Paddling in Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore

Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore runs for 42 miles along the southern shore of Lake Superior in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, and the water here is the main event.

The paddling divides cleanly into two very different environments: Lake Superior itself, with its sandstone cliffs rising 50 to 200 feet straight out of the water, and a handful of quieter inland lakes tucked into the northwoods behind the shoreline.

Lake Superior is the defining fact of this park. The NPS is direct about it: sea kayaks are the only kayaks equipped for the lake.

Canoes and recreational kayaks should not go out on Lake Superior — the water is cold, conditions change without warning, and there is no shoreline to pull out on along the cliff faces.

Winds over 15 knots out of the northwest, north, or northeast can make the water unrunnable. Even experienced paddlers have been overwhelmed. The park has responded to many rescues here. The marine forecast is not optional reading before launching.

For those with the right boat and skills, the lake puts you directly against the colored sandstone, into sea caves, and beneath Miners Castle, the most recognized formation on the lakeshore.

Guided tours operating under Commercial Use Authorizations from the NPS are the permitted way to access this stretch commercially — only businesses holding those CUAs can legally offer guided tours inside the lakeshore.

Check the NPS site for the current authorized operators before booking. The inland lakes — Beaver Lake, Little Beaver Lake, and Grand Sable Lake — are where canoes and recreational kayaks belong.

Little Beaver Lake and Beaver Lake sit within the Beaver Basin Wilderness and are restricted to electric motors only. Grand Sable Lake limits motors to 50 horsepower.

These are slower, quieter waters, appropriate for paddlers who want the northwoods without the exposure of the big lake. Overnight trips into the backcountry, whether you're hiking in or paddling in, require a backcountry camping permit year-round.

The 14 backcountry campgrounds are accessible by kayak or on foot, spaced at 2 to 5 mile intervals along the lakeshore. Permits are issued through recreation. gov. The park is open year-round, but guided kayak tours on the lake run through the summer season.

The lake doesn't forgive miscalculation in any season — come prepared, check the forecast, and know what you're getting into before you leave the bay.