 sites), and Hurricane River (21 sites). There are 13 backcountry camping areas. Learn more about backcountry camping here. Drive-in campsites have a picnic table, fire ring with grill grate, and tent pad. The campgrounds have vault toilets and well water. Tent-style enclosures for campsite portable toilets are strictly prohibited. Campgrounds do not have hookups. Typically there is no cell phone reception. Biting insects are very common from late May through early September. Don't let flies ruin your experience! Bring long pants, long-sleeved shirts, and insect repellant. What's biting me?

You must store anything with a scent (food, deodorant, toothpaste, sunscreen) in a hard-sided vehicle or in a park-provided bear box, like the one pictured above. NPS Photo Important Rules and Regulations Please be sure to familiarize yourself with the rules and regulations. These rules help to ensure that everyone at the campground enjoys their stay and these campsites stay in good shape for everyone who visits after you. Campsite Limits For up-to-date campsite limit regulations, please view the Superintendent's Compendium Section 2,1 No more than 8 people per drive-in campsite and a maximum of 4 tents or hammocks or combination thereof. All associated vehicles must fit in the parking spaces provided. All tents must be placed on or within 6 feet of the existing tent pad. Important Times Campground quiet hours are 8 pm to 8 am. There are generator-free areas at Twelvemile Beach and Hurricane River Campgrounds. Music must be for private listening only. Checkout time is 11:00 am. Leave No Trace Campfires are permitted in fire rings only. Fires or hot coals cannot be left unattended. Purchase wood locally. No collecting of wood. No cutting of standing trees or limbs. Ash firewood is prohibited. Beach fires are not allowed. This is bear country! All food items, beverages, cooking equipment, food storage containers and pet food must be kept sealed in a hard-sided vehicle when not in immediate use (day or night). Those camping without a hard-sided vehicle must use the park-provided metal boxes for food storage. Violations of food storage rules may result in fines.Garbage must be placed in bear-proof trash cans. Learn more about recreating with bears. Dispose of any dish or waste water in the toilet. Feeding wildlife is prohibited. Use vault toilets or toilet in your camper or RV. No dumping of human waste in trash or on the ground. There are no dump stations at Pictured Rocks. Tent-style enclosures for campsite portable toilets and/or showers are strictly prohibited. Do not dispose of human waste in park trashcans. Portable toilet facilities may be used (such as in a camper) only if graywater and sewage remain contained within the vehicle. Pets? Pets are NOT allowed at Little Beaver Lake Campground. At the other two drive-in campgrounds, pets must be always on a leash (six feet or less). Pet owners must pick up after their pets and dispose of waste in a trash receptacle. Owners must not allow a pet to make noise that is unreasonable.

Reservations Reservations are now made on Recreation.Gov . Camping reservations can be made up to 6 months in advance. To make a reservation go to www.recreation.gov (or call 1-877-444-6777. International callers: 1-518-885-3635).

Select campsites are held for last-minute reservations, check listings on Recreation.gov for additional details. Helpful hints to find the park's campsites on recreation.gov: Once on www.recreation.gov , log into an existing account or sign up for a free new account. Type " Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore" in the search window. Click on the first search result: Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. Scroll down and click on Camping & Day Use. Click on the campground you are interested in. The Availability Grid will open a calendar showing the status of each site. Follow the prompts from there. Online information includes campsite parking length, location, pictures, which sites are wheelchair-accessible, and other details.

An empty campsite at the Little Beaver Lake Campground. NPS Photo. Campgrounds Little Beaver Lake Campground Pets are not allowed at the Little Beaver Lake Campground due to its proximity to the Beaver Basin Wilderness . Pets are not allowed on any trails leading from the campground or any trails within the wilderness zone. This small campground (9 sites) is located at the end of Little Beaver Lake Road, 3 miles north of Alger County Road H-58 and 20 miles northeast of Munising. All sites are on or near Little Beaver Lake. One campsite is wheelchair accessible. Single unit vehicles in excess of 36 feet and vehicle/trailer combined units in excess of 42 feet are prohibited at Little Beaver because of the small campsites and the narrow, twisting, hilly access road. A small boat ramp is available for launching boats. Only electric motors are permitted on Little Beaver Lake and Beaver Lake as these lakes are within the Beaver Basin Wilderness. The campground also features a 1.5 mile trail that leads to Lake Superior and connects with the North Country Scenic Trail. Little Beaver Lake Campground map and photo gallery Reservations – Little Beaver Lake Campground (recreation.gov)

Sites at the Twelvemile Beach Campground. NPS Photo. Twelvemile Beach Campground Twelvemile Beach Campground’s 36 sites are located on a high sandy plateau above Twelvemile Beach on Lake Superior; the most popular sites have a lake view. This campground is located 15 miles west of Grand Marais off Alger County Road H-58 (34 miles east of Munising). There are two wheelchair-accessible campsites. Generator use is prohibited in the campground's west loop. Because the turning radius is limited within this campground, we recommend single vehicles no more than 36 feet and vehicle/trailer combined length no more than 42 feet. There are three sets of stairs to the beach as well as a day-use picnic area and parking. The two-mile White Birch Nature Trail begins and ends at the campground. The North Country Scenic Trail treks through the campground. The entrance road winds through a picturesque stand of white birch. Pets on a 6-foot leash are permitted at this campground. Little Beaver Lake Campground map and photo gallery Reservations – Twelvemile Beach Campground (recreation.gov)

Twelvemile Cabin The Twelvemile Cabin is a hike-in nonelectric cabin within the Twelvemile Beach Campground area. The hike is approximately 1 mile each way via the North Country Trail and Twelve-mile Beach Campground. There are no water or electrical hookups in the cabin.

All reservations must be made on Recreation.gov. Reservations can be made beginning 6 months in advance.

A campsite at the Hurricane River Campground. NPS Photo. Hurricane River Campground Eleven campsites are available in the lower campground loop, and ten in the upper loop. Both loops include one wheelchair-accessible campsite. This 21-site campground is located 12 miles west of Grand Marais on County Road H-58 (37 miles east of Munising) on the shores of Lake Superior. Several campsites are designated as generator-free. Because the turning radius is limited within this campground, we recommend single vehicles no more than 36 feet and vehicle/trailer combined length no more than 42 feet. The Hurricane River flows into Lake Superior near the picnic area. A level 1.5 mile walk on the North Country Trail east from the lower campground leads past shipwreck remnants to the historic Au Sable Light Station . Pets on a 6-foot leash are permitted at this campground. Hurricane River Campground map and photo gallery Reservations – Hurricane River Campground (recreation.gov)

Looking for something a bit more remote? Learn about Backcountry Camping at Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore.

All campsites require a reservation. There is no drop-in camping. All reservations are made on Recreation.gov. Reservations can be made beginning 6 months in advance. Drive-in campsites are $25 per night. Backcountry (hike-in) campsites have a $15 reservation fee per trip and are $5 per person per night. Reservations are made on Recreation.gov! See below for more information about reservations.