Cruising into fall
For lovely views of the hues, try a float on a boat.
© Beth Gauper
A Dells Boat Tours excursion returns from the Upper Dells.
As wooded shorelines erupt in fall colors, narrated river cruises become especially popular. That's easy to understand — why not kick back and let the scenery come to you?
On the most scenic part of the Mississippi, pontoons glide past 500-foot bluffs and into backwaters. In the northwoods, they
explore a wild part of the Wisconsin River.
On the Dalles and in the Dells, paddlewheelers, launches and amphibious Ducks give passengers plenty to look at.
Here are some of the best tours.
Mississippi Explorer between La Crosse and Galena: These pontoon riverboats ply the Mississippi at its most
picturesque, the point where Wisconsin, Iowa and Illinois meet.
Based in Lansing, Iowa, the line specializes in backwater eco-tours out of La Crosse and Prairie du Chien, Wis.; and Chestnut
Mountain Resort, just south of Galena, Ill.
In fall, they offer 1½- and two-hour foliage cruises. Call 877-647-7397, 563-856-4444.
For more, see Great River Road stories.
Dells Boat Tours in the Wisconsin Dells: Narrated tours on the Wisconsin River, past the famous sandstone formations, go out daily through October. Upper Dells rides are two hours; Lower Dells are one hour.
Ghost Boat tours go out Friday and Saturday evenings in October. The 1½-hour tours are not recommended for children under 11.
608-254-8555.
For more, see The quiet side of the Dells.
Wisconsin Ducks in the Wisconsin Dells: The amphibious Ducks trundle along forest trails and into the Wisconsin River or Lake Delton. One-hour, 8½-mile tours go out through October. 608-254-8751.
© Beth Gauper
A paddlewheeler heads down the St. Croix River from Taylors Falls, Minn.
Wilderness Cruises on the Wisconsin River south of Rhinelander, Wis. The 76-foot Wilderness Queen, which formerly toured the nearby Willow Flowage, is one of the few remaining northwoods cruises, and its route gives passengers many opportunities to see eagles, osprey and herons.
It offers 1½-hour sightseeing cruises and two-hour Sunday brunch cruises on a pontoon with an open top deck and a handsome, knotty-pine lower deck. There's a cruise nearly every day through the second weekend of October. 715-369-7500.
For more, see R&R in
Rhinelander.
Pictured Rocks Boat Cruises on Lake Superior from Munising, Mich.: The 2½- to 3-hour cruises along the national lakeshore go out through the third weekend in October. 800-650-2379, 906-387-2379.
For more, see Michigan's Pictured Rocks.
Steamboat Minnehaha from Excelsior, Minn. The autumn tours around Lake Minnetonka are very popular on this restored streetcar steamboat. The one-hour cruises go out at 12:40 p.m., 2 p.m. and 3:20 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays through early October. It's smart to reserve in advance, 952-474-2115.
For more, see Cruising around
Excelsior.
Door County Fireboat Cruises from Sturgeon Bay, Wis. A former Chicago fireboat offers 1½- or 2½-hour narrated tours of the bay and ship canal, past three lighthouses, through mid-October. 920-495-6454.
For more, see The door to Door County.
Scenic Boat Tours on the St. Croix River from Taylors Falls, Minn.: Narrated paddlewheeler cruises take passengers past the evocative formations of the St. Croix's Dalles, formed at the same time and in the same way as Wisconsin's Dells. 651-257-3550, 800-447-4958.
For more, see Sightseeing on the St. Croix.
Padelford Riverboats on the Mississippi in St. Paul: Boats from Harriet Island, across from downtown, give 1½-hour narrated sightseeing cruises upriver through a wooded area that shows beautiful colors. Check for meal and specialty cruises.
Sign up for our free weekly newsletter
Get our weekly stories, tips and updates delivered a day early — directly to your Inbox. Wondering what you'll get? Take a look at our newsletter archive.
