Four Illinois residents who visited Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, seen here, in July 2025 have been fined and banished from the park for one year after defacing and collecting park resources on Pictured Rocks' property. (Photo courtesy of Pictured Rocks Cruises)

MARQUETTE – Four visitors from Illinois who were caught defacing Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore property have been fined and banned from the park for one year. Authorities say they vandalized the shoreline cliffs and collected over 100 pounds of rocks.

According to Timothy VerHey, the U.S. attorney for the Western District of Michigan, the incident occurred on July 25, 2025, when U.S. Park Rangers conducting a routine marine patrol encountered multiple vessels near the lakeshore’s cliffs.

Rangers reported that individuals aboard the boats were carving large letters into the cliff faces and had collected more than 100 pounds of rocks they intended to take home with them, according to a press release.

The visitors were cited for defacing and collecting park resources and ordered to appear in the U.S. District Court in Marquette for a mandatory appearance on the violations on Dec. 9, 2025.

Each of the four defendants was ordered to pay a $500 fine and is prohibited from returning to Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore for one year. One of the individuals was ordered to pay an additional $250 fine for taking the rocks.

VerHey emphasized the significance of protecting the lakeshore’s natural features in a press release.

“Pictured Rocks is one of Michigan’s iconic natural wonders,” VerHey said. “There is no other place like it, and we will not get another one. Everyone is welcome to see and enjoy this beautiful place, but no one is allowed to inflict damage on it. Anyone who does will be punished: these four people were lucky to get off with a fine and banishment because the judge could have given each of them six months in jail. I applaud the Park Rangers for putting a stop to this vandalism.”

Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore stretches more than 42 miles along the southern shore of Lake Superior and is known for its towering sandstone cliffs, extensive forests, wetlands and more than 100 miles of hiking trails.

Joseph Hughes, Pictured Rocks chief ranger, stated the case demonstrates the role of proactive marine patrols in safeguarding park resources and investigating criminal violations.

“I would like to remind all park visitors that as we spend time outdoors, it’s important to be conscious of our actions,” added Hughes. “It takes all of us to protect this wonderful place.”

To learn more about Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, visit the National Park Service website, https://www.nps.gov/piro/index.htm.

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Sophie Vogelmann can be reached at 906-786-2021 or svogelmann@dailypress.net.