Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore

Permit Information

NPS Special Use Permit required for every wedding. Pictured Rocks only allows ceremonies at Sand Point Beach or Miners Beach. Maximum 40 attendees including the wedding party, maximum 10 chairs, and the event must fit inside a two hour daylight window (setup plus ceremony plus cleanup). Applications open 60 days ahead and take about 30 business days to process. The park does not allow amplified music, artificial lighting, drones, affixed signage, or anything thrown or released (confetti, rice, …

Planning Your Day at Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore

One-Spot Day

Pictured Rocks one spot days must work around a strict 2 hour permit window (setup plus ceremony plus cleanup) and the park allows ceremonies at only Sand Point Beach or Miners Beach. Miners Beach is the stronger scenery pick, the sandstone cliffs rise directly behind the sand. Plan the ceremony tight, two hours is less than it sounds.

Ceremony + Portraits Split

Because ceremonies are restricted to Sand Point and Miners Beach, splitting locations within the park is limited. The Miners Castle overlook is 10 minutes from Miners Beach and works as a portrait location after the ceremony even without a separate permit (portraits without setup are not the same as a ceremony). Munising itself is the base town with lodging and restaurants.

A Note on Light

The sandstone cliffs face north and west, late afternoon and early evening are when the cliffs glow orange and gold. Miners Beach is backed by cliffs that catch sunset color beautifully. Miners Castle from the overlook lights up in morning from the east. Water clarity is at its peak in mid to late summer when the lake has warmed and stilled. Fall foliage on the cliff tops peaks late September into early October.

Ceremony Spots at Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore

• Miners Beach — Sandy Lake Superior beach with colorful sandstone cliffs as a natural backdrop
• Miners Castle Overlook — Sandstone formation overlook with panoramic Lake Superior views