Pictured Rocks Boat Cruise

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The Pictured Rocks of Pictured Rocks National Park

The Miner's Castle is one formation you can partially see from land. See some more Castle scenes here
The Miner’s Castle is one formation you can partially see from land. See some more Miner’s Castle scenes here

In September of 2016 Jo and Donna took the Pictured Rocks Cruise on a beautiful Sunday afternoon. We had taken the Sunset Pictured Rocks Cruise a few years ago but that was an early evening cruise on a more overcast day, so the girls were looking forward to doing another cruise – in the daytime and when the sun was shining.

The cruise ship was packed as many other people also felt this was a great day for a cruise out on the lake. The Pictured Rocks National Park is thought by many to be Michigan’s #1 Adventure destination. The park has an excellent network of hiking trails, expansive sand beaches, three campgrounds, waterfalls, many scenic overlooks, and the colorful painted sandstone cliffs that give the park its name.

While you can see some of the painted rocks from park hiking trails, as a practical matter the only way to really appreciate them is from the water. That’s where the Pictured Rocks Cruise Service narrated tours fit in. Their Regular cruise is 32 mile round trip excursion covering the colorful cliffs, interesting rock formations, sea caves, and waterfalls. Their Spray Falls cruise adds an additional waterfall to the itinerary and uses the services speedy catamaran ship. The Sunset cruise covers the same route as the regular cruise but late in the day.



Here’s a small sample of some of the interesting formations and Mother Nature’s artwork you’ll see taking one of these cruises. (click on images for a larger view)

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