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Lake Superior Sea Kayaking
Click below to jump to a trip:
Marquette Harbors What do we provide?
Presque Isle and Partridge Island
Presque Isle to Little Presque Isle Meet new friends and fellow Kayakers
Big Bay Join an existing kayak trip! Click Here
Huron Islands
Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore
Munising Bay and Grand Island
Pictured Rocks
National Lakeshore
   
Kayaking along the shoreline at the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore
is
an experience that you will not want to miss if you have the opportunity.
This is arguably the most beautiful shoreline in the United States.
Crystal clear water in the largest freshwater lake in the world. Sandstone
Cliffs of beautiful reddish and orange hues rise vertically out of the
shoreline nearly 200 ft. Ride the swells as you can hear the waves crashing
into these rocks carving beautiful caves, arches, and Natural carvings
that the early explorers of this region used for landmarks over 200
years ago. Paddle the same water as the Voyageurs, Trappers, and Geologists,
Native Americans, and Trappers did as a resident population slowly came
to the Upper Peninsula during the Fur Trading, and exploration eras.
We had been told of the variety in the color and form of these
rocks, but were wholly unprepared to encounter the surprising groups
of overhanging precipices, towering walls, caverns, waterfalls... mingled
in the most wonderful disorder."
Henry Rowe Schoolcraft, 1820
Indian Agent and Wilderness Scholar
The cliffs are most prominent along the shoreline of Lake Superior
between Sand Point and Little Beaver Lake, a stretch of 15 miles. In
some areas the cliffs rise some 200 feet above the lake.
The name "Pictured Rocks" is due to the pictures that seem
to appear on the rocks from the multicolored sandstone and mineral stains
on the rock surface. The cliffs are composed of Cambrian Sandstone,
dating back about 500 million years. The stains on the sandstone are
caused by water running down the cliffs filled with oxides of copper,
manganese, iron, and organic minerals.
You will want to allow about 6 hours for this trip and of course it
is very weather dependant based on the sea conditions. Departing from
Sand Point you can slip up beside the towering cliffs, explore caves,
pull under water seeps, and explore the multi-colored details of the
shoreline bedrock. paddling past Sand Point, the towering Miner’s
Castle, the intriguing Painted Coves and the alluring Caves of the Bloody
Chiefs at Mosquito River.
Novice/Intermediate/Advanced.
Minimum 2 paddlers required/9 maximum. Tag Alongs
welcome(must have own sea kayak)$75.
Reservations required.
Trip Itinerary
Note: These are estimated times only. The itinerary can be adjusted
as necessary.
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Meet Pictured Rocks Visitors Center/400
E. Munising Ave. Munising, Mi 9:30 AM
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Safety and Instructional 9:30 - 10:00 briefing
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Debrief and Load-up 3:00 - 3:30
We recommend the kayakers are within the minimum and maximum weight
ranges of 80-250 lbs.
Cost: $125 per person
$100 per person 16 yrs old and under
Munising Bay
and Grand Island
 
Munising Bay is one of the most protected bays found along the Lake
Superior shoreline. Sheltered from the north by Grand Island, which
is about the same size as Manhattan Island in New York City, the winds
and waves of Lake Superior very rarely
keep us from getting on the water.
Grand Island possesses many unique features and provides a variety
of recreational opportunities. This newly established National Recreation
Area is home to unique vegetation, a substantial black bear population,
peregrine falcons, bald eagles, whitetail deer and loons. The northern
end of the island provides picturesque sandstone cliffs reaching over
200 feet high, and the southern end holds excellent camping opportunities
on the sand beaches located around the coastline.
Grand Island is just a short paddle across a channel from our departure
point at the
Powell Point landing. We reach the shoreline at Williams Point on the
southern tip of the Island and then proceed on a northeasterly course
into Murray’s Bay. Murray’s Bay is about 2 miles long and
¾ miles wide and very well protected. Paddling around the shoreline
and to Muskrat Point one can still visualize the past when the Native
Americans occupied this southern part of Grand Island with their villages
and trading Posts. There are campsites and place to beach a kayak for
a break and lunch. At Muskrat Point and dependant upon our time schedule,
if we have one, we can either continue on around Wick Point then over
to Sand Point or back to Powell Point Landing where we departed from.
