Kayak Shuttle
Pictured Rocks and Grand Island

Kayak Shuttle allows kayaks and gear to be transported to various locations along the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore and Grand Island that up until its inception in 2012 have been very difficult or impossible to reach from a road.

Pictured Rocks

The section of the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore that contains all of the rock formations that have been eroded from the wave action and where the sea caves and other formations exist is a stretch of about 12 miles. It starts at Miners Beach to the west and ends at the start of 12 Mile Beach just beyond Spray Falls on the eastern end. Thus the scenic area to kayak is from Miners Beach to Chapel Beach or Spray Falls. Miners Beach is the only location in this area the kayaks may be launched from the beach because it is accessible from a road.

The next place east to launch or pull out is the 12 Mile Beach Campground which is 25 miles east of the Miners Beach launch point.

This has resulted in day sea kayak tours being restricted to launching and pulling out at the same location "Miners Beach". This allows us, in the approximately 4-5 hours available, to go about 5-6 miles into the rocks, take a lunch break and get back on time. The 7 hour day trip at the Pictured Rocks goes from West to East about 5 miles to Lovers Leap Arch and then returns along the same area. There is a lot to see on this trip and you really get an idea of what the Pictured Rocks are all about. The other 7 miles is normally only seen on a multi day trip until the inception of Kayak Shuttle.

Kayak Shuttle allows your trip to start at Chapel Beach and go from east to west one way along the entire Pictured Rocks Shoreline in approximately the same amount of time as the normal day trip.

On this trip you will see Spray Falls, Chapel Rock, Chapel Beach, Battleship Row, the Cave of the Bloody Chiefs, and Grand Portal Arch that you normally just don't have the time for on the normal 7 hour day trip. Additionally, you will see all of the normal features normally seen on the day trip such as Lovers Leap and Mosquito Beach and River. With Kayak Shuttle you get to see it all on a 1 day trip.

How it works???

Since the trip ends at Miners Beach or at Chapel Beach, if done west to east, we first must position a vehicle at Miners Beach or the Chapel Road Trailhead. The trip involves a 2 mile hike to the beach or trailhead. You may position a vehicle or you may use Trailspotters a (local shuttle service). The kayaks and equipment are positioned at the beach by our specially designed pontoon boat for carrying up to 12 kayaks. Cost for Trailspotters from Miners Beach to Chapel Road Trailhead is $15 per person. If you choose to hike between Miners and Chapel Beach this may be done on the North Country Trail. It is about an 11 mile distance and you may also camp along the way.

What is the cost??

For this service we must charge a minimum fee of $300 to cover our costs to run the pontoon from Munising and return ( 22 one way miles) and return. We require a minimum of 6 participants and the cost is $175 per person. If you have your own kayaks and equipment and choose to go unguided then only the $300 fee applies.

Value???

That's up to you. You get to see all of the Pictured Rocks and get in a little hiking all in one day rather than two, do not have to do any backtracking, and can go in a larger group which will further reduce costs.

Grand Island

Kayaks and equipment may also be transported to the northern tip of Grand Island and Trout Bay. This makes for a great hike and paddling trip. Minimum charge for this trip is $250.