While ice is off the Great Lakes, you’ll still have to wait a few days to book a Pictured Rocks boat tour to view the fabled cliffs up close.
Pictured Rocks Cruises begins its 2026 boat tours along the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore on May 9, according to the schedule on its website. Tours depart from Munising and trace the Upper Peninsula’s northern coast along two routes.
“Sandstone cliffs, beaches, waterfalls, sand dunes, inland lakes, deep forest, and wild shoreline beckon you to visit Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. The power of Lake Superior shapes the park’s coastal features and affects every ecosystem, creating a unique landscape to explore. Hiking, camping, sightseeing, and four-season outdoor opportunities abound,” the national lakeshore’s website says.
Here’s what to know about Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore boat tours.
When do Pictured Rocks boat tours begin?
Pictured Rocks Cruises, the tour company that partners with the National Park Service, will begin offering tours on Lake Superior along the Pictured Rocks on May 9, according to its website.
Opening week features two cruises daily at 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. Tours expand to four a day from May 16-22.
Memorial Day weekend, May 23-24, features a dozen different options, including a sunset cruise. The same schedule returns for the summer starting June 20.
How can you book a Pictured Rocks boat tour?
You can book your Pictured Rocks boat tour with Pictured Rocks Cruises on the company’s website.
Tours begin at $48 for adults, and $19 for children 4-12. Infats to 3-year-olds are $1.
Tours are either 2 hours or 2 hours, 40 minutes and run from May to October.
Where is Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore?
Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore features mineral-stained sandstone cliffs along Lake Superior in the Upper Peninsula, stretching from Munising to Grand Marais, along with sand dunes, inland lakes, deep forests, waterfalls, beaches and wild shoreline. There are opportunities for camping, hiking, sightseeing and more.
National Park Service entry passes are required.
What is the National Park Service?
The U.S. National Park Service is a federal government agency within the U.S. Department of the Interior that manages national parks, monuments, lakeshores and preserves throughout the United States.
Contact Jenna Prestininzi: jprestininzi@freepress.com.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Ice is off Lake Superior. Can you book Pictured Rocks boat tours?
Reporting by Jenna Prestininzi, Detroit Free Press / Detroit Free Press
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