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Pictured Rocks Boat Cruise - Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore Park

Rainbow Cave Pictured Rocks National Park
Rainbow Cave - Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore Park
Munising, Michigan - Upper Peninsula

While Jo and I have hiked arouind Pictured Rocks National Park, until 2010 we had not actually seen the "painted rocks" that give the park its name. We presumed they were formations similar to the Miner's Castle formation one can hike to and similar to the Sea Caves of the Bayfield Peninsula. We corrected that omission when we took an evening cruise in mid-September with the Pictured Rocks Boat Tours. As you can see from the above picture, the pictured rocks might be more aptly named "painted rocks" (created by that famous abstract impressionist-scultpter Mother Nature.) smile


The "painted rocks" on the sculpted cliffs that comprise the Pictured Rocks section of the park shoreline are formed by groundwater and springs rich in various minerals (iron, manganese, copper, lime, etc.) that leak out of cracks in the rocks and trickle down the rock face. Since this process is ongoing the canvas is constantly changing, evolving into new works of art.

Our pictured rocks tour cruise was on an overcast evening and nightfall descended upon us before the cruise was finished. But the low light conditions didn't diminish the beauty of the rocks and we all thoroughly enjoyed the experience - - - and are looking forward to a return visit for a daylight cruise or a mid-summer evening cruise on a clear evening.

The photos below are but a small sample of the unique landscapes of Mother Nature.

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Pictured Rocks Boat Tours Cruise

Fantastic Cave Paintings. The Sea Caves are neat attractions in themselves yet made more so when they are painted with these striking colors.

pictured rocks pictured rocks

The shear rock walls are a perfect canvas for Mother's creations. Pictures suitable for framing. pictured rockspictured rocksminers castlepictured rocks

 

 

 

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In addition to the painted rocks there are unique formations like chapel rock, miners castle, and indian head rock.

chapel rockminers castleindian head rock


 

 

 

pictured rocks national park


red tri See More Pictured Rocks Photos (from Daytime Cruise) More Photos of Pictured Rocks Here.


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