Exploring Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore - July 2025: Part 2

In Part 1 you saw some photos and a video of my journey through the Beaver Basin Wilderness and Andy and Doug’s journey along the Lakeshore Trail from Sand Point to Pine Bluffs. That was effectively the first half of our journey through Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. In this concluding part I leave Trappers Lake and join Andy and Doug at Sevenmile Creek. From there we suffer through ravening hordes of mosquitos and other biting flies, some massive rain storms, confusion and troubles, while the wonders that are influenced by the ever-changing Lake Superior entrance us.

▶️ Play Exploring Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore - July 2025: Part 2

photos

It has been storming for over an hour at this point. Sadly the rainstorm isn’t really knocking the mosquitos and other flying menaces back. But the bivvy is protecting Ken. Photo by Andy.

--July 5, 2025 at 4:36 PM.

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Until Andy snapped this photo I didn’t know how chewed up I really was. I itched but I think I was ignoring the worst of it. Photo by Andy.

--July 6, 2025 at 9:42 AM.

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It’s a blustery morning. It’s considerably cooler which is a blessing. Andy and I have been hiking for an hour. We had no reason to rush.

--July 6, 2025 at 10:42 AM.

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The chocolate chip yellow cake took about 40 minutes to bake. It was worth the wait. Photo by Andy.

--July 6, 2025 at 7:28 PM.

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Just before sunset the last of the light bathers the lighthouse is a golden glow.

--July 6, 2025 at 9:20 PM.

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The remains of a ship that was lost who knows when. Walking the beach just after sunset is proving quite nice.

--July 6, 2025 at 9:44 PM.

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The sun has just dipped below the horizon. Andy and I are walking along the beach towards a set of stairs that will take us to the access road that leads back to Au Sable Point Lighthouse and then our camp.

--July 6, 2025 at 9:48 PM.

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Our final stop of the trip: Sable Falls. Photo by Andy.

--July 7, 2025 at 1:12 PM.

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Exploring Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore - July 2025: Part 1

▶️ Play Exploring Pictured Tocks July 2025: Part 1

On July 2, 2025, Andy, Doug, and I drove up to Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. Normally, we go there over the Memorial Day long weekend, but this year was different. Since we were visiting in July, our options were limited by campsite availability. Park regulations only allow 2 shelters per campsite, and we had 3. Since campsites were rather limited, we ended up doing somewhat different routes. While Andy and Doug would do a more traditional Lakeshore Trail hike from Sand Point to Sable Falls, I would spend my first few days in the Beaver Basin Wilderness and eventually join the guys at Sevenmile Creek.

The video gives you a glimpse into what we all discovered, and there is always something to discover on our first half of this journey through Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore.

Photos

The sun is setting over Lake Superior on the beach at Beaver Creek. It’s been a good day.

--July 3, 2025 at 9:09 PM.

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A view of the sandstone cliffs that help give Pictured Rocks the name. Photo by Andy.

--July 7, 2025 at 8:24 AM.

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This gull is, I suppose, protecting a rookery. Photo by Andy.

--July 4, 2025 at 9:28 AM.

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I walked out quite a way and Beaver Lake was still shallow. Here, close enough for the camera, I could submerge in the warm water and pretend I could swim.

--July 4, 2025 at 1:32 PM.

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After dinner it was nice to just hang out here at Trappers Lake. The lake does have snapping turtles but I think that is just a rock in the foreground.

--July 4, 2025 at 7:42 PM.

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