If you’re planning a trip along the south shore of Lake Superior or the Lake Superior Circle Tour, you might be wondering about the differences between Pictured Rocks in Michigan or Apostle Islands in Wisconsin. Both areas have lots to offer!
TLDR: Both are great.
Geologic Differences Between Pictured Rocks and Apostle Islands
Both areas have striking geology, but there’s also distinct differences. The majority of Apostle Islands is Jacobsville sandstone, which is very old (approx 1 billion years old). Jacobsville sandstone also makes up the bottom layer of Pictured Rocks. But most of the visible sandstone is the much younger Munising formation (approx 500 million years old).
Touring Pictured Rocks and the Apostle Islands by Boat and on Foot
The Pictured Rocks boat cruise is more dramatic than the Apostle Islands. The cliffs are higher, the sandstone colors are more varied, there’s more picturesque rock formations, and there’s more waterfalls. However, you’ll see more evidence of human impact (lighthouses, modern docks and ranger stations, historic fish camps) on the Apostle Islands Tour.
However, if you’re boating/sailing/sea kayaking, there are a lot more options in the Apostle Islands. You can pick routes and launch points based on wind. It can be calm on one side of the Bayfield Peninsula, while there’s significant waves on the other.
Apostle Islands Gallery
Pictured Rocks has higher cliffs and more lakeside waterfalls. Apostle Islands has more sea stacks and caves. This is one of the reasons sea kayaking among the islands is so great. It also makes for awesome boating and sailing.
There are also some really top-notch rivers for paddling (like the Bois Brule, the White River, the Namekagon) and inland wetland areas near the Apostle Islands.
Hiking, Swimming, and Beach-going
The Apostle Islands has several short (less than 5 miles) day hikes along the lake shore. Pictured Rocks is better for backpacking and longer day hikes along the lakeshore. The Chapel-Mosquito Loop hike at Pictured Rocks is often cited as the best hike in Michigan. It’s approximately 10 miles. The Meyer’s Beach Sea Cave hike at the Apostle Islands is like a mini version, and it’s an out-and-back. If you hike the first 2 miles (for a 4 mile round trip hike), you get to see beautiful lakeshore views.
The Apostle Islands has better swimming. You have a wide variety of shallower beach areas on both sides of the peninsula. I think the Apostle Islands area has the best swimming beaches in the Lake Superior region. I find the water temp is often milder than some parts of northern Lake Michigan and Lake Huron that are less protected and more exposed to deep water. Pictured Rocks has the Grand Sable Dunes and the Log Slide. And they’re both epic. Personally they’re my favorite dunes in Michigan (which has by far the best dunes in the whole state).
Pictured Rocks Gallery
Exploring Nearby Towns
Both areas have a range of options for small towns and for lodging from motels to rustic camping. Munising sits at the west end of Pictured Rocks (and is where cruises depart from) and Grand Marais at the east. I prefer Grand Marais for it’s off-the-beaten-track, quirky small town vibes. Munising has a lot more amenities. There’s also a variety of smaller communities inland in the area. I haven’t spent enough time dining in either community in the past couple of years to comment on the dining options. We are usually camping and cooking our own food.
Bayfield is the gateway to the Apostle Islands. It’s got great historic architecture and is the launch point for the cruises and the ferry to Madeline Island. It’s got a lot of locally owned businesses, including 2 amazing independent bookstores and about half a dozen restaurants open in the summer. Washburn, Ashland, Cornucopia, Herbster, and Port Wing are all nearby towns along the Bayfield Peninsula and the Chequamegon Bay. Personally, if you want less touristy vibes, I highly recommend Cornucopia. It’s got a great beach, a really cute marina, and some fun dining options.
South of both are hundreds of miles of national forest lands, including networks of inland lakes, rivers, and wetlands. This provides lots of options for hiking, paddling, and off-roading.
Which to Choose for Your Adventures?
To me, Pictured Rocks is breathtaking and dramatic on a large scale. The sheer cliffs. The stunning sandstone shapes like Miner’s Castle and Chapel Rock. The waterfalls along the lake, including Spray Falls–the most dramatic of them all. The big waves the lake kicks up along that coast. The huge dunes. The highs and lows of backpacking. Coming up for front country camping in May before the crowds and seeing the effects of the winter along sandstone cliffs. Pictured Rocks is what first made me instantly fall in love with the UP and the whole south shore of Lake Superior.
I fell in love with the Apostles more slowly, over time, on a smaller scale. I loved the feel of singing sand between my toes, laid-back days at the beach in mild water, wetlands areas with carnivorous plants like pitcher plants and sundews, the ways the waves carve intricate holes, caves, and arches in the sandstone shore, and the constantly changing and shifting way the river mouths and beaches are resculpted after storms. If you know the place, you see the dramatic change. If you are just passing through, it may seem like just another river mouth and sand beach.
I could never choose just one. I love them both.
