Northern Waters Sea Kayaking

Carl Hansen has led guided sea kayak trips on Lake Superior since 1987. He rents kayaks and canoes for Lake Superior and inland lakes and streams. He also rents CROSS-COUNTRY SKIS and SNOWSHOES. His staff of experi-enced paddlers offers guided day trips and longer excursions to the Pictured Rocks, to the sandstone cliffs, sea caves, and ship-wrecks of Grand Island, or to Isle Royale.

Grand Island's cliffs and caves are like Pic-tured Rocks, but on a smaller scale. The island has become a premiere kayaking destination. Even on a calm day, a kayak allows you to feel exposed to the power of this greatest lake. Kayaks, more stable than a canoe, put you low in the water. You can quietly get right up to the massive cliffs and look up at them.

All guided trips include 1 hour of training for people with no previous kayaking experi-ence. A mix of solo and tandem kayaks is used. The one-day guided trip ($125/adult, $95/youth) goes either to Pictured Rocks or Grand Island, depending on lake conditions and the group's abilities and requests. Ask about group discounts. Reservations are required. It may be possible to make day-trip reservations the night before. For longer trips it's best to reserve two weeks in advance, especially in August and for holidays. The three-day Pictured Rocks or Grand Island camping trip ($319/$255 complete, including tents, gear, and food) involves more training, possible hiking, and a more leisurely explora-tion of Lake Superior's scenery. Overnights allow for seeing sunsets on the water, possible moonlight paddles, stargazing, and, if you're lucky and up late enough, possibly seeing the Northern Lights.
Notes: safety standards say that on a per-fectly calm day with beginning paddlers, there should be no more than six boats per instruc-tor. If some paddlers have passed safety courses, more boats could go without having another instructor. We recommend the kayak tour only for fit people. Kayakers carry their crafts down a rather steep slope to the water.

Sea kayaks can be rented for unguided Lake Superior expedition trips after an exten-sive safety class. Instruction includes learn-ing paddle strokes, braces, and rescues (you will get wet!), followed by dry-land instruction on enjoying kayak camping. Trips include wetsuit, spray skirt, and more. Other kayaks can be rented for use on inland lakes and slow streams after just 15 minutes' instruction. These are stable enough for families, fishing, and dogs. A tandem kayak rents for $49/day. Visitors are welcome to stop by and see a free video on sea kayaking. Northern Waters sells a wide variety of kayaks and accesso-ries for fishing, hunting, whitewater rivers, small lakes, and the Great Lakes.

Northern Waters' retail store is downtown at 712 W. Munising/M-28 between the American Legion and the High School. (906) 387-2323. Open from May through September. Daily 10-5 at least. Call for directions to the dock from which trips depart. Handicap accessible: call.

Return to Munising

MUNISING
POINTS OF INTEREST

Munising Falls. One of the peninsula's premier waterfalls is just minutes from downtown Munisng ... more

Munising Front Range Light. Imposing 1908 58-foot white light tower is part of a system of range lights that guide ships into Munising's harbor of refuge. Behind & up the hill is the shorter but higher white round rear range tower. Boat captains lined up the two lights to steer safely into this harbor of refuge. ... more

Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. A major Midwest destination with wonderful waterfalls, vistas, and hikes, the sandstone bluffs here rise up to 300 feet high, shaped by wind, waves, and ice into dramatic columns and caves, and stained red, blue and green by seeping minerals to form colored "pictures" ... more

Scenic drive Munising to Marquette. Miles of public beaches, vistas, and elegant river mouths delight travelers who take M-28 along this stretch. ... more

Spray Falls. Enjoyable 3-mile hike takes you to one of the U.P.'s premier falls ... more

Tannery Falls. One of the U.P.'s most delightful waterfalls is reached by a splendid path along Tannery Creek ... more

Hiawatha National Forest/ Pictured Rocks Visitor Center. This is a recommended first stop for every new visitor---for maps, handouts, scheduled talks and walks on nature and history, and customized, impartial advice from a knowledgeable staff of adults who live here and know the area well. Also a nature bookstore ... more

Pictured Rocks Cruises. This cruise is the way to see the Pictured Rocks, preferably in the late-afternoon light, unless you have your own boat or take a kayak tour, ... more

Glass Bottom Boat Shipwreck Tour. This tour combines perspective about shipwrecks with the chance to peer down through a large boat's viewing wells at three shipwrecks south of Grand Island. ... more

Ice Climbing in Pictured Rocks. A top Midwest spot for ice climbing just east of Munising, where tall sandstone bluffs create dramatic blue columns of ice ... more

Lake Superior. Of all the U.P.'s features, none rival the largest freshwater lake in the world. ... more

Central Munising. A wonderful picnic spot, with grills, bandshell, and farmers' market on Munising Bay; a popular coffeehouse-bookstore, some specialty stores; and a kids' castle playground ... more

Alger County Heritage Center. Here you'll see an authentically furnished 1830s fur trader's cabin from Grand Island, and vintage Munising Woodenware products (clothespins, hand-painted bowls, and lots more), once marketed nationally ... more

Northern Waters Sea Kayaking. An adventurous way to see the cliffs, caves, and shipwrecks by Grand Island and the fabled Pictured Rocks ... more

Grand Island Scenic Overlook. A breathtaking vista out beyond Munising Bay of Grand Island ... more

Munising-area Waterfalls. Avoid crowds and visit four delightful, secluded falls in and near Munising: Horseshoe Falls, a quaint private attraction; the Twin Waterfall Plant Preserve; and Wagner Falls off M-94 ... more

Valley Spur Cross-Country Ski and Mountain Bike Trails. Artfully laid out, meticulously groomed, this 38-mile trail system is a favorite destination of dedicated cross-country skiers from far and wide ... more

McQuisten Recreation Area. The views from boardwalks on this beautiful pond are hidden gems for birders and naturalists, within walking distance of the Super 8 and Comfort Inn motels. There's an elaborate playground, too ... more

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