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    Pictured Rocks Kayaking

    4.6 (103 reviews)

    Pictured Rocks Kayaking Photos

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    Mike H.

    If you visit The Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, this is the trip you want to do and how you want to see the area. I hiked a few trails the day before and they were great but you don't get to see the scope and the coastline any better than this. We arrived 30 or 40 minutes before our time, signed in and looked around the gift shop until the safety talk. The guides were all professional and personable while explaining what we were going to do, how to paddle correctly and how to wear our kayaking skirt in order to stay dry. Once we got on the boat, we had a 20 minute-ish boat ride to the launch point. They give you group assignments on the boat and there are about 8 people per group. Each group has their own guide and the guides will point out eagles, history of the area, geology facts, etc. Our guide was absolutely great . I wish I could remember her name but she was a 24ish year old petite blonde girl with a dry snarky sense of humor. Her dad jokes were on par with me (48 year old husky fella if you are keeping score) and that made the trip even more enjoyable. We paddled I'm guessing for about 2 hours maybe a little less, I wasn't clock watching because I was watching all of the gorgeous scenery. We were told we kayaked 5 miles and that seems like a solid amount of paddling but they make sure you are following along with the current so you aren't struggling against the wind. In other words you don't have to be in great shape to do this. After the 5 miles, you paddle back to the boat for the ride to shore. The kayaks are all tandem sea kayaks so they are a little larger than the ones I am used to. I also had to get used to paddling along with my dad and resisting the urge to want to take control. That was the only thing that would have come close to a negative and it really wasn't. This was an amazing excursion and I would love to do it again sometime. It's a must if you are anywhere near the U.P. P.S. Shout of to the captain who too was a petite lady for picking my husky ass out of the kayak. I didn't mean for her to have to do that , I wanted her to just hold my bag but she pulled me up like I was a toddler lol.

    Katie N.

    My friends booked the half day 5 mile kayaking tour. We arrived at the time they told us, and we were given an informative safety and how-to talk. The boat ride out to the drop off spot was lovely, and the whole process of splitting us into groups, dropping the kayaks into the water and loading the people was super quick and seamless. I admit, I was nervous about the trip- I'm not super keen on water and I let our guide know, and he did a great job of making me feel comfortable, I always felt I was in good hands. I have NO kayaking experience but I was given good instructions and felt like I did a pretty good job with the guidance I was given (plus my kayaking partner was it was a tandem kayak). Overall, it was an incredible time and I think the best way to see the amazing landscape. Bobby was our guide and he was the best, took pictures he shared with us later, very calm, funny, we just all thought he took such good care of us and made the day (also my bday) absolutely the best. Can't recommend it enough.

    Ultimate Kayak Tour
    Erin F.

    We had a great day with our guide Calvin during our Ultimate Kayak Tour of Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. The tour was well organized. Staff were pleasant. Our guide was a wealth of knowledge about the geology of the lakeshore. Wasn't aware when I booked (maybe I wasn't paying attention) that we'd all be in tandem kayaks, but it worked out fine.

    The boat we took on our trip and a couple others.
    Heather M.

    We took boat to kayak tour today and it was amazing. The company ran everything on time, they were super informative and prepared us well for our trip. The boat, bathrooms and kayaks were spotlessly clean. The captain and crew were friendly and extra helpful. They even took and forwarded pictures of us for free! We saw the most beautiful views and the guide"Rachel for our group" taught us so much!!! I feel my money was spent very well on this trip.

    April N Matthew B.

    My friends and I booked the "ultimate kayak tour" for a close-up tour of the majestic shorelines last week. Our boat captain did an excellent job of giving us a run-down of what to expect as well as some of the history of the area and wildlife nearby. Would highly recommend!

    We took the kayak tour today and it was so much fun! We saw a lot of rock formations and the beautiful shoreline. Our guide Drew was very upbeat and made everyone feel welcome, at ease and safe. The launch from the boat was seamless and the captain was there to instruct us too. They all worked so well together, a well oiled machine. They even include pictures of you at no extra charge.

    Amanda B.

    This was hands down our favorite thing we did on this trip! Highly recommend the earliest time-slot, as it meant we had shade for the beginning of our time in the water, followed by sun once it had risen over the cliffs. This is such a user friendly trip for folks who aren't big kayakers, as they send you out in tandem (two person) kayaks in small groups w a guide. The way that they load and unload you into the kayaks is safe and easy, and takes the stress of tipping over a kayak as you try to get in from the shore out of the equation! We did the 3 hour trip (Miner's Castle trip), which we felt was the perfect amount of time with our group, which included two kids (8yrs and 10yrs). The cliffs are gorgeous from a distance, so just think of how amazing they look when you get closer to them. You skirt along the cliffs, able to see through the beautiful, clear Lake Superior water to depths over 20ft. We loved that the trip's culmination was Miner's Castle. What an experience! We can't wait to go again and introduce our other friends to this trip!

    Shawn G.

    My wife and I were so excited to experience this. We drove up from Indianapolis and this was the highlight of our trip. Neither of us had ever kayaked before so we were a bit nervous. But, the staff is very good at teaching the proper techniques and made us feel safe. The area is so beautiful that pictures don't do it justice. We did the five mile paddle which was tiring, but rewarding. The kayak could use some padding and support for the lower back for us older folks. lol. We were a bit sore for a couple days. This was something we scratched off our bucket list. Lillian was our fantastic guide. She was very friendly and informative. She even took pics of all of us on the paddle and shared them with us.

    shipwreck from the 1800s!

    Great trip with FAITH, we had a wonderful time and the sights were gorgeous, she was a wonderful guide. visiting the U.P. from georgia and some wisconsinites, we drove about an hour from where we were staying and i would say it was definitely worth the drive! i was personally in a "new friends boat" and i enjoyed that, shoutout thomas from connecticut.

    We had a great time on our Ultimate kayak tour! We were a little bummed the weather and wind stopped us from safely exploring Pictured Rocks. However, the captain (Rudy) made a safe call, and we still very much enjoyed our kayak tour of trout bay/Grand Island. Hayden Byma was a great guide and made it super fun and shared some cool facts!

    Thanks to Emily for our family photo

    Emily was the best guide. She gave us so much detail and kept an eagle eye on our group. So much fun and thank you Emily!!!

    A first rate operation! We did the Ultimate Kayak Tour and loved it. Wonderful scenery and fun experiences along the way. Our guide Sawyer was fun and personable. Highly recommend!

    Lovers Leap

    We had a great time on our tour! It's been on my bucket list to visit here and kayak. Sam was our guide, she pointed out the highlights of the tour and also had extra information to add. She was awesome! Thank you Sam and crew for a fantastic time!!

    Just beautiful

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    Thank you so much for a great review Amanda! Your pictures are great!

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    Thank you for the 5 stars!

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    Thank you Andrea! We are glad you enjoyed your tour in early June!

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    Thank you for the review Chris.

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    Thank you for the 5 stars and the recommendations!

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    Page 1 of 3

    Ask the Community - Pictured Rocks Kayaking

    What ages can do this tour?

    Hi Patty - the youngest we take on in a kayak or on the boat is 5 years old. We have a great FAQ page that can help with any questions you may or give us a call! 906-387-5500 https://picturedrockskayaking.com/faq/

    Good for kids?

    Yes

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

    Review Highlights - Pictured Rocks Kayaking

    Highly recommend for any ages if you can row an oar.

    Mentioned in 7 reviews

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    Grand Island - Ferry dock

    Grand Island

    (7 reviews)

    Based on other reviews we got lucky when it came to bugs...I do't recall even using our bug spray…read moreand we didn't have any issues. We visited the first week of September, so maybe we just got lucky. My husband talked me into biking the west rim, then cutting down the middle of the island back to the ferry. Around 20 miles. Our rental bikes were a bit tough to use with not much padding on the seat and gears that were difficult to use. My husband's chain came off at one point. The good news is that we made it in just over four hours - I was so worried about missing the last ferry at 6pm, but we actually caught the 5pm ferry. I would love to visit the island again and stay over night so we don't have to race a clock. The bike trails are tough! I'm a decent bike rider, but trail riding is tough for me. I actually was okay for the first 12 miles, but my legs and rear became sore, making the last eight miles tough. I'm super glad that I was able to complete the ride, and once again had we gotten an earlier start and didn't have to worry about catching the ferry back I think I could have relaxed and not been as worried about having to push my bike up and down some tough and washed out trails. The views on the west rim were amazing! I actually wish we would have just turned around and retraced our steps instead of going down the middle of the island to get back, which is mainly a dirt road for atvs. We will be back to explore some more and work on our bike skills!

    This was my second time back on the island and I'm still blown away at the beauty! You just can't…read moreput it into words and seems like you are in n a completely different state! I will say it is not an easy hike or bike ride depending on your preference! So please keep in mind age and/or physical health! I've always biked the island and takes around 5 or 6 hours depending on number of stops you take! This is a must see if you are in Munising with a day to burn and you like being physically active! Arrive early so you can get signed up, information filled out and you bike (if renting) and ferry service paid for!

    Munising Falls - Creek between visitors center and Munising Falls

    Munising Falls

    (20 reviews)

    The Munising Falls are about 800 feet from the visitor center. The main path is paved with some…read morewooden bridge areas, but overall it's a smooth trail, definitely family friendly. It follows the stream so you can hear and admire the pretty tannin-stained water. There's a trail to the lower falls which takes you to the level of the plunge pool (and then stairs from that point to a middle vantage point), but also branches to stairs to the upper falls if you want to get another viewpoint. The upper falls trail also winds close to the sandstone cliffs, some of which have been unfortunately defaced by graffiti. Overall this can be a quick stop if you're in a hurry, or you can spend longer if you take some time to absorb your surroundings. Make sure to bring bug repellent since there's plenty of mosquitoes around!

    Munising Falls used to be an amazing place you could take the kids and family, now it is pay to…read moreenter, they over charge familys, and is now closed from a storm, honestly you need to make it donation and allow people to enter free of charge again, making locals pay the same as others is neglecting the locals and you take advantage of the people, also the money is not being used to fix it or they would of had it reopen already, Munising falls used to be a dream come true for me as a kid, now it is nothing more then a cash grab slowly sinking into ruins. Do not get your hopes high for this ! used to be so amazing thou...

    Miners Falls - This is Miners Falls.

    Miners Falls

    (20 reviews)

    Miners Falls is another great, relatively easy hike that can be done by all skill levels and I…read morewould highly recommend it as well during your Pictured Rocks trip, either before or after you make a stop at Miners Castle as well. Clocking it at 1.2 miles, it takes about half an hour to complete out and back. Miners Falls is way bigger and grander than Munising Falls, so it's definitely impressive and worth the hike out. You aren't able to get as close to it as you do to Munising Falls, you view it from 2 different viewing platforms across a wide river, but it's still impressive just the same. The hike is more intensive. It's mostly shallow, sometimes steeper in areas decline through forest on the way there, but that just means that you know the way back is going to be a constant uphill, which is a bit killer. Total elevation gain here is about 150 feet. Great part about this hike is that the trail is so WIDE, tons of space to walk and be distant from other people, not that this trail was even all that heavily trafficked by any means. When you get to the falls, the first viewpoint you get to really doesn't give you a good view. For both viewpoints, you are already looking down at the falls, and the first viewpoint, which is much higher up, is blocked by trees and at too high of an angle for you to appreciate much of anything. So it's imperative that you head to viewpoint #2, which is down one final series of steep stairs. From this viewing platform, you get a great, impressive view of the falls, get a moment to take pictures, catch your breath, before you embark on the not-so-long-but-sort-of-feels-long-because-it's-all-uphill journey back up to the parking lot. I was definitely breathing hard by the time I got to the parking lot, but it was a great, short hike to do! It really didn't hurt either that there was gorgeous fall foliage all along the road leading into the Miners Falls parking lot and spots of color along the entire hike as well. Can't be anything but happy when looking at fall rolling in! :)

