Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore  Of the 5,500 miles of Great Lakes shoreline, the 43 miles including Pictured Rocks was chosen to be part of National Park System by virtue of its unique and spectacular scenery. The park was established as a National Lakeshore in 1966, the first to carry such a designation in the National Park System. The park includes pristine beaches, 100s of miles of trails, hardwood forests, and towering multicolored sandstone cliffs. Historic sites at Pictured Rocks include an 1874 lighthouse and early U.S. Coast Guard lifeboat stations, there are 15 miles of cliffs. The park is a popular destination for hiking, canoeing, kayaking, bird watching, cross-country skiing and ice fishing!.