Hiking the Chapel Loop at Pictured Rocks in Peak Fall Color

The Chapel Loop at Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore in Munising, Michigan is an amazing hike. The cliffs of Pictured Rocks up against the amazing Lake Superior make for endless views and photo opportunities. We had hiked it in the past but this time we planned it perfectly to hike during peak fall colors. 

To get started, here is a breakdown of the trail. The trail itself is 10.5 miles long but each time we hike it we end up doing about 12 miles when we add on exploring the beaches and enjoying all of the scenery. About 4.5 miles are right along the Pictured Rocks cliff edges and Lake Superior. This loop trail can be hiked in either direction and we liked to do it clockwise. 

When hiking clockwise the first main attraction through the forest is Mosquito Falls, a small but scenic multi-tiered waterfall. The backdrop of fall color and fallen leaves made for a nice setting that looked like a pot of gold. 

After a few miles through the changing landscapes will be Mosquito Beach. This is one of the first spots we do a bit more exploring while also stopping to just relax, take in the views and have a snack. Snacks and hydration are a must for this hike!

The next stretch is the 4.5 mile stretch along the lakeshore. There are iconic rock formations like Lovers Leap and Grand Portal Point along with non-stop amazing views. For this being our first time hiking the trail during fall, we made sure to take our time and enjoy all of the fall color that totally changed the look of this hike from our last time. 

This portion of the hike ends at Chapel Beach and Chapel Rock. The lone white pine on Chapel Rock was looking great being surrounded by trees with fall color. This part of the hike is what we would consider another great stopping point. As it has been somewhat unplanned, we stop at Mosquito Beach and Chapel Beach during this hike.

The last stretch from Chapel Beach to the trailhead has one more great spot to check out and that is Chapel Falls. The waterfall is about 60 feet high and has multiple viewing areas. This waterfall is surrounded by the thick forest so the fall colors really popped here. The section from the trailhead to Chapel Beach is often considered the easiest part of the Chapel Loop and is often does as an out and back trail. 

Overall this is always one of our favorite hikes and doing it during fall for the first time only added to our overall appreciation of this trail!

Check out our full video from the hike!