Chapel Loop Trail - Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore
This place is one of our favorite hikes to date! If you want more info all about Pictured rocks check this out!
Info: Mosquito Falls and Chapel Falls via Chapel Loop is a 10.1 mile heavily trafficked loop trail located near Shingleton, Michigan that features a lake and is rated as moderate. The trail is primarily used for hiking, running, nature trips, and bird watching and is best used from April until October.
“Chapel Rock is a left over from Cambrian age sandstone. The archway between the rock and the mainland collapsed in the 1940s. This alone Pine on Chapel Rock is attached to the mainland by its root system.”
Drive-in/Parking: The road in is very bumpy and depending on the season a lot of potholes. If it is the middle of the summer a lot of these are filled and just treat it as a gravel road. The parking lot is pretty big but we suggest getting there as early as you can as this parking lot fills up. Many hikers are doing the shorter hikes so it is possible to wait and find a parking place close to the trailhead many times. There are stall bathrooms at the trailhead.
All about the Trail:
Many have shared that this trial can be confusing. We have done this trail a couple of times, and yes we got lost once (even after doing it)! So We thought we'd share what to do and where it gets tricky: BRING A COMPASS: With not a lot of reception, while you are on the trail as well as parts of the trail being a bit confusing, a compass will help you out on this trail!
Trailhead: From the trailhead, you’ll want to start on the one going northeast (counterclockwise). If you bring a map with you you should be totally fine. You’ll go 1.3 miles down and see Chaple Falls. For some hikers, this is the end goal and you can head back to the car with a 2.6 mile hike. Very pretty and worth it!
Get back on the trail looping around the waterfall and you’ll go another 1.6 miles until you hit
Chaple Rock and the first lookout for Pictured Rocks. Very beautiful! After enjoying this a lot of hikers turn back in and go the same way they came in. This is about 6 miles round trip and worth it!
Just past Chapel Rock is the start of Chapel Beach. This is also the location of the first hike-in campground.
Let's keep going! Next up:
Lakeshore Trail: If you want to keep going follow the trail along the lakeshore. There is only one. It goes along the pictured rocks and you'll have many amazing views!
Grand Portal Point - This is the next viewpoint to find. See more info on this amazing rock HERE.
Keep hiking along this trail and you can walk right out on Grand Portal Point! This is your next destination to find at 1.5 miles from Chaple Rock & 4.6 from the trailhead. You can also sit along here and enjoy the view a bit. This part is a memory of a lifetime.
You'll go along the lakeshore for another 2.7 miles seeing the below:
Indian Head is the next rock formation you'll find!
The Sea Arch is known as Lover’s Leap on the way as well! Rock Shelves just under the water as you start dropping down towards Mosquito Beach.
Here is where we've gotten lost before but you don't have to :)
Mosquito Creek is next and you'll find some beautiful sandstone layers.
After crossing the Mosquito Creek you turn off the Lakeshore Trail and starting heading inland towards Mosquito Falls. By continuing on to the Mosquito Falls trail it is a 2.6-mile walk back to the trailhead. Making your entire hike 9.7 miles.
There is another trail just before the creek that will take you back to the parking area in 1.9 miles. Making the entire hike 9 miles.
These trails were difficult to find so keep your eye out and use your compass!
