Michigan is home to two national lakeshores (Sleeping Bear Dunes and Pictured Rocks) and while both are great places to explore by land, we’d argue that better views come from the water. We’ve kayaked Pictured Rocks, toured Grand Island on the Riptide Ride, and witnessed the power of Lake Superior on a Glass Bottom Shipwreck Tour. We’ve also been on a few Pictured Rocks Cruises, and since it had been a few years we decided to go on one again this summer. The Spray Falls Cruise is offered daily and gives a great tour of the tall cliffs, rock formations, and a few waterfalls. This is a great trip for families and one of the best ways for first-time visitors to get a grasp of just how stunning the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore shoreline is!

The Pictured Rocks Cruises building has undergone some big changes this year, with an upgraded gift shop, an improved outdoor waiting area, and a smoother check-in process for those who purchase tickets in advance (highly recommended in summer months). Our boat (Spray Falls) boarded promptly and there was plenty of room on the top deck for everyone that wanted to enjoy the views from there. The cliffs are on the right side of the boat on the journey out to Spray Falls and then on the left for the return trip, so everyone gets the same chance to see everything and get photos!

The Spray Falls Tour moves at a faster pace than some of the other tours, but along the way you still get to see Miners Castle, Lovers Leap, Grand Portal Point, Chapel Rock, Chapel Beach, Bridalveil Falls (sometimes), Battleship Row, Indian Head, Mosquito Beach, and more.

What makes this trip different is the inclusion of Spray Falls, a 70 foot tall waterfall that plunges over the sandstone cliff and into Lake Superior. While it is possible to see this waterfall from land after a few miles of hiking, the best views come from one of these boat tours.

During the tour we saw lots of kayakers out in the water, a bald eagle hanging out on a cliff edge, and lots of sections where you could see where Pictured Rocks got its name from! The boat also tucked into a small cove at Battleship Row so everyone could get an up-close look at the rock formations. Here’s a look at some of the cruise highlights:

Miners Castle

Lovers Leap

Indian Head

Grand Portal Point

Battleship Row

Flower Vase

Chapel Rock

We also got to see the Grand Island East Channel Lighthouse from a distance on our trip out and up close on the return trip. This 1860s lighthouse is frequently featured in tourism ads and still maintains a rustic appearance more than 100 years after it went out of service. Here are a few more pictures from our trip:

There’s still a little bit of time to book a cruise for 2025, and we can’t recommend Pictured Rocks Cruises strongly enough. This is a very well-run operation and outside of being in a kayak it’s the best way to see the Pictured Rocks cliffs. Find out everything you need to know about booking your own trip at picturedrocks.com!