Two Bridges

After leaving the rest area I stopped for a few minutes at the Cut River Bridge to see if I could get any pictures. The sun was setting. The Moon was out. But I still couldn't get a decent picture. I snapped this one as a car was approaching from behind me and it turned out okay.



After the Cut River Bridge, I passed through St. Ignace on the way home. I stopped in the bridge overlook area and snapped this picture.

I think they both turned out okay for low light, long exposure images taken without a tripod.

Lake Michigan - along US 2

West of the Cut River Bridge, there is a rest area on the south side of US 2. You can walk to Lake Michigan from there, a distance of maybe 100 yards to the water. In 1996 when I was on a trip to the Boundary Waters in Minnesota we stopped at this rest area and I took a photo of this group of rocks. This is the first time I've been back to this spot since then.



The sun was setting as I spent time on the beach. This is east of the rest area looking west.



There were a couple of people playing in the water. Unlike the waterfalls, this didn't bother me in the slightest. And in fact, was fun to watch.



Looking out into Lake Michigan.



The boy who was the last to leave the water.

Grand Marais, Michigan

Grand Marias, Michigan is at the eastern end of the Pictured Rocks. It is a small community and has a nice harbor. Apparently they won a contest sponsored by Readers Digest earlier this year which will allow them to work on the breakwater. There is 'the Pickle Barrel House' which I did not take a picture of as I didn't find it that interesting. There is a small maritime museum there, which I did not know about when I passed through and did not stop at. The lighthouse houses one of only 8 Fresnel Lenses still in use in Michigan. This is the harbor.

Sable Falls

Sable Falls is just west of Grand Marais. The total drop for the falls is about 75 feet.



A hike of about 1/2 mile takes you to the shore of Lake Superior. There are a fair number of steps and the trail eventually becomes sand.



Both on my way to the lake and back I had to wait for groups of people to move so I could get a decent picture.




Although you can see a footpath in both this picture and the previous one, they're beyond the limits of the trail. I generally don't mind of people want to jump the rail and get in the water. I wish they were considerate enough of those taking pictures to move out of frame when someone is setting up a shot.

The Log Slide

This is Au Sable Lighthouse from the Log Slide which is west of Grand Marais. It is between Sable Falls and the lighthouse.


Looking west from the top of the Log Slide.



The Log Slide get its name from it's use when the timber industry was in full swing. Logs would be brought to the top of the hill. A wooden chute led to to the lake below. Logs would be sent down the chute to be gathered below and towed by tug to a mill for processing. Because of the friction from the trees sliding down the chute, small fires would occasionally start. Men equipped with shovels would toss sand from the dune onto the fire to put it out. There used to be an interpretive sign at the top with all this information, but I haven't seen it there the last couple of times I've been there. There is, however, a small lumbering exhibit.



I was first there in the mid to late 80s. At that time, and even into the early 90s, the road was not paved. If the road wasn't sand, it sure seemed like it. The turnoff to the log slide was a little sandy road and let almost to the top of it. Today, the road is paved and there is a nice parking lot a ways back from the top of the hill which requires a short walk to get to. The slide itself is very steep. You can get to the bottom in less than a minute. Climbing back up can take much longer. Depending on your condition, it may take as long as an hour, though I've done it in as little as 20 minutes.




Grand Sable Lake, a short distance inland from Lake Superior.

Lake Superior Shore

This is a rare case of me not remembering where I took a photo. I almost always remember something about a photo. But for these, I don't recall. There was a boardwalk to the beach, but I don't really remember anything else. It was either Twelve Mile Beach or Hurricane River as I drove through the campground at both.
I believe it was the latter.


From Hurricane River there is a trail to Au Sable Lighthouse. It is 1.5 miles one way and would have taken me about 30 minutes each way, but given that it was late and I'd already done a fair bit of hiking earlier, I decided to pass. I do know how to get there now and will plan on doing that the next time I am in the area.



The sky had clouded over a bit from earlier in the day.

Miners River and Miners Beach

East of Miners Castle is Miners Beach. You can either drive there or take a the trail to the beach. The trail is part of the North Country Trail which is the longest National Scenic Trail in the country. It runs for about 4600 miles and from the east starts in New York, then Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin Minnesota and finally North Dakota. I learned about the trail somewhere around 2000 when I was looking for information on the trail that connects Munising to Grand Marais. The NCT incorporates this section of trail into it. This is Miners River from just off the trail connecting Miners Beach to Miners Castle.




Many times when I think of Lake Superior shoreline, I think of a pebble beach. This was a beautiful sand beach. I'm guessing the sand comes from the sandstone cliffs in the area. This is looking west.



Looking east from Miners Beach.



Looking west from Miners Beach from the point of sand visible one of the above images.



Miners River just before it turns and flows into Lake Superior.