Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore

Pictured Rocks is the Great Lakes adventure that rivals anything out West. Forty-three miles of trail hugging Lake Superior's shore - those sandstone cliffs tower 200 feet above the water, streaked with mineral colors that shift with the light. You'll camp on beaches, wake up to sunrise over the biggest freshwater lake in the world, and hike with views that never quit. The mileage is real - 10-12 miles per day - but the terrain is moderate. The challenge is weather: Lake Superior creates its own microclimate, and you need to be ready for cold, wind, and sudden changes. This trip is driveable (barely), costs half what a flight-based trip does, and delivers bucket-list scenery. It's the Tier 2 trip that proves you don't need airplanes for epic adventures.