CHEBOYGAN BOAT TOUR FIELD GUIDE
Offshore Islands, Forgotten Lighthouses and River Locks: Custom Charters from Cheboygan
Pappy’s Tours runs customizable boat charters from Cheboygan that deliver island hikes, lighthouse photography, inland-waterway cruising and visits to ghost towns and shipwrecks—this guide organizes the options and practicalities.
Offshore Islands, Forgotten Lighthouses and River Locks: Custom Charters from Cheboygan.
Explore remote islands, hike hidden shores, photograph historic lighthouses, cruise scenic waterways, and visit ghost towns and shipwrecks—all in one unforgettable Michigan adventure.
Highlights
Outing Highlights
Offshore islands for day hikes and overnight camping
Options range from an offshore island overnight off-grid camping adventure to day hikes around rarely visited shores such as Waugoshance Island (an approximate 4‑mile perimeter hike with artifacts washed ashore) and landings at Skillagalee and Lime Island.
Access to hard-to-reach lighthouse subjects
Custom charters specialize in getting photographers and history-minded travelers out to remote lights—including Stannard Rock, Poverty Island, St. Martin, Minneapolis Shoal, Ojibway, Pilot and Plum Island lights.
River cruising, locks, cliffs and shipwrecks
Choose a relaxing inland-waterway cruise through Burt and Mullet Lake and the Cheboygan Lock, or longer coastal runs to Fayette Harbor, Sleeping Bear Dunes, Manitou Islands, and sites of notable wrecks and limestone cliffs.
What the day feels like
What the trip feels like
A Custom Charter with Pappy’s Tours is a flexible day (or short) outing on Lake Michigan and connected waterways: captains land you on remote islands for hikes or camping, position the boat for lighthouse photography, thread the Inland Waterway and Cheboygan Lock, and cruise shorelines to view ghost towns, freighters and shipwrecks.
Suitability
Who it's for
Who this fits — and who should think twice.
Practical planner
Details to review before reserving
Charters are offered as trips ranging from roughly 3 to 8 hours, with longer or overnight options available for island camping.
Gear recommendations vary by itinerary (day cruises, swims, hikes or overnight camping); confirm specific kit with the operator for your chosen destination.
These are custom charters run by Pappy’s Tours; contact the operator to discuss destinations and to book your trip.
Some landings are described as very hard-to-reach and certain hikes are multi-mile; note the minimum age requirement of 12 and assess participants’ ability before booking.
Review cancellation policies before reserving.
Frequently asked questions
Planning Your Outing
What is the minimum age for these charters?
Participants must be at least 12 years old.
How long do trips last?
Trips run approximately 3 to 8 hours, with longer or overnight island camping options available.
Can I do overnight island camping?
Yes—an Offshore Island Camping Adventure option delivers you to an uninhabited island for an overnight off-grid experience.
Will I be able to photograph lighthouses?
Yes; Pappy’s Tours specializes in getting travelers out to photograph remote lights such as Stannard Rock, Poverty Island, St. Martin, Minneapolis Shoal, Ojibway, Pilot and Plum Island lights.
Does any itinerary go through the Cheboygan Lock?
Yes—the Inland Waterway cruise includes a trip through the Cheboygan Lock as part of the Burt and Mullet Lake route.
Are there swim stops on coastal cruises?
On the Sleeping Bear Dunes, Manitou Islands and shipwreck cruise there is a stop for a refreshing swim at the base of the dunes on the return.