Chapel Rock

First officially designated National
Lakeshore in the United States
1966

For the second time we drove down 5mile Chapel Road as the rain began drizzle. Nothing was going to hold us down. We made our way to the trail head a picked Chapel Rock, one out 6 hikes to choose from. The forest was lush colored in bright green trees and wild growing hosta looking plants. Soon the forest became white with birch trees, the scales of bark lying on the ground looked like the trees had shed their skin like a snake. Soon we heard the sound of water, Chapel Falls greeted us with its beauty. Continuing the hike the rain had become more steady falling through the trees and the ground more damp. Lost in conversation we hardly noticed. In an instant there was a DNR officer approaching us, he was dressed in his camouflaged poncho, military boots, and a brimmed rain hat. He smiled a big smile and said, "Its not true what they say, we don't melt in the rain, Aye. I like your spirit." He was there and gone in a flash, he was like the sun to us, warm and bright. He was the only person we passed on the trail the whole day. Continuing our hike we met our destination, a true wonder. Chapel Rock is just one of many of Pictured Rocks' rock formations. When two men discovered the beautifully carved sandstone cliffs they saw pictures, hence the name. Signs are posted warning visitors to stay away from the edge of the cliffs, stepping to hard, to close could cause the ground to crumble from beneath you. The cliffs dropped some 50feet down to the colorful crystal waters below. Reaching Chapel Beach we were more than soaked, we took the log steps down to the sand felt the coldest of the great lakes, Lake Superior, and gathered some pebbles. Turning to head back up the hill we checked out some hike in camp spots and talked about coming back to tent camp in the future to discover more of this unique beautiful place. We hiked seven and a half miles all together returning to the camper a wet cold mess, Chris made us chicken alfredo, one of his specialties.

Look in the left corner of this picture, the roots from a tree
stretch across connecting Chapel Rock to the cliff. Chris
climbed across but I don't have a picture. Kidding. Kidding.