What You’ll See On A Pictured Rocks Boat Tour
Pictured Rocks Cruises Tour Highlights
Highlights on each boat tour
Classic Cruises
The Classic Cruise and Sunset Classic Cruise tours both feature 16 breathtaking highlights on their routes. From the East Channel Lighthouse on Grand Island to Chapel Rock, you’ll see the best of Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. All that’s missing is Spray Falls.
Spray Fall Cruises
On the Spray Falls Cruise and Sunset Spray Falls Cruise tours, guests will see everything on the Classic Cruise tour routes — as well as Spray Falls, the gorgeous waterfall that plunges into Lake Superior.
Explore Each of the Pictured Rocks Highlights
Click each one to learn more.
What You'll See on A Pictured Rocks Cruise
On a Pictured Rocks Cruise, you’ll see all the must-see natural wonders of Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. Aboard our boat tours, marvel at the iconic Miners Castle, take in the colorful Painted Coves, and witness the unique formations of the Caves of All Colors. From the imposing arch that is Lovers Leap to the majestic Grand Portal to the almost delicate Flower Vase, each highlight is breathtaking specticle.
Learn More About Each Highlight
1. East Channel Lighthouse
This historic lighthouse stands north of Munising Bay at the southern tip of Grand Island. It was first constructed in 1868, as a guide for boats traveling in from Lake Superior to the east channel of Grand Island and safely in to Munising Bay. The East Channel Lighthouse was restored during the early 2000s and stands as a reminder of what past sailors used to find safe harbor.
2. Grand Island
Grand Island is a designated National Recreation Area. This 22.5 square mile wilderness haven is located just one-half mile offshore from Munising, and is a place where biking, camping, hiking, kayaking and enjoying the outdoors by land and sea is always welcome.
3. Miners Castle
The first major rock formation that you will see is considered by many the most famous landmark of the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. It’s comprised of several eroding caverns at the base with a steep sandstone wall leading to a crown-like structure at the top. During the spring of 2006, one of the two turrets fell into the lake forever changing the look of the majestic Miners Castle.
4. Bridalveil Falls
Bridalveil Falls, a seasonal waterfall within Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, is best appreciated from the water. Depending on the day, this 140-foot waterfall can be trickling or rushing down from its sandstone crest into Lake Superior.
5. Painted Coves
The vast sandstone walls and coves that encompass Pictured Rocks are something to marvel. These coves are ever changing works of art and were created from groundwater and springs rich with minerals such as iron, copper and lime that leak out of cracks in the rock and trickle down its face.
6. Caves of All Colors
These caves are aptly named and will have getting your camera out so the detailed colors can be later analyzed. This coloration has been occurring over centuries with the unification of ancient sandstone rock and mineral enriched waters that cascade down them.
7. Lovers Leap
Lovers Leap is an imposing arch of rock that extends from the shoreline out to an outcropping located directly in Lake Superior. Lore has it that a couple displayed their love for one another by jumping off the top of this rock arch together. *Note: Do not attempt, water at the base is only a few feet deep.
8. Rainbow Cave
This mammoth cave is a deep cut into the lakeshore with great mineral-stained walls that call to mind ancient hieroglyphics. The forest above comes to a halt at this caves peak and moss coats the cracks high on the cave walls, but the marked walls are distinctly unique.
9. Indian Head
This gargantuan rock formation is named after what many say resembles an old ‘Indian Head’ carved into an impressive point of Pictured Rocks. The cliffs of Indian Head are nearly vertical walls from the Lake Superior to its peak.
10. Gull Rookery
Gull Rookery is one of the most impressive sandstone wall sections found at Pictured Rocks. It is a vertical descent from the top of the land above to the water of Lake Superior. As one would expect from the name this location, it is notable for harboring active seagulls in search of food and play.
11. Grand Portal
With many caverns, unique formations, a suspended archway, and a massive rock face, Grand Portal and the point it creates along the lakeshore make you feel jarringly small as you slowly cruise past. The rock walls captivate your eye and make you realize the scope of our great land.
12. Battleship Rocks
An interesting set of rock outcroppings that just so happen to look like a row of battleships lined up as if they were ready to head out to sea. Sea caves can be seen in some of them.
13. Flower Vase
Another iconic tour location that is named for how the rocks formed to create a perfect rendition of its name. This Flower Vase is narrow at its base as it protrudes out of Lake Superior and widens at the top with trees lining its peak.
14. Indian Drum
This tour highlight is three rock formations emerging for the lake at the base but connecting at the peak. Combined they make a drum looking arrangement, that one can imagine being played by giants.
15. Chapel Cove
During a smooth and clear day on Lake Superior we take our visitors and the boat into the tight ‘Chapel Cove.’ This location is a photo waiting to happen as you enter a cave with beautifully colored vertical walls surrounding you on three sides straight up to the sky.
16. Chapel Rock
Chapel Rock may be the most photographed location during the entire stretch of Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. It is a captivating rock formation stemming out of Lake Superior and capped with a lone tree sprouting from the rocks top and shadowing the formations crest. Learn even more about Chapel Rock.
17. Spray Falls
This waterfall is the grand finale on the popular Spray Fall cruise that is offered in late afternoons. It is a remote waterfall that is best viewed from the water because Spray Creek shoots roughly 70 feet over the Pictured Rocks cliffs directly into Lake Superior. Most consider this location the highlight of all the waterfalls that are found along Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore.