Come Along With Chong: Chapel Falls, Rock, and Beach at Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore

Chapel Rock, Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore

September 14, 2013

From our campground, we drove 25 miles to Chapel Parking Lot where we planned to hike an 11 mile loop to Chapel Rock, Grand Portal Point, Mosquito Beach, and Mosquito Falls. We started around 7 am with the temperature hovering around 30 deg F and arrived to the parking lot around 8. After a quick swig of coffee at the trailhead and a fast hiking pace on the rising terrain, we were well warmed up.

The trail was wide and easily accommodated both of us. Though it was dry for the latter half of the summer, there were still areas that were wet and muddy. Besides the muddy spots on the trail, we also ran into areas that were washed out and eroded. Other than that, the trail was well maintained and had us hiking on some cool landscape such as steps formed by tree roots. The woods on either side of us went on for as far as our eyes could see and, the further we hiked, the closer to the Lake Superior shoreline we got.

Within half an hour, Chapel Falls came into view. After snapping a couple of pictures, we hiked around to the other side of the falls where the trail turned north, leading us to the shoreline. The trail that paralleled the east side of Chapel Lake and 45 minutes after Chapel Falls, we arrived at Chapel Rock.

Chapel Rock was unassuming, with the trail leading us to a small clearing on top of a cliff. Looking left, we saw a lone tree sitting on top of a sandstone pillar. This was Chapel Rock. Impressive and awe inspiring, Chapel Rock used to be connected to the mainland by a sandstone arch until it collapsed in the 40's. After pausing to take in the view, we continued hiking to Chapel Beach.

We were now hiking on the North Country Trail which snaked along the shores of Lake Superior. There were beach campsites on one side and log steps that led down to the beach on the other. Being 3 miles away from the parking lot and accessible only by hiking, these sites were secluded, quiet, and pristine. We then continued hiking towards Grand Portal Point.