    Okay so here is another decent/worthwhile waterfall to visit within Pictured Rocks National…read moreLakeshore. This is Miners Falls. And...it's really easy to find and hike to. From the trailhead it's a 0.6 mile walk along a gravel path. And the 0.6-mile stroll to Miners Falls takes you throughout an incredibly pleasant and tranquil forest setting. Even before I arrived at the falls, I was grabbing pictures on the walk being immersed in lush green trees and vegetations of the woodsy outdoors. Miners Falls is about a 50-foot waterfall that's one of the more majestic flowing falls you'll find in the small town of Munising, Michigan...and Munising is sort of the host town of Pictured Rocks NL. In Munising, you'll discover a bunch of other scenic waterfalls like Alger Falls, Chapel Falls, Munising Falls, Mosquito Falls and Horseshoe Falls to name a few. You can plug all these waterfalls into Google Maps on your phone to specifically locate them. Cell phone reception in Munising works just fine. Now, one of my issues with this Miners Falls and I know I'm nitpicking...is that once walk the 0.6 mile...you can only view the falls from an observation deck. And...this overlook platform had guardrails installed as high up as your waste. So...when trying to take optimal photos of Miners Falls for yourself and or family...you're sort of held hostage to these guardrails. It's sort of like you're being photobombed by a stranger but instead it's really the tiny platform and guardrails that taint the experience. Most visitors here at the overlook were taking selfie pics, which for myself...isn't worth the time. So, I gladly took a picture or two of Miners Falls before returning back towards the trailhead. I guess just in the end I'm a narcissistic person and I want myself in every picture to officially claim that I've "been there, done that", lol. Oh well, this miniscule platform vista point and the guardrails were out of my control. Here was another frustrating aspect... I was visiting back at the end of May 2021 and the parking lot and hike to the falls were pretty busy. In fact, it was congested enough to the point that there was a crowded line of people just waiting to step onto the observation area. And because the platform barely allowed tourists to step foot on it together at one time, the wait was about 10 minutes to get that photographic memory. Wow I thought to myself...this is a popular part to the Pictured Rocks NL area. And just a side note...when I was here this past summer, it was free to explore and hike to all the waterfalls. But for the 2022 travel season, starting on March 1, there'll be a $10 fee for visitors which will eventually over time get raised to $25. So, yes...people are coming. National parks, monuments, lakeshores, state parks, hikes and trails are all getting busier each year. Be prepared for maybe eventually losing that true essence for being outside in the heart of nature. Tourists are coming in droves and it's not stopping anytime soon. Anyways...finally, I got my time at the overlook deck for a quick couple of photos before yielding to the people behind me. Miners Falls was pretty impressive when looking down upon it. I just wished that the hiking path continued down towards the base of the falls because in my opinion...there's nothing like looking up at a scenic waterfall as the prime attraction within a scenic backdrop. Welp...lol, sorry for all my venting. From here at Miners Falls, I continued onto Munising Falls, about a 9-mile drive away. And yeah...once again, Munising Falls was simply a 0.5 mile walk each way to and from an observation deck, but at least the platform there allowed more space to accommodate tourists. Lastly, although I never found true fulfillment from the viewing platform looking down at Miners Falls, I still enjoyed the hike through the forest and simply getting a chance to witness another waterfall here at Pictured Rocks Lakeshore in the UP - Upper Peninsula of Michigan.

    Pictured Rocks Kayaking - tours - Updated May 2026

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