Riptide Ride
Riptide Ride
5
Full view
About
25 Miles of Pictured Rocks Cliffs, spins, countless smiles! Riptide Ride has the ultimate package of fun and beautiful scenery. Bring your camera since you'll have plenty of opportunity to capture photos as you admire bald eagles, towering cliffs, wildlife and waterfalls. You'll be entertained from the moment you step on board until we return to shore. Between sights we'll have a blast creating memories that will last a lifetime!
Munising, Michigan
Awards
Travelers' Choice
2024
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
5.0
1,393 reviews
Excellent
1,348
Very good
33
Average
1
Poor
5
Terrible
6
AK912
Knoxville, TN40 contributions
Sep 2020 • Family
After reading many reviews on Pictured Rocks Cruises, as well as the Riptide Ride, we opted to take our children (ages 5 & 7) on this tour. I can’t say enough wonderful things about this family owned company. Online booking was simple and check-in upon arrival was quick and easy. Captain Tim was amazing and took care to keep us safe and also have a wonderful tour—he was very knowledgeable and gave tons of very great information about the area, Grand Island, and Lake Superior. Our children agreed that the boat ride was the highlight of our trip to the U.P., and we would definitely consider another trip and recommend to others. During our ride, we saw many Bald Eagles, waterfalls, and of course, the beautiful pictured rocks. Fair warning: bring a change of clothes for your return or wear a poncho! You will get wet! 😁
Also good to know: Due to covid-19, we were assigned our seats on the boat and our row/boat wasn’t completely full because they seated families together without additional people on the row in the empty spots. We were also required to wear a mask on the boat ride due to the governor’s regulations.
Also good to know: Due to covid-19, we were assigned our seats on the boat and our row/boat wasn’t completely full because they seated families together without additional people on the row in the empty spots. We were also required to wear a mask on the boat ride due to the governor’s regulations.
Written September 13, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kristen C
3 contributions
Jul 2021
We chose this boat tour over some of the other options because we thought our kids would enjoy it more (3.5 and 7.5) and because it was only an hour and a half vs 2/3 hours and we didn't think they'd sit well that long. We loved our tour guide, he was very knowledgeable and made extra stops when he saw things that he thought we'd like, he always turned the boat around at each stop so everyone on both sides could get a good look/photo regardless of what side you were sitting on. He also took care and time to thoroughly check to be sure everyone was safe and buckled properly. The boat does go fast and it is windy! If you have long hair wear it up or bring a hair tie so you can secure it or it'll be blowing in your face. Also, you will most likely get wet! We got splashed a fair amount right at the start and most of the splashing the rest of the trip was minimal where we were sitting, but we saw people getting off the trip before us and they were quite wet! My youngest was caught off-guard by the wind/water at first but after a little bit she was fine. Very fun and we liked the smaller tour group size vs. some of the bigger cruises. The gift shop was also full of trendy apparel and fun things for the kids. Definitely recommend!
Written July 24, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jonathan Brett
Imlay City, MI25 contributions
Jul 2022
I did this ride last month (June) with my son-in-law and liked it so much I took my whole family back this past week (July). Everybody loved it.
The owners, Tim & Joanie (?), are super nice folks with a lot of talent. They run a very professional business with a very nice gift shop. Very clean & well decorated. Even the bathrooms were super clean. And their boats are AWESOME!
I've also done the Pictured Rocks tour boat, which is also excellent. I recommend them both.
If you only have time for one, I will simply share some facts from my experiences, to help you choose.
This tour boat is much more thrilling because it is much faster. You will also get wet if you sit near the front, which can be fun if you are prepared for it. Without considering the scenery, most kids would prefer this boat ride over the Pictured Rocks boat ride, simply because of the speed and spins.
This boat is also smaller, which means there are no bad seats. Everybody on the boat has a good clear view in all directions. This is not the case with the larger Pictured Rocks boats which are more crowded.
The views around Grand Island are stunning for sure, and the lighthouse on the north end is very picturesque. However, overall, I would rate the Pictured Rocks tour a bit better as far as scenery. Especially the stretch from Mosquito Beach to Chapel Beach.
On this Riptide Ride they announce that Grand Island has higher cliffs, but I can tell you from my own experience of boating, hiking, biking, and snowshoeing these areas, that is not the case.
I'm not sure where they are getting their information from, but I can tell you that Grand Portal Point along Pictured Rocks is definitely higher than anything along the shores of Grand Island, according to my tracking devices, and my own sense of heights.
