Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore
National park · Michigan
The first national lakeshore in the U.S. (1966) protects 42 miles of Lake Superior shoreline near Munising, where sandstone cliffs up to 200 feet tall streak with mineral color above the water. Boat tours and cliff-top trails run through October as birch and maple turn along the bluffs.
Don’t miss
Peak: October 3–October 7
Color builds from September 25 · mostly bare by October 25
Sampled at Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore’s own coordinates and elevation (194 m) rather than a regional average.
47 weather points cover Michigan, and the model needs no correction to land on 2 published peak dates from smokymountains.com and almanac.com. This year's weather has the peak running 5 days earlier than a normal year. How the forecast works
When to go to Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore
The color window runs about 19 days, holding until around October 14. That runs roughly 4 days earlier than the rest of Michigan.
Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore on the map
Drag the date slider to see when color reaches this corner of Michigan, or tap a pin for that stop’s own peak window.
More things to do in Michigan
Leaves & views
Farms & harvest
Frequently asked
- When does Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore peak in 2026?
- Peak color is predicted for October 3–October 7 (best estimate October 5). Color starts around September 25 and is mostly bare by October 25.
Own or manage Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore? Update your listing or get in touch.