Novice/Intermediate/Advanced
Minimum 2 paddlers required/9 maximum.
Tag alongs welcome(must have own sea kayak)$75.
Reservations required.
Trip Itinerary
Note: These are estimated times only. The itinerary can be adjusted
as necessary.
-
Meet Pictured Rocks Visitors Center/400
E. Munising Ave. Munising, Mi 9:30 AM
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Safety and Instructional 9:30-10:00 briefing
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Debrief and Load-up 3:00-3:30
We recommend the kayakers are within the minimum and maximum weight
ranges of 80-250 lbs.
Cost: $125 per person
$100 per person 16 yrs old and under
Marquette Harbors
This is an excellent paddling trip for the novice Sea Kayaker in an almost
always calm area that starts somewhere in the Marquette Harbors and allows
for about 2 hours of paddling so that you can just get the experience to
see if this sport is for you. We start out with a safety briefing and instructional
and trail period which takes from 30-45 minutes. Dependant upon the sea
conditions that day we will depart from either the Founders Landing Beach
in the Lower Harbor, McCarty’s Cove near the Coast Guard Station or
from the Presque Isle Boat Landing. We’ll spend about 2 hours paddling
and sightseeing. You will see Ripley’s Rock, the Lower and or/ Upper
Harbor Ore Docks, Marquette Lower Harbor Light, Marquette Lighthouse, Picnic
Rocks, Beaches. Approximate completion time: 5 hours. Runs June1-Sept 30.
Novice to Intermediate. You may have your group accompanied
by one of our Pontoon boats at an additional cost $250.00 if available.
Minimum 2 paddlers. Reservations required.
Trip Itinerary:
Note: These are estimated times only. The itinerary can be adjusted as necessary.
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Meet at Designated Location: 10:00 AM
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Instructional period 10:15 - 11:00
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Paddling 11:00 -12:30
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Lunch Break 12:30 – 1:15 will be near Restrooms
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Paddling 1:15 - 2:30
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Debriefing Period 2:30 - 3:00
We recommend the kayakers are within the minimum and maximum
weight ranges of 80-250 lbs.
Cost: $75 per person
$50 per person 16 yrs old and under
Presque Isle and
Partridge Island
Presque Isle is a small peninsula of 233 acres that jets out into Lake
Superior. The park’s jagged shoreline is more than two miles in length
and contains some of the oldest exposed rock formations in North America.
Most of the park is undeveloped woodland including white birch, maple, and
ironwood stands accented with areas of virgin white pine and huge hemlock
trees. It is long been high on the list for sea kayakers since the seaward
or east side of the peninsula meets the lake with sandstone cliffs nearly
100 feet high, small caves, and crystal clear water. Near the northern end
the reddish sandstone, which was old ocean bottom, gives way to black lava
type Pre-Cambrian rocks that are over 1 billion years old. Glacial scars
can be seen as they moved over the surface in past Ice-Ages. As you round
Sunset Point and head south along the shore the shoreline changes for rocks
to a beautiful sandy beach and a small cove for about a mile before we are
back into the Canadian Shield type granite rock outcroppings that are so
common in this area. Paddling by the tip of Middle Island Point you’ll
see log cottages that are very old perched high above these beautiful granite
cliffs that are nearly vertical. Don’t forget your camera on this
trip as you can get some beautiful photos of a trip you’ll remember
for a long time.
As we make the crossing out to Partridge Island look for the eagles nest
on a tall pine tree on the south end. You might even see them flying around.
Partridge Island is about 60 acres in size with steep banks and cliffs of
Granite Rock and tall pine trees.
Also many large boulders dot the shoreline. Somewhere along the shoreline
on Partridge Island we’ll stop for a lunch break of about 45 minutes.
