Our+troop+recently+returned+from+a+week%2dlong+trip+to+Pictured+Rocks%2e++It+was+incredible%21++%0d%0a%0d%0aWe+hiked+along+the+edge+of+giant+300%2dft+sandstone+cliffs+rising+up+from+lake+superior%2e++We+spent+hours+relaxing+on+beautiful+sandy+beaches+and+swimming+in+the+crystal%2dclear+waters+of+Lake+Superior%2e++We+climbed+up+waterfalls+%28well%2c+small+waterfalls%29%2e++We+gazed+down+from+the+top+of+huge+sand+dunes+%28it+takes+an+hour+to+climb+them%29%2e%0d%0a%0d%0aWe+spent+the+first+night+of+our+trip+at+Camp+Hiawatha%2c+located+about+30+miles+south+of+the+lakeshore%2e++The+summer+session+there+was+just+ending%2c+and+the+staff+graciously+let+us+spend+the+night+there+for+free%2c+so+we+could+be+well%2drested+for+an+early+start+the+next+day%2e%0d%0a%0d%0aWhen+visiting+Pictured+Rocks%2c+you+have+two+options%3a%0d%0a%0d%0aOption+1%3a++Camp+in+designated+campsites+%28we+did+this%29%2e++There+are+three+designated+%22campsites%22%2d%2dnamed+Little+Beaver+Lake%2c+Twelvemile+Beach+and+Hurricane+River%2e++These+sites+require+a+%2410%2fnight+fee%2e++They+also+have+a+limit+of+2+tents%2fsite%2c+and+a+limit+of+8+people%2fsite%2e++Each+site+has+a+very+nice+fire+grate+and+access+to+water+and+bear%2dproof+garbage+cans%2e++Surprisingly%2c+firewood+was+never+a+problem%2e++The+sites+are+drive%2din%2c+and+are+located+withing+spitting+distance+of+each+other%2e++We+would+have+preferred+more+isolation%2c+but+we+spent+very+little+time+in+the+site+anyway%2e++In+addition%2c+the+campsites+were+nearly+always+full%2e++When+we+switched+locations%2c+we+sent+one+adult+ahead+to+the+next+campsite%2c+early+in+the+morning%2e++He+would+%22stake+a+claim%22+on+a+site+that+someone+was+vacating+that+day%2c+and+then+return+to+notify+the+troop+that+we+could+pack+up%2e%0d%0a%0d%0aOption+2%3a++Backcountry+hiking%2e++A+network+of+trails+runs+the+length+of+the+lakeshore%2e++Campsites+are+located+on+these+trails+every+2%2d5+miles%2e++Such+%22backcountry%22+camping+requires+a+reservation+and+a+permit+%28only+%2415%29%2e++Reservations+are+accepted+starting+January+1+of+each+year%2e++These+sites+do+have+primitive+toilets%2c+but+they+do+not+have+water+and+garbage+cans%2e++On+the+plus+side%2c+you+are+not+forced+to+camp+next+to+RVs+and+many+other+people%2e++This+is+what+our+scouts+want+to+do+when+they+return%2e%0d%0a%0d%0aAside+from+hiking+and+swimming%2c+the+lakeshore+offers+other+activities%2e++An+old+lighthouse+is+open+to+the+public%2c+with+tours+every+half%2dhour%2e++The+tour+was+very+well%2ddone%2c+with+a+lot+of+technical+and+historical+information+presented%2e++A+don%27t%2dmiss+area+is+the+%22log+slide%22%2c+which+has+the+highest+sand+dunes+in+the+entire+area%2e++They+slope+hundreds+of+feet+down+to+the+lake%2c+at+a+greater+than+45%2ddegree+angle%2e++People+can+slide+down+them%2c+but+are+folks+with+heart+or+other+physical+conditions+are+warned+against+it%2c+as+the+climb+back+up+is+backbreaking%2e%0d%0a%0d%0aIn+summary%2c+our+scouts+really+enjoyed+Pictured+Rocks%2c+and+we+intend+to+return+next+year%2e++The+cost+was+surprisingly+low%2d%2dwe+spent+less+than+%24700%2c+for+6+scouts+and+2+adults+to+camp+for+a+week%2c+including+food%2c+fees%2c+gas%2c+meals+on+the+road%2c+etc%2e++A+great+high%2dadventure+trip%2c+especially+for+troops+on+a+budget%2e%0d%0a