Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore is full of iconic and stunning views of the cliffs of Lake Superior. While there are some great hikes that will take you out to the cliffs and beaches, sometimes it’s nice to just relax and board a boat to show you the iconic sites. Not only that, even if you did hike in the park, see the rock formations from the water gives a whole new perspective to the lakeshore.
In this guide, I’ll cover everything you need to know about taking a Pictured Rocks cruise.
About Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore
Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore is located in the very north of Michigan’s upper peninsula. It sits on the shores of Lake Superior and features dramatic cliffs. But the cliffs aren’t the only thing you’ll find here. There’s several beaches where you can relax and plenty of hiking trails leading through the forest.
The lakeshore stretches for miles, but the closest town is Munising. Here’s where you’ll find the Visitor Center, most dining and hotel options, and various tour operators.
Choosing a Cruise
While there are boat rentals and various options for a Pictured Rocks Cruise, most visitors will be looking at Pictured Rocks Cruises, which is based in Munising. This is the main provider of cruises and has been running cruises along Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore for over 50 years. Their cruises focus on showing visitors the major highlights of the gorgeous coast line.
There are two cruise options to choose from: the Classic Cruise or the Spray Falls Cruise. At a high level, these cruises cover the same major sights, which I’ll discuss more shortly. The only difference is that the Spray Falls Cruise travels just a bit further than the Classic Cruise and includes a stop at Spray Falls. All of the rest of the stops are the same between the cruises.
Additionally, the Spray Falls Cruise is shorter. Yes, even though the Spray Falls Cruise covers an additional stop, it’s faster than the Classic Cruise. This is because the Spray Falls Cruise takes place on a faster catamaran and therefore they can make better time. Pictured Rocks Cruises states that the Spray Falls Cruise takes two hours, but in my experience, it was closer to 2 hours and 15 minutes. The Classic Cruise takes 2 hours and 40 minutes (though I’d guess it’s likely closer to 3 hours).
Lastly, the Spray Falls Cruise is slightly more expensive than the Classic Cruise, but I don’t think it’s a significant enough difference. When I booked, the Spray Falls Cruise was $8 more than the Classic Cruise.
So which cruise should you do? Obviously the choice is yours and I’m biased toward the Spray Falls Cruise since that’s what I chose. I don’t think you could go wrong with either cruise, but I think the Spray Falls Cruise is the better choice. At 2 hours and 15 minutes, it felt like just the right amount of time. We moved quickly, but still had enough time to slow down at each of the major landmarks. Plus we got to see the Spray Falls waterfall.
Note that on the Pictured Rocks Cruise website, it may look like there are more options. There’s a Classic Sunset Cruise and a Spray Falls Sunset Cruise. These are the same as the normal cruises, but are just offered later in the evening. They are obviously timed with sunset so the exact departure time changes throughout the season.
Pictured Rocks Cruise Highlights
As you depart Munising, you’ll cruise by Grand Island, which is an island with primitive settlements (some don’t even have electricity). There are separate cruises that focus on Grand Island specifically, but on both the Classic Cruise and Spray Falls Cruise, you’ll just see this from a distance. On the return journey, your captain will get you closer to the island so you can see the East Channel Lighthouse.
Continuing on, you’ll pass Miner’s Castle. Look closely for the two viewing platforms and wave to the people at the top. If you visited Miner’s Castle before your cruise, being on the water really puts into perspective how high up you were. Just beyond Miner’s Castle is Miner’s Beach. You’ll pass three beaches on this tour and this is just the first.
Bridal Veil Falls may or may not be impressive. Early in the season, the water flow is strong with all the snow melt. I visited in mid July and there was just a small trickle of water falling down the cliffs, so the cliffs were more impressive than the waterfall.
The painted coves are some of the most iconic views. The mineral deposits in the rock make the cliff faces come alive with color. And it’s not just the cliff faces. Keep an eye out for Cave of All Colors and Rainbow Cave.
Between Cave of All Colors and Rainbow Cave, you’ll pass Lover’s Leap which is a peninsula that juts out into Lake Superior and forms an arch. Don’t be surprised if you spot groups of kayakers making their way through the arch.
Indian Head is a rock formation that unsurprisingly looks like a face in the rock. It’s said that the indigenous Ojibwe people were scared of this because of how realistic it looked. I don’t know if it’s that realistic, but if you look closely, you can see the outline of a head and the headdress on top.
Gull Rockery is the best spot to search for seagulls along the massive sandstone cliffs. Grand Portal is home to many caverns but don’t forget to look up. Depending on the time of day, this is a great place to spot hikers working their way along the North Country Trail (or a shorter day hike through Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore).
Next you reach of series of rock formations that are all named based on what they look like. You’ll pass Battleship Rocks, Flower Vase, and Indian Drum.
At Chapel Cove, your captain make take you into the cove if the weather is calm. In this cove, you can see the walls tower over you from most directions and it really makes you feel small. Next to Chapel Cove is Chapel Beach and just beyond that is Chapel Rock which is one of the most photographed locations on Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. The rock formation juts out into Lake Superior with a massive tree on top. The roots of the tree still connect it to the mainland.
If you’re on a Classic Cruise, it’s at this point that you’ll turn around and start working your way back to Munising. If you’re on a Spray Falls Cruise, you’ll continue on for just a bit longer until you reach Spray Falls which is a waterfall that spills over 70 feet from the cliffs into Lake Superior.
Where Should You Sit on a Pictured Rocks Cruise
Obviously you’ll get a seat on the boat because tickets are limited, but where should you sit?
