Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore

From Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore

The main reason we came to northern Wisconsin is to meander up to the UP of Michigan and visit the Pictures Rocks National Lakeshore. We missed it a few years back, and really wanted to take the boat ride (the only way to see it) along the shore and see it for ourselves.

From Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore

From Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore

From Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore

From Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore

From Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore

From Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore

Our tour starts on land, on the hiking trails near the National headquarters. The picture of the large wagon was used for hauling lumber. You might think of it as the original lumber truck. All the pictures above were taken on the national grounds. The next photos are taken from the tour boat. I will present them mostly without comment, as they speak for themselves.

From Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore

From Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore

From Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore

From Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore

From Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore

From Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore

From Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore

From Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore

From Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore

The above formation is called Indian Head, for obvious reasons. Millions of years of minerals leaching through the soft sandstone have created the remarkable colors.

From Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore

From Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore

From Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore

From Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore

From Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore

This formation is called flower vase.

From Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore

From Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore

From Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore

From Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore

On the return trip, I catch a photo of this old lighthouse on Grand Island. No longer in use, it stands as a silent symbol of years-gone-by.