Vibrant green turquoise waters, multi-colored caves, tall Lake Superior cliffs, and gorgeous rock formations. All of the things that you can expect to see on a wonderful day kayaking Pictured Rocks in the Upper Peninsula, Michigan. It’s time to don your bathing suit and add these tours to your itinerary!
My husband and I went to Painted Rocks on a whim and it was one of the most fun things we did that summer! The waters of Lake Michigan were so mesmerizing and I couldn’t help but stare down into the waters below. Plus, we learned so much about the rock formations and the beautiful area that we were kayaking in.
I’ve created this guide with everything you need to know about booking a kayaking tour to go see Pictured Rocks. This guide includes the best tours, where to stay near the rocks, and tips for your tour! I hope you have an incredible time.
PICTURED ROCKS IN A NUTSHELL
Short on time? Read this quick overview for your trip to Pictured Rocks with everything you need to know!
- Where to Stay: Stay in the town of Munising at one of the great campgrounds, VRBOs, or hotels
- Getting there: The closest major airport is Sawyer International Airport about 45 minutes from Munising, Michigan
- How to Get Around: The easiest way to get around is to drive or rent a car
- Best Time to Visit: Late Summer to Early Fall
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Planning a Trip to Pictured Rocks Michigan
How to Get to Pictured Rocks
Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore is in Munising, Michigan, which is part of the Upper Peninsula. This peninsula juts out into the beautiful waters of Lake Superior.
Sawyer International Airport is the closest major airport. ✈️ It’s about 45 minutes from Munising. They have daily flights from Detroit, Minneapolis, Chicago, and Green Bay. So, if you’re coming here from farther away, you’ll most likely need to get a connecting flight.
You can book rental cars out of Sawyer International Airport from Rentalcars.com. 🚗
If you’re driving, then Munising is conveniently located off route 28 and route 94. I highly recommend stopping in Marquette, Michigan on your drive, because it’s a very beautiful town nearby!
Best Time to Visit Pictured Rocks
Although Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore is open year round, the best time to go is when the weather is warmer from late spring through early autumn. That way, you can get out on the water or enjoy a warm hike along the rocks.
Most people say fall is the best time of year with gorgeous fall foliage around the rocks. 🍁 But, we loved visiting in late summer when weather was warm and we could swim in the lake.
Black flies come out from mid-May to late-June, so this makes it a little less fun! 🦟
Winter is the quietest time of year with frigid temperatures and lots of snow. But, it’s a great time to try snowshoeing or cross country skiing. There are no kayak tours during this time of year.
Where to Stay Near Pictured Rocks
Munising is a very popular destination in the summer and fall. It’s a great area to stay with fun activities and restaurants. There are a bunch of wonderful hotels, cabins, VRBOs, and campsites nearby! So, you have plenty of options to choose from. But, if you want to go a little further Marquette is an adorable lake town.
There are four different campgrounds in Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, as well as others nearby. 🏕 They all require reservations and are $25 a night. You can make reservations on recreation.gov.
Best Hotels Near Pictured Rocks:
Packing Guide for Kayaking Pictured Rocks
As you’re packing for your Pictured Rocks kayaking trip, the most important thing to keep in mind is you will want waterproof items. So, I recommend wearing a bathing suit, water shoes of some kind, and packing a waterproof phone case or go pro to get photos.
Plus, you will want to protect yourself from the elements like rain 🌧 and sun ☀️. So, pack plenty of sun protection and bug spray to prevent black flies from bothering you!
Pictured Rocks Kayaking Packing List
- Tevas or Water Shoes
- Small Pack
- Water Bottle
- First Aid Kit
- Reef Safe Sunscreen
- Bug Spray
- Bug Net
- Polarized Sunglasses
- Hat to block sun
- Waterproof Bottoms
- Sun Hoodie
- Bathing Suit
- Rain jacket
- Waterproof Phone Case
- Go pro (optional)
Kayaking Pictured Rocks Michigan
Best Kayak Tours
There are a few kayaking Pictured Rocks tours to choose from, so, I’ll talk through the differences between the options. All three tour operators have been approved by the National Lakeshore to operate! 🙌🏻
Pictured Rocks Kayaking
Pictured Rocks Kayaking is the only company that offers off-shore launches, which means you get closer to the iconic rock formations in less time. They will take you on a large boat and sail out to the launch point.
From there, you’ll board your kayak and head to some of the famous spots along the Lakeshore. There are options of 3 hour and 5 hour boat tours.
We did the 5 hour boat tour with Pictured Rocks Kayaking and it was one of the best experiences! I loved our guide and we saw so many beautiful spots.
Yooper Yachts
Yooper Yachts offer a number of great Pictured Rocks Kayaking tours. They have private or group tours that offer both single and tandem kayaks. Plus, there are a wide selection of tours from ones where you paddle 16 miles and others where you can enjoy the sunset at the rocks!
Paddling Michigan- Uncle Ducky’s
Paddling Michigan offers a number of great paddling tours to choose from. But, one of the coolest things they do is offer all inclusive packages. So, you can glamp in their yurts, eat meals there, and get a variety of paddling tours for the whole family! It’s a great deal, if you don’t want to plan things separately.
Things to Know Before You Go
🚣🏻 Although you don’t have to be an expert kayaker to go on a tour, you should be physically fit, so that you can kayak miles at a time.
💨 Tours can be cancelled for bad weather like extreme wind. However, if it’s just light rain in the forecast, your tour will probably go on!
💦 Bring plenty of water to stay hydrated while you kayak.
💵 Tour guides generally appreciate tips. So, bring some money in cash so that you can tip your guide when the tour is over.
🌿 When you’re out on the boat, remember to Leave No Trace and pack up after yourselves. Do not drop anything into the water.
Best Things to See on Kayaking Pictured Rocks Tour
If you are looking for ways to distinguish between the tours, then you can decide what rock formations you want to see! There are a number of iconic formations along the Pictured Rocks Lakeshore, but these are the most popular:
- Miner’s Castle– A large rock formation that is castle shaped
- Lovers Leap– A gorgeous tall Arch
- Indian Head Rock– A rock that is shaped like a face
- Painted Coves– Multi-colored rock walls
- Rainbow Cave– A cave with lots of multi-colored walls
- Chapel Rock– Tall rock with a lone white pine tree
Final Tips for Kayaking Pictured Rocks in Michigan
I hope you decide to go out on a Pictured Rocks kayaking tour, because it was one of the highlights of my summer! We did a five hour tour and I still felt like I could have stayed out on the water longer. Just remember to book your tour ahead of time and allow for some flexibility in case of bad weather. I know you’ll love your time!
Let me know if you enjoyed this guide in the comments!
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