Having said this, the Grand Island cliffs are still awesome and definitely worth seeing. You will also most likely see some bald eagles as well.
If I could only recommend one it would come down to whether your group wants some thrills or if they ONLY want scenery on a slower boat. With this cruise you get awesome scenery AND thrills. With the Pictured Rocks cruise you get better overall scenery (my opinion) without the thrills of a faster boat.
The owners, Tim & Joanie (?), are super nice folks with a lot of talent. They run a very professional business with a very nice gift shop. Very clean & well decorated. Even the bathrooms were super clean. And their boats are AWESOME!
I've also done the Pictured Rocks tour boat, which is also excellent. I recommend them both.
If you only have time for one, I will simply share some facts from my experiences, to help you choose.
This tour boat is much more thrilling because it is much faster. You will also get wet if you sit near the front, which can be fun if you are prepared for it. Without considering the scenery, most kids would prefer this boat ride over the Pictured Rocks boat ride, simply because of the speed and spins.
This boat is also smaller, which means there are no bad seats. Everybody on the boat has a good clear view in all directions. This is not the case with the larger Pictured Rocks boats which are more crowded.
The views around Grand Island are stunning for sure, and the lighthouse on the north end is very picturesque. However, overall, I would rate the Pictured Rocks tour a bit better as far as scenery. Especially the stretch from Mosquito Beach to Chapel Beach.
On this Riptide Ride they announce that Grand Island has higher cliffs, but I can tell you from my own experience of boating, hiking, biking, and snowshoeing these areas, that is not the case.
I'm not sure where they are getting their information from, but I can tell you that Grand Portal Point along Pictured Rocks is definitely higher than anything along the shores of Grand Island, according to my tracking devices, and my own sense of heights.
Having said this, the Grand Island cliffs are still awesome and definitely worth seeing. You will also most likely see some bald eagles as well.
If I could only recommend one it would come down to whether your group wants some thrills or if they ONLY want scenery on a slower boat. With this cruise you get awesome scenery AND thrills. With the Pictured Rocks cruise you get better overall scenery (my opinion) without the thrills of a faster boat.
Written July 17, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi,
We appreciate you taking the time to review our business and for coming back and riding our boat again. Thank you for the compliments on our ride as well as the gift shop. We are happy to learn that you had fun and enjoyed the tour.
We wanted to clarify your comments on how tall the Pictured Rocks are on Grand Island versus in the National Park. We would never advertise something that is not factual or that we have not thoroughly researched.
We have found many sources to confirm that we do indeed see the tallest cliffs on our boat ride. To site one source, per the National Parks website, nps.gov/piro/planyourvisit/scenicsites.htm, the cliffs in the National Park range from 50 to 200 feet tall. The cliffs on Grand Island are up to 300 feet tall; please see the documentation on Federal Forest Service website at fs.fed.us/wildflowers/regions/eastern/GrandIslandNRA/index.shtml.
We realize it’s hard to accurately measure the cliffs visually, but the Pictured Rocks on Grand Island are over 100 feet taller than in the National Park. So in fact we do see the tallest cliffs in the area on our boat ride.
Hope this clarifies things and we hope you have a great summer!
Written July 18, 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Rachel H
2 contributions
Jul 2022 • Family
This tour has a lot of potential, however be warned that there can be some rudeness from the driver. I am someone who loves thrills and I loved the beginning of the tour. The guide talked to us about how important it was to him to be kind and that everyone enjoyed the experience. I enjoyed the boat ride and the view and thought it was quite lovely. I went in a group of 15 people aged 4 to adults and it was a good pick for a group.
The disappointment came from the way I was later treated. My mother became quite motion sick on the boat to the point she was throwing up. Our driver was in the middle of spinning the boat so I waved him down and asked him to stop and to see of he had a bag or something. I figured he would appreciate not cleaning up throw up from his boat and the rest of his customers would appreciate not being puked on. At first he would just gesture at me from the window until he finally came down and told me "there is nothing I can do about it." I wasn't expecting him to make her less motion sick - I just wanted a bag and a break from the excessive spinning. At the end he started spinning the boat again. Which I understand others paid to be there too (which he announced to me over the loud speaker instead of speaking directly to me). And then told me "people get sick on boats all the time, its not that big of a deal" (again I think it was a rather insensitive comment given that my mom spent the next several hours laying in bed and could hardly walk off the boat). While I do not blame the company about my mom getting sick I was very hurt by his abrupt rudeness to me and my mother. It is unfortunate because something that could have been a very wonderful experience turned quite unpleasant by his choice of unkindness.
