Chapel Beach

Grand Portal Point 2 | 3 | 4

Mosquito Beach 5 | 6 | 7 | 8

Miners Castle Area

Cliffs

Miners Castle 11 | 12 | 13

Potato Patch

Return Hike 15 | 16 | 17 | 18

Flowers

Leaving the Miner's Castle area, the trail plunged into a dank, swampy forest above lake Superior. The views we'd enjoyed previously of the rocky bluff were non-existent here, and as the trail sunk deeper into the muddy swamp we kept an eye out for a campsite indicator. We spotted triliium and many more forget-me-nots, violets and ferns here. The vegetation was extremely lush, and the trail crossed many a boggy spot on well-constructed boardwalk. Without the boardwalk, the trail would be impassible in early spring, and we were thankful for the artificail aid.

We walked over a mile and a half, and saw no sign of the Cliffs campsite. Reaching a bridge across a gorgeous waterfall, we realized that we had passed the site, without seeing any sign of a turnoff. Deciding to trun around, we kept our eyes peeled, and were rewarded with a faint trail about twenty minutes later. The sign was there all right, but had sunk into the mud trailside. Putting the sign back on its feet, we soon found the camp site, deserted as always.

This site was buggy, and obviously designed as a way station for campers headed east from Munising. Only three sites, a fire ring and a bear pole here--no views and no water source. We crossed several small streams that could serve as a supply in wet spring, but were advised to carry water in, as these streams obviously dry up in the later summer months.

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