After lunch and continuing on around Partridge Island we’ll paddle
through the Gull Islands. Watch for Loons, nesting Gulls, Mergansers and
other sea birds nesting in these small rocky islands. Then back over to
the beach on the southwest corner of Presque Isle. Approximate completion
time 7 hours. Runs June 1-Sept 30.
Novice to Intermediate. You may have your group accompanied
by one of our Pontoon boats at an additional cost $250.00 if available.
Minimum 2 paddlers. Reservations required.
Trip Itinerary
Note: These are estimated times only. The itinerary can be adjusted as necessary.
We recommend the kayakers are within the minimum and maximum
weight ranges of 80-250 lbs.
Cost: $85 per person
$60 per person 16 yrs old and under
Presque Isle to Little
Presque Isle
Presque Isle is a small peninsula of 233 acres that jets out into Lake
Superior. The park’s jagged shoreline is more than two miles in length
and contains some of the oldest exposed rock formations in North America.
Most of the park is undeveloped woodland including white birch, maple, and
ironwood stands accented with areas of virgin white pine and huge hemlock
trees. It is long been high on the list for sea kayakers since the seaward
or east side of the peninsula meets the lake with sandstone cliffs nearly
100 feet high, small caves, and crystal clear water. Near the northern end
the reddish sandstone, which was old ocean bottom, gives way to black lava
type Pre-Cambrian rocks that are over 1 billion years old. Glacial scars
can be seen as they moved over the surface in past Ice-Ages. As you round
Sunset Point and head south along the shore the shoreline changes for rocks
to a beautiful sandy beach and a small cove for about a mile before we are
back into the Canadian Shield type granite rock outcroppings that are so
common in this area. Paddling by the tip of Middle Island Point you’ll
see log cottages that are very old perched high above these beautiful granite
cliffs that are nearly vertical. Don’t forget your camera on this
trip as you can get some beautiful photos of a trip you’ll remember
for a long time.
As we make the crossing out to Partridge Island look for the eagles nest
on a tall pine tree on the south end. You might even see them flying around.
Partridge Island is about 60 acres in size with steep banks and cliffs of
Granite Rock and tall pine trees. Also many large boulders dot the shoreline.
Somewhere along the shoreline on Partridge Island we’ll stop for a
lunch break of about 45 minutes.
After lunch our journey continues with a crossing of the bay to the rocky
shoreline just below Sugar Loaf Mountain to a small secluded cove the northbound
along the shoreline past the old Wetmore Landing that was once a landing
for Ships loading logs down bound for Chicago, Detroit, and Milwaukee as
these cities experienced rapid growth in the late 19th century. Passing
Wetmore’s we are paddling in the crystal clear waters just below sandstone
cliffs of over 80 feet in height and around the point to Little Presque
Isle or Garlic Island. A short paddle around the island brings us in view
of the beautiful sand beach at the Little Presque Isle beach where our sea
kayak journey is complete.
A shuttle back to the Presque Isle Marina is waiting for us and after we
load up its about a 15 minute drive back to your vehicle. Or, if you chose
to be accompanied by our pontoon boat then we’ll catch a ride with
it back to the marina.
Approximate completion time 8 hours. Runs June 1-Sept 30. Skill level
Novice to Intermediate. You may have your group accompanied
by one of our Pontoon boats at an additional cost $250.00 if available.
Minimum 2 paddlers. Reservations required.
Trip Itinerary
Note: These are estimated times only. The itinerary can be adjusted as necessary.
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Meet Presque Isle Marina 9:00 AM
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Instructional and Briefing 9:00 - 9:30
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Debrief and Load-up 4:30 - 5:00
Transport back to Marina
We recommend the kayakers are within the minimum and maximum weight ranges
of 80-250 lbs.
