NEWP’s inaugural Pictured Rocks trip was held in August 2025. Nine NEWP members spent three days paddling and exploring the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore and surrounding area near Munising, Michigan. Some of the group arrived at the campsite Thursday and the rest arrived Friday morning. 
We met at Miner’s Beach around noon Friday and spent the next several hours paddling along the Pictured Rocks cliffs and into the sea caves. We also explored a shipwreck by donning swimming goggles and leaning over, ala bow rescue style, to get a view of the submerged vessel.
The weather forecast for Saturday was going to be scattered thunderstorms, so we decided to explore several waterfalls surrounding Munising. 
The adventures finished with dinner in the rain at Cap’n Ron’s Fish ‘n’ Chips food truck, followed by ice cream at Northwoods Outpost.
The weather forecast for Sunday was better, so we paddled from Munising’s Sand Point Beach to Grand Island. We paddled into Murry Bay to examine the shipwreck and were surprised to see a dive boat there with eight divers exploring the shipwreck. While the divers were below us, we donned the swimming goggles again to get a view of the vessel and underwater explorers. After leaving Murray Bay, we paddled along the southeast shoreline of Grand Island checking out the lighthouse and other features of the island. Sunday evening, we enjoyed a group meal of New York Strip steak, potatoes, and corn-on-the-cob, all cooked over an open fire. That was followed up by Angel Food cake with strawberries, blueberries and Cool Whip.
Some of us had to head for home Sunday evening, while the rest stayed another night before heading home on Monday.
The group all agreed that NEWP should host another paddle event at Pictured Rocks in 2026.