The Pictured Rocks Cruise departs from the dock in Munising. From there, you’ll head east along Lake Superior until you reach your final stop (Chapel Rock for the Classic Cruise and Spray Falls for the Spray Falls Cruise). Then the boat will turn around and head back the way you came.
While on the surface, this means that everyone will get to see the same sights regardless of which side of the boat they sit on, I still have a preferred side of the boat. When you board, I recommend trying to get a spot on the right side of the boat. This is the side of the boat that will be closest to the sights on the way out. The captain provides narration and interesting information throughout your tour, but he really only gives that information on the way out. So, you’ll be closer to the rock formations as you learn about the significance of what you’re seeing.
In addition, because the captain is providing narration, you’ll spend a bit longer time at these stops, meaning you have a better shot at getting that perfect photo. The captain will slow down at the top sights as you cruise back to the boat dock in Munising, but these stops felt much shorter than they did on the way out.
Fundamentally it’s your choice where you sit, but if you have the option, try to get a spot on the right side of the boat. I think it’s the better option.
Is a Pictured Rocks Cruise Worth It?
Personally, I think the answer is yes, a Pictured Rocks Cruise is worth it. There are several ways to explore this beautiful area, but I think seeing the rock formations from the water really help to put things into perspective. Plus, you can see more of the formations from the water.
As I planned my trip, I wondered if the cruise would be worth it. I had already planned to hike the Chapel Mosquito Loop which included hiking from Chapel Rock all the way to Mosquito Beach. That section is the main the highlight of the Pictured Rocks Cruise. Would it just be duplicating something?
I don’t think it did and I’m so glad I did both the hike and the cruise. One of the coolest things for me was that the cruise put my hike into perspective. I really got to see and understand how far I had hiked. I knew I spent several miles hiking along the shoreline but it was much different seeing that same distance while riding in the boat. Additionally, there are plenty of things that you just can’t see from the trail. Many of the rock formations and caves are just not visible from above.
So fundamentally, yes. I do recommend taking a Pictured Rocks Cruise.
What Happens if the Weather is Bad?
When you purchase your ticket for a Pictured Rocks Cruise, the ticket is nonrefundable. However, safety is the most important thing and if the weather is too rough, your cruise will be cancelled and your ticket is refunded.
Additionally, since there are several cruises offered per day, you may have the option to exchange your ticket for another time. As I’ve referred to the official website for parts of this article, I’ve noticed that they specifically keep an eye on the weather and will allow you to change your ticket if the weather is bad. This also includes switching your ticket if rain is predicted but your cruise is not cancelled.
That all said, as you can tell from my pictures, I didn’t have the best weather for my Pictured Rocks cruise. Most of the day was lovely but it clouded over in the evening, just in time for my cruise. Thankfully the rain mostly held out until we reached Chapel Rock, though it started drizzling slightly before that.
If possible, I’d recommend doing your Pictured Rocks cruise when it’s sunny as you’ll get the best experience. But with a good attitude, you can still find enjoyment in the not so great weather. The views are great so as long as it isn’t raining for one direction of your cruise, it’ll be fine.
What to Bring on Your Cruise
It’s always a good idea to bring layers on any boat on the Great Lakes. Earlier in the summer, I took a cruise at the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore which is also located on Lake Superior. On that cruise, I was so cold and even lost feeling in my face. My cruise at Pictured Rocks was much less dramatic, but it can still get cool, even in the summer. You’re on the largest of the Great Lakes and cruising as fast as 25 miles per hour. Bring layers because you just never know how cold you will be until you get there.
Beyond layers, there’s not much else you need to bring. You can bring water or snacks, but these are also sold on board.
Cell Phone Service in the Upper Peninsula
Michigan’s Upper Peninsula is sparsely populated. What that means is service can be very spotty throughout not just Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, but the entire peninsula. Therefore, it’s important to plan ahead and not just rely on your phone.
Download Google Maps (or your preferred map service) for offline use. This means that even if you don’t have service (which is very likely near Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore), you can still navigate to where you need to go. I also recommend stopping at the visitor center to pick up a map. I do this regardless but there were a few times where my phone acted up and didn’t want to navigate (even though I had maps downloaded on my phone).
Where to Stay at Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore
Munising is the closest town to Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore and has several hotel options. You’ll also find restaurants and plenty of souvenir shops, just like any tourist town.
My hotel was just outside of Munising in the town of Wetmore.
When to Visit Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore
Technically, Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore can be visited all year round. However, you’re in the north of the country and along the largest freshwater lake in the United States. It gets cold and very snowy, so I’d think twice about visiting in winter.
Peak travel time is the summer months. This gives you the best weather as well as the most options. Pictured Rocks Cruises only runs for a few months out of the year, typically from May through October. However, I personally would recommend looking at the summer months, so you can try to guarantee the best weather.
Final Thoughts
Cruising along Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore is a fantastic way to see the beauty of this part of the United States. It’s relaxing, informative, and scenic. What more could you ask for?
Continue Your Adventure
Michigan: At Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, don’t miss some of the great hikes. In Michigan’s Lower Peninsula, spend one day at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore.
Apostle Islands National Lakeshore: Located in Wisconsin on the shores of Lake Superior, the Apostle Islands are another great option on Lake Superior. Take a scenic cruise or get out and take a hike.
More in the Midwest: If you head to Illinois, you can visit the best of Chicago. Slightly east of Chicago is Indiana Dunes National Park. Is Iowa, don’t miss the caves at Maquoketa Caves State Park.