Agate Beach (Grand Marais)
The Public Beach at the end of M-77 in Grand Marais might be my favorite beach in the world. Not only does it offer breathtaking views of Lake Superior and the humble beginnings of Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, but it is also one of the best beaches to hunt agates in Michigan. This beach pleases the optimistic agate hunter and rock hunting novices alike, offering an abundance of common but pretty rocks.
Unakite, a green and pinkish-red stone that is often found with quartz, is abundant on this beach. If rock hunting isn’t your thing, the beach is great for walking, wading in Lake Superior’s chilly water, or taking a break to eat lunch.
I would recommend meandering down the beach about a mile and a half to where the Sable Creek flows into the lake. From there, you can wander up the wooden plank-stairs to Sable Falls, one of the many falls that Pictured Rocks has to offer. The falls tumble some 75 feet before calming down to enter Lake Superior.
If you do make this hike, beware that rock hunting is not allowed once you enter the National Lakeshore. If you plan to rock hunt, I recommend you bring a bucket (Home-Depot 5-gallon buckets work great) and a pair of rubber boots if your feet get cold easily. Happy hunting!