Cost: $100 per person
$75 per person 16 yrs old and under
Paddling Big Bay
Big Bay, Michigan is a great area for the novice to the expert levels
of sea kayaking. It is also very scenic as well. Big Bay Harbor is very
well protected and a great place to start from. Exiting the harbor offers
a beautiful sandy beach to the right or a rocky shoreline that gives
way to granite outcroppings and then sandstone cliffs as you proceed
to the Northwest and around to the Salmon Trout Point. If we go to the
right out of the harbor we are paddling along the shoreline and a beautiful
beach with some cottages around to Big Bay Point and Lighthouse. Continuing
around the points it’s a nice paddle to the mouth of the Salmon
Trout River. If we chose to go to Salmon Trout Point then we continue
around to Salmon Trout Bay and the mouth of the Salmon Trout River.
You will want to allow at least 6 hours for either of these trips. Often
the wind direction can determine which route we take that day. Its is
also a good idea to have our pontoon along especially if you are novice
paddlers. Beautiful Scenery, wildlife, historical buildings, and a great
time are all part of this experience.
Novice/Advanced. Pontoon is recommended for this trip.
The additional cost is $250.00.
Minimum 4 paddlers required/6
maximum. Reservations required.
Trip Itinerary
Note: These are estimated times only. The itinerary can be adjusted
as necessary.
-
Meet Big Bay Harbor 9:30 AM
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Safety and Instructional 9:30 - 10:00 briefing
-
-
-
-
Debrief and Load-up 3:00 - 3:30
We recommend the kayakers are within the minimum and maximum weight
ranges of 80-250 lbs.
Cost: $125 per person
$100 per person 16 yrs old and under
Huron Islands
This is a kayak adventure that is really second
to none.
Huron National Wildlife Refuge
The beacon of Lighthouse Island gleams into the Northern Michigan night
from its lonely vantage point three miles off the south shore of Lake
Superior. Lighthouse Island, or West Huron, is the second largest of
eight islands comprising the Huron Islands National Wildlife Refuge.
Despite their small size, totalling only 147 acres, the remoteness and
primitive quality of these islands have earned them the designation
of a Wilderness Area.
The refuge was established for the protection of migratory birds,
specifically, a large nesting colony of herring gulls. It is managed
by staff at Seney National Wildlife Refuge, in Seney, Michigan.
Only West Huron Island (Lighthouse Island) is open to the public, during
daylight hours, for hiking and nature study. All remaining islands are
closed to the public. Exceptions are emergency landings by boats in
distress.
Departing from the Big Bay Harbor after loading our kayaks
it's about a 30-45 minute trip to the Huron Islands which are located
about 12 miles west of Big Bay. Transportation to the Huron Islands
is aboard one of our pontoon boats. On this cruise as we leave Big Bay
Harbor we keep a sharp lookout for fisherman's nets that are set out
to catch the Whitefish found on menu's in many local restaurants. Rounding
Salmon Trout Point to our port and if the visibility is good we can
see these magnificent islands looming to our westward about 12 miles.
Notice the 100 ft. high vertical cliffs on the Point and the erosion
of the rock due to the relentless pounding of the waves from strong
fall storms that allow waves to build up 30 feet on occasion. Don't
worry we don't go in that kind of weather.
Salmon Trout Bay is off our port (left) , you can see the Salmon Trout
River and a sandy beach and eagles nest and the remnants of an old stone
dock used in the lumbering days of old to load the logs of native white
pine down bound! to Chicago in the early 20th century. The next point
is Conway Point. Again, high cliffs much like you see on the Pictured
Rocks Cruises shaped by erosion for the relentless sea. On shore here
is the Huron Mountain Club and the Huron Mountains in the background.
The Huron Mountain Club was started by many wealthy industrialists in
the late 1800's as a retreat for their families. Folks like Henry Ford
and other prominent business people were members and many of their descendants
still have summer homes in this exclusive club. After Conway Bay we
pass Pine River Point and then the Huron River Point on the way to the
Hurons.
You cannot help from being awed by the beauty of the Huron Mountains
in the background as it looks like you are sailing into a postcard.
