We’ve been fortunate to take many boat cruise trips throughout Michigan, including some at Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, in Petoskey and Harbor Springs, along the Port Huron shoreline, through the Straits of Mackinac, and out on Lake Superior. This September we were able to join a Cheboygan shipwreck tour with Nautical North Family Adventures and it was an amazing time. We loved seeing lighthouse, shipwrecks, boats, and more as we traveled the Cheboygan River and went out into Lake Huron. Today we will share some photos and tell you more about our trip and why you need to make this a part of your next Northern Michigan vacation!

Our cruise aboard the Yankee Sunshine left from the Cheboygan Village Marina, and we started our trip by heading up the Cheboygan River so we could get an up-close view of the lock that helps boats make their way up the Inland Waterway. Having been through the Soo Locks earlier this year, we found this to be a much cozier and faster experience! This lock will close at the end of September for some much needed repairs and upgrades. After spinning around for a look at the Cheboygan Dam Park (look for another post coming soon) and the remnants of the old paper mill we locked back through and were ready to head out to Lake Huron.

The cruise next passed under the pedestrian bridge over the river and then the drawbridge that carries U.S. 23 over the river. Having driven over this bridge many times before, it was fun to go under it for the first time.

We passed by the Cheboygan River Front Range Lighthouse, an 1880 light that is now open as a museum operated by the Great Lakes Light Keepers Association.

We saw lots of tugs and dredges along the waterfront, including part of the Durocher Marine (Kokosing) fleet. These boats perform a variety of projects like dredging in the Straits of Mackinac region. We then passed the dock where the Coast Guard icebreaker Mackinaw is usually docked, but it was in Wisconsin for repairs and a five-year inspection.

The next lighthouse we passed was the Cheboygan Crib Light, a 25 foot tall white and red tower that is featured in the logos of many local businesses. We’ve visited this light many times at Gordon Turner Park but like everything else on this trip it was our first time seeing it from the water.

From here we headed out for some up close views of the Fourteen Foot Shoal Light, and offshore lighthouse that dates back to 1930. This was one of the first lights on the Great Lakes designed to have no keeper on site. It marks a shallow spot in the lake that large ships need to avoid, and it continues to serve as an active aid to navigation. It was nice to finally see this lighthouse up close, even though it is in quite a state of disrepair. Many double-crested cormorants now call this lighthouse home, and they have done quite a bit of damage to the exterior of this lighthouse. The Spencer F. Baird, a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service research vessel, passed by as it returned to Cheboygan.

After our visit to the lighthouse we passed by Cheboygan State Park and made our way into Duncan Bay to see shipwrecks. The water here is shallow and clear and the panels at the bottom of the boat allow for great viewing. We were able to clearly see the wreckage of the Genesee Chief (two-masted schooner) and the Leviathan (wooden tug). The boat makes several passes and ensures that everyone has a chance to see the shipwrecks.

From here we made the short trip over near a marina where the wreckage of another, more modern tug lies. This ship is much more intact than the previous two and photographs very well. On some trips, Nautical North Family Adventures offers the additional option of snorkeling by one of the shipwrecks.

Our trip concluded by heading back into the river, passing the lighthouses once again and waiting at the drawbridge as the Kristen D. ferry headed out for Bois Blanc Island. This was an amazing trip with top-notch narration. Our voyage had people from all over Michigan as well as several other states. Captain Jennifer was fantastic and we loved hearing the story of how Nautical North Family Adventures became a reality. This was well worth the price, and we’d happily go again! Below are a few more pictures from our cruise:

You can find out more about Nautical North Family Adventures on their website and social media pages. In addition to the shipwreck cruise they also offer sunset cruises, lighthouse cruises, fireworks cruises, a river cruise, and private charter options.