Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore (Boat Tour) Munising, MI |
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Rating |
Excellent |
Age |
7 and up |
Lockers |
Not Available |
Restrooms |
On Board |
Food |
In Town |
Closest Coffee |
In Town |
Recommendation |
This is the best way to see these spectacular colorful cliffs. |
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Review: by Dad
The Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore is a wild and wonderful place. There are trails which lead to waterfalls and secluded beaches, and wildlfe abounds, but to best see the wonderful cliffs that rise out of Lake Superior, you need a boat. That is where this tour comes in.
The tour itself is between 2 and 3 hours long. The length depends mostly on lake conditions. Remember that the Edmund Fitzgerald sunk not far from here. I have been on this tour three times. The first was cut short by huge waves outside Munising bay, the second allowed us to go out the entire way, but we did not get to do any of the up-close parts of the tour as the lake was too choppy to do so safely, and the third time we were able to do it all.
I must take some time here to discuss how these unique cliffs formed. The colors come from the leaching of minerals present in the rocks. This area is famous for its iron ore and copper production. These minerals give the red and green colors. Every day the colors of the rocks change as the amount of water flowing through the rocks and the time of year play a part.
The tour takes you along the shore of the Pictured Rocks. Most of the iconic images of this shoreline are part of this tour. Along with this the tour guides tell you how they formed and a few of the stories of American Indian legend.
For kids younger than about 8 there may be some boring times on this tour. The captain does take time to feed the gulls, and this is an enjoyable spectacle, but basically you are on a boat looking at big colored rocks. When kids are old enough to understand the beauty and the science, they will have a wonderful time.
The trip is pretty expensive, so make sure you budget for it, and check the weather and lake conditions, but this is a must-do if you are in the area to see the Pictured Rocks.
Other Reviews:
Sam: The gulls were fun to watch. This is a photographer's heaven.
Will: The Shipwreck tour is also a must-do here in Munising.