This story has been updated with new information.
If you’re hoping to visit Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, you’ll need to wait a bit longer until the road through the park it is driveable.
Alger County Road H-58, the main road through Pictured Rocks along the Lake Superior shore in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, is partially plowed up to Adams Trail in the winter. However, the road currently remains closed to vehicle traffic through the remainder of the national lakeshore east to Grand Marais, according to the Alger County Chamber of Commerce.
During the winter, road crews do not plow the road, allowing snowmobiles to travel freely through the park.
“H-58 between Adam’s Trail and Grand Marais remains unplowed,” according to Hannah Bradburn, a visual information specialist with the National Park Service. “Miner’s Castle Road, Chapel Road, and the road to Little Beaver Lake Campground have also not been plowed within the park boundaries.
“Sand Point Road is the only road that is maintained in the winter by the park. The Munising Falls Visitor Center, Sand Point Beach, and Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore’s administrative headquarters are accessible via Sand Point Road,” she added.
This winter, the Upper Peninsula has received substantial snow. Chatham, west of Munising, has reported 211.6 inches of snowfall, according to the National Weather Service. Paradise, east of Grand Marais, has received 237.4 inches, the NWS said.
Once the road is fully reopened for spring, you’ll be able to tour the nation’s oldest national lakeshore. Be sure to grab an entrance pass first.
Is the road to Pictured Rocks open for the season?
No, Alger County Road H-58, which runs through Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, is not yet open for the season, the Alger County Chamber of Commerce said. A timeline for when the road will reopen remains unclear, according to the chamber. The road is plowed from Munising to Adams Trail, according to the National Park Service’s website.
“H-58 between Adam’s Trail and Grand Marais remains unplowed,” according to Hannah Bradburn, a visual information specialist with the National Park Service. “Miner’s Castle Road, Chapel Road, and the road to Little Beaver Lake Campground have also not been plowed within the park boundaries.
“Sand Point Road is the only road that is maintained in the winter by the park. The Munising Falls Visitor Center, Sand Point Beach, and Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore’s administrative headquarters are accessible via Sand Point Road,” she added.
Where is Pictured Rocks?
Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore features the sandstone cliffs along Lake Superior in the Upper Peninsula from Munising to Grand Marais, along with sand dunes, inland lakes, deep forests, waterfalls, beaches and wild shoreline. There are opportunities for camping, hiking, sightseeing and more. Entry passes are required.
What is the National Park Service?
The U.S. National Park Service is a federal government agency within the U.S. Department of the Interior that manages national parks, monuments, lakeshores and preserves throughout the United States.
Contact Jenna Prestininzi: jprestininzi@freepress.com.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Can you visit Pictured Rocks? When to expect roads to open
Reporting by Jenna Prestininzi, Detroit Free Press / Detroit Free Press
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