Inland Passage

Story by Dan Armitage

One of the most delightful, stress-free cruises in the Great Lakes region does not take place on the Great Lakes at all.

The cruise is tucked away in the deep woods of the northern portion of Michigan's Lower Peninsula - across the fingertips of Michigan's "mitt."

It is a cruise where powerboats can follow in the paddle-strokes of the Ottawa - Native Americans who traded fur from birchbark canoes with the early French voyagers four centuries ago.

This remote route is known today as the Inland Waterway.

The water flowing from Mullett into Lake Huron is cool and clear, offering a view more than 10 feet down into its weed- and wood-filled depths that host one of the Great Lakes' finest walleye and muskie fisheries.

Some of the best fishing in the Cheboygan River takes place practically in the shadow of the most popular restaurant on the inland route: the historic Hack-Ma-Tack Inn.

It’s safe to bet that during the prime summer months more customers arrive by boat at this out-of-the-way eatery than by any other means, and no Inland Waterway tour is complete without a hearty lunch, or at least a quick gander at the rustic north country decor of the local landmark.

Whether you cruise the ancient Ottawa route in one day or make a weekend out of this adventure across the fingertips of Michigan's Lower Peninsula, the Inland Waterway is sure to amaze and entertain the entire family.