The disappointment came from the way I was later treated. My mother became quite motion sick on the boat to the point she was throwing up. Our driver was in the middle of spinning the boat so I waved him down and asked him to stop and to see of he had a bag or something. I figured he would appreciate not cleaning up throw up from his boat and the rest of his customers would appreciate not being puked on. At first he would just gesture at me from the window until he finally came down and told me "there is nothing I can do about it." I wasn't expecting him to make her less motion sick - I just wanted a bag and a break from the excessive spinning. At the end he started spinning the boat again. Which I understand others paid to be there too (which he announced to me over the loud speaker instead of speaking directly to me). And then told me "people get sick on boats all the time, its not that big of a deal" (again I think it was a rather insensitive comment given that my mom spent the next several hours laying in bed and could hardly walk off the boat). While I do not blame the company about my mom getting sick I was very hurt by his abrupt rudeness to me and my mother. It is unfortunate because something that could have been a very wonderful experience turned quite unpleasant by his choice of unkindness.
Written July 2, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi Rachel,
I apologize if I was abrupt and came across as rude. If someone feels ill on the boat we do provide a bag for them to use, which I did for your mother. Unfortunately, even if someone is feeling ill, we must provide the service we advertise for all of the other passengers. I will take this as a learning experience and try to improve on my demeanor. I'm glad you enjoyed the boat ride and I appreciate your feedback.
Written July 4, 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Kimberly K
1 contribution
Jun 2021 • Family
The sites were amazing to see and the captain was nice, knowledgable and went along with our joking and humor. The ride was fun for those that can handle the spins and turns. Unfortunately, my husband and I were queasy and my 9 year old daughter actually got sick while on the ride. The captain was very nice about it and provided an emisis bag but he still had a ride to complete for the rest of the passengers that paid their fee for a thrill ride so she had to suck it up. Expect dry to drenched while on board and anywhere in between. Highly recommend for those that can handle twists, turns and spins at high speeds.
Written July 5, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Courtney A
Kalamazoo, MI20 contributions
Aug 2020 • Friends
On scale from 1 to 10 with 10 being the best, Riptide Ride is a 15!
What a fun way to experience Pictured Rocks.
Even though the boat is ripping and roaring across the lake, you will have plenty of opportunities to take beautiful pictures as you can see in my review. If you want to be on a slow moving boat where you can chit chat, this isn't it. BUT if you want an unforgettable experience this is IT. You will get slightly wet, but do not need a full body rain suit. At this time masks are required due to Covid, but you will have so much fun you won't even notice its on.
Can't say enough wonderful things about Riptide Ride. I'm almost nervous to give a review as I don't want them booked up next time I'm in the area!
What a fun way to experience Pictured Rocks.
Even though the boat is ripping and roaring across the lake, you will have plenty of opportunities to take beautiful pictures as you can see in my review. If you want to be on a slow moving boat where you can chit chat, this isn't it. BUT if you want an unforgettable experience this is IT. You will get slightly wet, but do not need a full body rain suit. At this time masks are required due to Covid, but you will have so much fun you won't even notice its on.
Can't say enough wonderful things about Riptide Ride. I'm almost nervous to give a review as I don't want them booked up next time I'm in the area!
Written August 20, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Anthony K
1 contribution
Jul 2022 • Family
This was one of the most fun excursions we’ve been on, easily our favorite in Michigan. We had a pretty busy weekend planned between sight seeing, mountain biking, and enjoying the campsite so a three hour cruise wasn’t really something we wanted to spend a huge chunk of the day on even though we really wanted to see the Pictured Rocks. Riptide was amazing- we got to see everything a three hour ride would have shown us, but it was also incredibly exciting with the spins and “brake stop” splashing us on the hottest day of the year. Our guide was awesome and knowledgeable, pointed out an eagle nest and was somehow able to spot the third eagle hiding among the trees a little later in the tour. He was able to drive us right into the caves and under the waterfalls to get an up close view. We’ve been to countless places in Michigan but this was probably the most beautiful place we’ve seen yet, and it was made even better (especially for our daredevil eight year old daughter) by the fun boat ride. Best of all was seeing everything in just 90 minutes so we still had time to hit the mountain bike trails across the street after. We never do excursions a second time as we always want to experience something new on our trips, but I definitely think we’ll be back to ride the Riptide again.
