Colorful patterns of mineral deposits and miles of unique rock formations along the sandstone cliffs lining the Lake Superior shore near Munising, Michigan excite the imagination of visitors taking the Pictured Rocks boat cruise.
You can certainly visit some of the formations from scenic overlooks, beaches, campgrounds and hiking trails along the shoreline, but the best, and often the only, view of some of the area's most well known sights are from the water.
The Pictured Rocks Lakeshore covers 37 miles of the south shore of Lake Superior near Munising, and the boat tour travels an 18-mile route out to the Chapel Rock formation and returns to the Munising dock.
The Cleveland Cliffs Mining Company began offering Pictured Rocks Cruises on Sunday afternoons during the 1920s.
Captain Everett Morrison began running regular cruises in the 1940s, beginning a tradition that visitors continue to enjoy from mid-May through mid-October.
The locally owned cruise line currently has five boats that can accommodate as many as 150 passengers, seven captains and employs up to 50 seasonal employees.
We visited the Pictured Rocks to take the boat tour in early June, which proved to be a slightly nippy proposition for those of us seated on the boat's upper deck. By the end of the 2.5-hour tour, every passenger on the boat except for Tim and I retreated to the enclosed lower deck, but we felt we'd get the best views from the top deck.
Going early in the season, means you may have to dress warmly (a fleece vest, hiking socks and boots and a hat proved sufficient for us). If you go later in the season and opt to sit on the top deck, sun screen and a hat is more likely what you'll need.
One of the first major sandstone formations we passed on the cruise was Miner's Castle, one of the best known formations at Pictured Rocks. Erosion helped shape formations like Miner's Castle, but the effects of erosion also caused part of its turret-like top to fall 90 feet into the lake in 2006.
There is a scenic overlook for Miner's Castle high on the shore, but like many of the other formations, you can best see its overall shape and understand how it got its name when viewing it from the water.
Lovers Leap where legend says a couple jumped from the high cliff together to prove their love to each other, Grand Portal with its suspended archway, Indian Head, Indian Drum, Flower Vase, Battleship Row and Pulpit Rock are among other famous formations you'll see during the cruise.
I particularly enjoyed the patterns of color in shades of brown, tan and green formed by ground water loaded with minerals like iron, manganese, limonite and copper leaking from cracks on the sandstone canvas of cliffs soaring as high as 200 feet tall the sandstone cliffs.
Our trip happened on a calm day, so our captain eased the boat deep into the Chapel Cove for a closer look at the sheer cliff faces.
We stayed atop the boat as it turned around at Chapel Rock for the return trip to Munising as we knew we'd get our closest views of the weathered East Channel Light on Grand Island. I plan to do a story on the lighthouse, built in 1868 and abandoned in 1913 at a later date.
Grand Island is a 22.5-square-mile National Recreation Area which has hiking, camping, biking and kayaking. We considered taking the day trip by boat out to the island, but ran out of time and nice, sunny weather. (as always, I like to leave something to do for a return trip!)
Late afternoon can be the best time to book the cruise and take images of the cliffs if you don't want your photos to look washed out in the early day sun, but then there are times you just schedule your trip around the weather forecast. We took the morning cruise because we feared, correctly, that rain would cause cancelation of the afternoon cruise, and we were too early in the year to take the sunset cruise.
It's best to make a reservation if you're planning to take the cruise during the busiest summer months.
The cruise costs $36 for adults, $10 for kids 6-12 and $1 for children younger than one year old.
Want to learn more about the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore and activities in the area? Check out Pictured Rocks: From Land and Sea by Craig Blacklock, Geology and Landscape of Michigan's Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore and Vicinity by William L. Blewett or Hunt's Map Guide to Michigan's Upper Peninsula by Mary and Don Hunt.
© Dominique King 2013 All rights reserved
I've not heard of Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, but the views look spectacular. Like you, I'd be inclined to stick around on the top of the boat for the best views... or pictures. Thanks for joining the Best of the USA. Love your post.
Posted by: Tonya {The Traveling Praters} | September 04, 2013 at 04:13 PM