Once we reach the Huron Islands we slow down as we pass by Cattle Island.
So named because cattle from the wooden side-wheeler steamer "Arctic"
ended up here after going hard on the rocks in the fall of 1860. We'll
also look for some Native American Pictographs which are said to be
here. I've never seen them but you might. We'll then head over to the
Lighthouse Island and the boat house where we can tie up and disembark.
After a short hike up to see the lighthouse and the beautiful scenery
and views of the Huron Mountains and the Keweenaw Peninsula its back
down to the boathouse to get ready for a kayaking adventure second to
none. Paddling around the island you’ll see Loons, Eagles, Blue
Herons, Mergansers, and other sea birds. The scenery is strikingly beautiful
as these granite islands rise almost vertically from the depths of Lake
Superior. Paddling around Lighthouse Island look for Indian Pictographs
and glacial scars. Just below the surface on the eastern side of Lighthouse
Island lie the remnants of the Steamer “Artic” that rammed
into the rocks in dense fog in 1860. Occasionally pieces of metal and
glass are still found wedged in the rock crevasses that make up the
eastern side of the island. Continuing over to Cattle Island look for
more wildlife and Indian pictographs. The islands are only about 200
yards apart. After paddling and exploring for about 3 hours we’ll
load up and proceed back toward Big Bay Harbor stopping along the way
near Salmon Trout Point to take a short paddle along the towering sandstone
cliffs that have some really neat designs carved into them form the
relentless waves of Lake Superior. Having our pontoon along is a great
advantage on this trip as its always there for a place to rest or take
a break and we can move ahead on the trip as needed. From the Salmon
Trout Point its only a short trip back to the Big Bay Harbor.
Intermediate/Advanced. Pontoon is required for this
trip and is included in the price.
Minimum 4 paddler’s
required/6 maximum. Reservations required.
Trip Itinerary
Note: These are estimated times only. The itinerary can be adjusted
as necessary.
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Meet Big Bay harbor 9:00 AM
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Transport to Huron Islands Instructional and Briefing
9:00 - 10:00
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Short tour to Lighthouse 10:00 - 10:45
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Transport back to Big Bay Debrief and Load-up 4:00 - 6:00
We recommend the kayakers are within the minimum and maximum weight
ranges of 80-250 lbs.
Cost: $200 per person
$175 per person 16 yrs old and under
On all of our Lake Superior Sea Kayak
Trips we provide the below listed items:
Kayaks
Guide and Instructor
Wetsuit w/ booties and gloves, Lifejacket, Paddle, Spray skirt, Splash top,
Marine Safety Radio
First Aid and Safety Equipment
Cooler
Safety and transportation vessel if needed
You should bring:
Lunch (we provide lunch cooler)
Water - 2 quarts in seperate containers
Camera with waterproof case of some type
Sunscreen
Bug Spray
Sunglasses - keeper strap if needed
Extra shirt, jacket, and socks
Hat with rim or visor
Swimsuit
Water shoes (provided if needed)
Rain Jacket (provided if needed)
Synthetic undergarments and knit hat in cold weather
Please Note:
Paddling on Lake Superior is a very pleasurable trip even in the rain
and fog and even cool weather. You are well protected from the elements
by the kayak, wetsuit, rain jacket, lifejacket and spray skirt. The
primary reason for most trip cancellations is rough sea conditions.
The decision to cancel will be made by the Guide/Instructor.
Sometimes due to the sea conditions on the lake it may be necessary
to go to a different location than planned. Lake Superior has many locations
with beautiful scenery such as rock cliffs, sea caves, arches, waterfalls,
clear water and beautiful beaches. We will make every effort to accommodate
your group when poor sea conditions prevail.
If you would like we can also provide a pontoon to accompany your trip
to carry gear, lunches, food, and to provide a resting platform if needed.
An additional cost of $250.00 will apply.
We require the training session on all kayak trips on Lake
Superior with our guide not only for your safety and comfort but for
insurance purposes.
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