Written July 31, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Rose Baldonado
Chicago, IL14 contributions
Jul 2021
Captian Tim was amazing! In the beginning, he made sure every single person on the boat was safely secured. You can tell he loves what he does and that he & his wife want to make sure everyone has a great experience. We had a few twists and turns which was fun! He was very knowledgable of the area. - it was gorgeous. He took us right up front to the rocks.
PRO TIP: Make sure you wear sandals or water shoes. We went on a "hot" day, but the wind on the water is chilly, so either bring a rain jacket or nothing if you're okay with the windchill - it wasn't bad for our time of year. You will get wet so make sure you have tight pockets or something to put your phone/camera in where it won't get wet. Still bring them to take pictures! Sit in the first 2 rows or edges if you want to feel like you're at Splash Mountain, but other thatn that, you're not going to be soaked.
PRO TIP: Make sure you wear sandals or water shoes. We went on a "hot" day, but the wind on the water is chilly, so either bring a rain jacket or nothing if you're okay with the windchill - it wasn't bad for our time of year. You will get wet so make sure you have tight pockets or something to put your phone/camera in where it won't get wet. Still bring them to take pictures! Sit in the first 2 rows or edges if you want to feel like you're at Splash Mountain, but other thatn that, you're not going to be soaked.
Written July 13, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Amy P
8 contributions
Jun 2020 • Family
The Grand Island Pictured Rocks Tour with Tim from Riptide Ride was way more than we expected. We thought the boat would be be fast and thrilling, (which the teens loved) but didn't expect such a thorough tour of the natural beauty of the area as well. Tim was very careful to get both sides of the boat a great view and an equal experience during the tour. He was skilled at tucking the boat in close to waterfalls and caves and was patient enough to allow plenty of time for pictures. Then he would turn the boat out to open water and fly in zigzags and tight spins till everyone was laughing and cheering. So if you are looking for a very exciting way to tour the Pictured Rock area, Riptide Ride really was the best of both worlds.
Written June 15, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Arlene
Ferndale, MI47 contributions
Sep 2020 • Family
I went with two besties, two late teens, a 9 and 12 year old. It was our first time and based upon the reviews, it was said to be aware to purchase a poncho. Our group was 7. The three adults and children sat towards the back while the two teens sat at the front. It was such a blast to twirl and speed through the water. Educational and informative of the picture rocks. However, at the end we saw the teens and they were soaking wet. So if you don’t want to be soaked, request to sit in the back of the boat. It was dreary when we saw the rocks but it was still breathtaking. Captain Tim also pointed out the Eagles which were amazing. Great time. Loved every minute of it! Will do again.
Written August 31, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
You get soaked sitting near the edge, but everyone gets something!
Written January 19, 2024
mpvett
Clarklake, Michigan
Don’t see dates for October , are you still having tours oct 16th?
Written October 7, 2021
We took the Riptide boat ride 9/29 and they said the 30th was their last ride for the season.
Written October 8, 2021
How do I know what dates you have available on my birthday is September 23rd and I plan on wanting to go out on a boat the next weekend
Written September 6, 2020
Call them! Let me tell you the slow boat for picture rocks sucks. Riptide is the only way to see them. You will not be disappointed!!!
Written September 9, 2020
journee
Manitowoc, Wisconsin
it says children are 29$ but what is the age that “children” would be considered cut off?
Written August 11, 2019
Riptide ride is for ages 3+. Ages 3 to 9 are considered as children, 9+ as adults.
Rates are as per above age group.
Hope this helps...
Written August 11, 2019
I have a 20 year old son with Cerebral Palsy who loves fast and rough rides... I'm wondering how accessible the boat is for boarding?
Written July 15, 2019
I would not recommend it. The boarding is a bit difficult but I'm sure the staff would help. They are very nice. The ride is quite rough. You have to hold on tightly when he goes fast and does turns. My 85 y/o father did not enjoy it.
Written February 24, 2020
How far away are you from Mackinaw city? I want to make reservations for 2 adults and 3 kids. No phone number to call you. Darlene
Written July 18, 2018
I don't actually work for them. But here is there website.
riptideride,com
Phone number is (906) 387-8888
Thanks,
Written July 18, 2018
RiptideRide
Munising, Michigan
Ticket prices for adults are $39 ea, children $29. All of our tours go the same route. Thank you.
Written July 6, 2018
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