Things To Know When Backpacking Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore - The Perfect Trail For Beginners

Coincidentally, last week I just posted a video with footage of every single campsite at Pictured Rocks along the NCT including info on the water sources, bear boxes, privies and fire rings for each zone. Should be useful if you’re planning a trip there.

I just want to say thank you Dixie for being a breath of fresh air in my YouTube feed. Everywhere I turn it's full of politics and despair and it's been wearing me down. I'm so grateful to be able to come to your channel and be reminded there is still beauty in this world and decent folks still exist. Thank you for sharing your adventures with us.

I used to swim almost everyday in Lake Superior as a kid. Didn't care how cold it was. I must have been a little tougher back then.....🥶

Just to Note for anyone who ever travels there: The Upper Peninsula of Michigan has spotty cell phone service just about everywhere if your not near a town because it is mostly just wilderness, so it is not just the Pictured Rock trail area.

In about 1977 my brother and I took off from our home in Lower Michigan headed for “spring break” at the Pictured Rocks. It was pretty solidly spring in late March at out home, but as we started heading north in the Upper Peninsula snow started to appear in the woods, then more snow, and finally at Munising, it was full winter snow! Being Boy Scouts, we were prepared and started hiking anyway. We had, of course, external frame packs and large, wooden snowshoes. I had hiking boots and spent the entire trail with cold and wet feet. My brother had pac boots and was warn, but suffered blisters. The snowshoeing became a bit of a slog and we strapped them on our backs and started walking on the shoreline ice rows because they were firm. We did i that until I broke through and went in Lake Superior up to my armpits. We finished up the 42 miles on the snowshoes and ended up in Grand Marias where I had the best tasting Snickers bar of my life! We saw no one the entire trip.

My 2 boys (ages 11 and 14) and I just completed this trail. It was their first backpacking trip and they did great! We did the shuttle from Munising and started at Grand Sable Visitors Center. We hiked between 5 and 9 miles per day staying at Au Sable East, Sevenmile, Coves, Mosquito Beach, and Cliffs. We had the luxury of my parents hiking in to Coves with our resupply of food. Our relaxed miles gave us a lot of time to explore and play on the beaches. We had great weather with lots of sunshine, which really made the turquoise water look beautiful. We experienced almost zero bugs. It was a trip we will remember for a lifetime. Now I just hope they want to backpack with me again!

So glad you hiked Pictured Rocks! I love seeing all of the hiking YouTubers doing things like the PCT, but it's also really nice seeing people hike in my home state. Can't agree more about hiking Pictured Rocks in the fall; fewer bugs, similar temps as early summer, and beautiful color changes.

If you decide to hike more of our great state you need to try the porcupine mountains and see lake of the clouds in the fall.

Dixie, Hey this is Scott; I just wanted to let you know that you are the one single reason that i section hiked the AT two different times and traveled to Florida to experience the Florida trail. I must say that doing this since being retired from the U.S. Army and having one of my Battle Buddies on trail with me made the experience that much better and safer on both trails. Fast forward; your hike and video here in Michigan has inspired me to hike around Camiguin Island Phillipines. It is roughly 40 miles around the entire island with breath taking ocean views. I will average 8 to 10 miles per day and plan my camps in advance with locals and also some of the local bed and breakfast spots. Should be able to knock this out in roughly 5 days as planned. Following this hike around i will adventure backpack and camp on two of their 7 volcanoes to each summit. Thank you dixie..your "Brotha" Scott.

Pro tip for Pictured Rocks - bring a Sea to Summit collapsible camp bucket. You can lower it into the lake with your trekking pole, or stand on a rock and lower it in my hand, and easily pull water from Lake Superior without getting yourself wet. By attaching a cord to it, you can also lower it into rivers and creeks off of bridges, avoiding standing on fragile banks and adding to erosion. Also, the due to its size and water temperature, the Lake can make its own weather that’s starkly different from what’s forecasted. I’ve seen 1/4 inch of snow fall on the Fourth of July. Avoid sandy and blue colored clothing as both can attract more flies than other colors.

I'm so glad you gave all of that information as I believe that I ask a few questions myself. As for being around people I do not like that for some reason, I like to hike and Camp by myself most of the time but now since my grandson is starting to get into it I will start hiking and camping with him. This way I can start teaching him some Bushcraft methods. As far as the dump holes are concerned I believe that I would rather dig a cat hole as you called it. I mean looking at the ones they had and having a cat hole doesn't seem too much different except that you are up off the ground but with a cat hole you don't have to smell other people's dung. As far as mosquitoes go I have no problem with mosquitoes or ticks the only time I've ever found a tick on me they were walking off of me. My beautiful and wonderful, sorry deceased wife, used to say that, it was because I was a sourpuss that's why they left me alone, jokingly of course. But I think it's because she was with me because they swarmed all over her and left me alone, that used to irritate the snot out of her. Again thank you so much for all of the information on this Trail I hope to someday get to take it maybe with my grandson I believe he would absolutely love this Trail and you also said that it is not that long and as I am getting older I can't walk that long and that far each day as it is. Older being 71 years old, but I still get out there and try I have to I'm not going to lay down and die even though my wife is gone she wouldn't want that. Before she passed she urged me to get another mate but I just can't seem to wrap my head around that idea. Anyway thanks for the video I certainly do appreciate it and I'm sure other people do also. Have a great day and stay safe and keep your powder dry! PS as far as mosquitoes go you might try a spearmint or peppermint plant they have worked on me whenever they used to swarm around me and that's all they usually did but you could give that a shot as it smells pretty good and it's non-toxic. It worked for my wife, kind of I guess she was just so sweet that they had to get a bite of her.

I live in the U.P. and we have been here 3 times this year. It's easy hiking and the views are amazing.

We always appreciate your insights for the trails.

Another great video Dixie, and glad you liked our state. Also good to hear the bugs weren’t too bad. Thanks, and take care 👍👊🇺🇸🤘

Thank you for sharing your thoughts and information.

So glad we got to meet you there!! Such a beautiful place to see!

Glad to see you took your time on the trail! So many people I’ve seen hike Pictured Rocks like they’re thru hiking the CDT. Sure, it can be hiked in a day and a half, or one day if you’re a 40 mile a day maniac, but what a waste! The views are amazing! There are side trails, waterfalls to see, several rivers that enter the lake you can walk and play in, and Lake Superior has the best water! Check out Porcupine Mountain State Forest, also in Michigan on Lake Superior. Some great hikes there too

Hi Dixie, Someday we'd love to see you hike the Porcupine Mtns. & also the SHT. Love your videography & your joy being outdoors!❤️

Funny, I think I hiked with you guys a bit on the last day! I was by myself and I’m a bit younger. I remember seeing some deer up close with you guys, so awesome to see your videos and your channel!

My mom and I plan to do it next year!!!! We live in Michigan and love the UP. We were obsessed with your AT thru hike journey and have wanted to backpack since. We didn't even know about this trail until your video! Thanks for inspiring us to get out there an do the dang thing!!! ❤