History’s Gem of the Month: Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore Proposal Proposal Part 3

Summer 2008

(continued from the June & Summer 2008 update)

THE LAKESHORE PROPOSAL

As proposed, the national lakeshore would comprise an area about 35 miles long and 3 miles wide. It would contain approximately 67,000 acres, exclusive of any water area of Lake Superior. (The water boundary lies one-quarter mile offshore.)

The proposal is divided into two zones, with the use and management techniques of each zone differing according to its primary objective.

Land Use Plan

Objectives of the land use plan are to develop the proposed lakeshore for its optimum recreational potential and, at the same time and where possible, to utilize its renewable resources. A two-zone system is recommended to achieve these objectives.

Because the lakeshore zone is more richly endowed with scenic, scientific, and inspirational values than the inland buffer zone, it has the greater capacity to provide for public enjoyment. Consequently, its primary use will be for inspirational, educational and recreational purposes.

The inland buffer zone lacks dramatic features but is important for recreational development and stabilization and protection of the streams and watershed. It would, therefore, be managed for the fullest economic utilization of the renewable resources though sustained timber yield and other resource management practices compatible with the purposes of the national lakeshore.

Types f uses consistent with the objectives of the lakeshore include sightseeing, hiking, picnicking, camping, boating, canoeing, tobogganing, cross-country skiing, hunting, and fishing. Facilities to serve these activities would be placed at strategic locations, and would include information centers, contact stations, campgrounds, picnic sites, roads, hiking trails, boat docks, interpretive devices, campfire circles, and nature tails.

The Proposed Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore Map

The proposed development of the lakeshore includes 23 key locations. [Note: The actual development of the lakeshore varies significantly from what was originally proposed. The changes where present are noted below.]

1. VISITOR CENTER: Information, interpretive exhibits, trail terminal, view of Grand Island. [Note: this center was constructed at Munising Falls, which does not have a view of Grand Island.]
2. SAND POINT OVERLOOK: Parking area, interpretation station, nature trail, view of Grand Island, South Bay and Sand Point.
3. PICTURED ROCKS OVERLOOK: Parking area, interpretation station, view of Pictured Rocks and Grand Island. [Note: This overlook was not constructed. Instead, a cross-country ski trail was installed.]
4. MINERS CASTLE POINT: Picnic area, parking, sanitary facility, interpretation station, view of Miners Castle, Miners Beach, Pictured Rocks and Grand Island. Access by spur road.
5. MINERS BASIN CAMPGROUND: Camping units, sanitary facilities, access by Miners Castle Point spur road. [Note: A campground was not installed at this location.]
6. MINERS FALLS: Parking area, interpretation station, trail to falls.
7. MINERS BASIN OVERLOOK: Parking area, interpretation station, view of Miners Basin, Miners Beach, Miners Castle and Grand Island. [Note: This development was not implemented.]
8. PAINTED COVES OVERLOOK: Parking area, interpretation station, view of Painted Coves, Mosquito Harbor, Indian Head, Miners Castle, Miners Beach, and Grand Island. [Note: This development was not implemented.]
9. MOSQUITO FALLS: Parking area, interpretation station, trail to falls. [Note: This parking area was merged with Number 8.]
10. CHAPEL FALLS AND LAKE: Parking, interpretation station, view of Chapel Falls and Chapel Lake. [Note: A parking area was constructed, but it was moved well back away from the lake and falls.]
11. CHAPEL BASIN OVERLOOK: Parking, interpretation station, trail to Chapel Rock, loop trail along Grand Portal, view of Chapel Basin, chapel beach and Little Chapel Lake. [Note: This development was not implemented.]
12. SPRAY FALLS OVERLOOK: Parking, interpretation station, trail to falls, view of Grand Portal. [Note: This development was not implemented.]
13. WEST BEAVER BASIN OVERLOOK: Parking, interpretation station, view of Beaver Lake, Little Beaver Lake, Trappers Lake and western portion of beaver basin. Access by spur road. [Note: Instead a campground and interpretive trail were installed at this location..]
14. MID BEAVER BASIN OVERLOOK: Parking area, interpretation station, view of central portion of Beaver Basin, Beaver Lake, sandstone mesa and upper Seven Mile Creek. [Note: This development was not implemented.]
15. EAST BEAVER BASIN OVERLOOK: Parking, interpretation station, view of eastern part of Beaver Basin, Seven Mile Creek, Seven Mile Lake, Hyde Lakes and the sandstone mesa. Access by spur road. [Note: This development was not implemented.]
16. PINE BLUFF BEACH CAMPGROUND: Camping units, sanitary facilities, beachcombing, sunbathing, hiking. [Note: A primitive rustic campground was installed at Pine Bluff, as well as at several other locations along the lakeshore that were not included in the original proposal.]
17. PINE BLUFF BEACH OVERLOOK: Parking area, interpretation station, nature trail, picnic area, sanitary facilities, view of Pine Bluff Beach. [Note: This development was not implemented.]
18. AU SABLE POINT OVERLOOK: Parking area, interpretation station, view of Au Sable Point, conifer forest, bogs, ridge and swale landscape. [Note: This development was not implemented. However, drive-in rustic campgrounds were installed at 12-Mile Beach and the Hurricane River. An interpretive trail was also installed at 12-Mile Beach and the Au Sable Lighthouse has and is continuing to be developed to return it to the 1910 era. ]
19. LOG SLIDE OVERLOOK: Parking area, interpretation station, access to dunes, view of Au Sable Point, Au Sable Lighthouse, Grand Sable Banks, and Grand Sable Dunes.
20. GRAND SABLE LAKE CAMPGROUND: Camping units, sanitary facilities, nature tail, campfire circle, access to Grand Sable Lake with boat launch, swimming, water skiing, boating, canoeing, and bathhouses. [Note: Although the campground was never implemented, there are picnic areas, access to the dunes, and a boat ramp. Recently, a primitive one-unit camp site was constructed on Sable Lake that is accessible only by boat.]
21. GRAND SABLE LAKE OVERLOOK PARKING AREA: Interpretation station, view of Grand Sable Lake. [Note: Although no interpretive center was constructed, a day-use picnic area was installed.]
22. GRAND SABLE CONTACT STATION: Information, interpretive exhibits, trail terminal, picnic area, access to beach and dunes. [Note: Although a picnic area was not installed, a cross-country ski trail was implemented.]
23. GRAND SABLE FALLS: Parking area, interpretation station, trail to Grand Sable Falls. [Note: The cross-country ski trail connects the Falls to the Grand Sable Visitors Center #22. Also, a Sanitary Station was also constructed.]