Lake Superior Sea Kayaking Trips
Trip # 105
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.
Value Cost: $75 per person
$50 per person 16 yrs old and under
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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.
Value Cost: $85 per person
$60 per person 16 yrs old and under
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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.
Value Cost: $100 per person
$75 per person 16 yrs old and under
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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.
Value Cost: $125 per person
$100 per person 16 yrs old and under
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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.
Value Cost: $200 per person
$175 per person 16 yrs old and under
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