Pictured Rocks: Sea Kayaking & Camping

Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore offers some of the most spectacular coastline on the southern shore of Lake Superior. Spend five days exploring the cliffs, coves and forests of this remote and wonderful area. Superior's clear blue waters offer the Midwest's finest paddling, a perfect environment for intermediate or experienced paddlers. At night, you'll enjoy hearty meals under the stars and relax around the campfire. Daily Itinerary

- Activities: Sea Kayaking & Camping
- Van Supported: No
- From: Munising, MI
- 2008 Price: $650

- Registration Forms Here!

Itinerary - Fact Sheet - Common Questions - Top of Page

Day 1: We will meet in Munsing around 3 p.m. where we'll meet and get acquainted with one another. We will then get on the water and refresh ourselves on some kayaking fundamentals. We will have dinner and spend the night at Munsing.

Day 2-4: On the second day, we will put in at Munsing after a good breakfast. Days 2, 3, and 4 will consist of eight to ten miles of paddling with stop-offs for lunch and a few hikes along the shore. We will travel Northeast until we reach our final destination on day 4; Grand Sable Dunes.

Day 5: After spending the night at Grand Sable Dunes, we will wake up to our last day. We'll enjoy our last great breakfast, and shuttle back to Munsing where we'll say our goodbyes and depart for home.

**This itinerary is subject to change.

Itinerary - Fact Sheet - Common Questions - Top of Page

What is special about this trip?
The Pictured Rocks are a classic sea kayaking destination in the Great Lakes - the lure of Grand Island, the red sandstone cliffs and rock formations, and the cascading waterfalls add up to a trip full of photographic moments and memories! Our groups are always a lot of fun, and our guides are always experienced and enthusiastic.

How do I get there? How will you meet me?
This sparsely populated area is best accessed by car, and we'll provide you with a map and driving directions. You can drive up in one day from the Chicago area, but many people prefer to arrive the night before the trip or stop on the way up; it's generally easy to find a comfortable motel or B&B. The nearest commercial airport is in Marquette, about 45 miles west of Munising. We'll meet at the city dock in Munising where you'll recognize us by our van and boats!

What money should I take?
You won't need money while we're on the water, but you should expect to spend some in Munising: dinner the first evening will run about $10-15, plus drinks, and you may wish to buy souvenirs, film, batteries, etc.

Who do I tip? How much?
Tipping the Northwest Passage guides is unnecessary. In lieu, you may write a thank you letter, which is always appreciated!

What's the weather like?
You need to pay attention to two kinds of weather on Lake Superior: While on land we'll experience the summer common to the upper Midwest, with daytime highs in the mid 80's and lows in the upper 50's. Pack a few light layers and some rain gear. The water in Lake Superior is around 50°F in mid-summer, and the waters can range from calm to challenging.

Do I need a wetsuit?
You'll need to wear a drysuit or a wetsuit while on the water - you can bring your own or rent a wetsuit from us for $25 for the trip. Local dive shops may also have wetsuits available for rent.

What are the accommodations like?
Our first night is spent at a mainland campground with showers and running water. The following nights offer some beautiful camping sites, generally with outhouses and water taps. We use lightweight two-person tents, and we'll provide all the group camping and cooking gear (you provide your sleeping bag and pad).

Can I drink the water?
There are pumps for drinking water near our campsites. Bring a water bottle that you can refill at our stops. You won't be able to drink directly from Lake Superior but we'll bring iodine or a filter to purify the lake water if it becomes necessary.

What's the food like?
We plan for hearty meals! Recent menus have included fettucine and asparagus, fajitas, spaghetti and garlic bread for dinner, pancakes and potatoes for breakfast, and sandwiches and tuna salad for lunch; we also pack plenty of snacks! Please let us know about any special dietary needs and we'll plan to accommodate you.

What time is it there?
Munising, Michigan and the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore are in the US Eastern Time Zone.

How can people reach me in an emergency? Can I call home?
You'll be able to phone home from Munising on the first night, but once we head off to the camp sites you won't see any more phones. Give friends and family The Northwest Passage office number, as our office will be able to get in touch with the group in an emergency.

How much time do we spend paddling each day? How many miles? Do I have free time?
The amount of kayaking varies from day to day. We'll generally paddle for an hour and a half to two hours to get to our first night's camp, set up camp and have lunch, then head out for a recreational paddle to check out some of the spectacular cliffs or wooded shores of the mainland. Each morning we'll break camp, pack the boats, and head to the next night's camp. Our paddling will be broken into one-to-two hour stretches, with breaks to explore some of the other highlights and have lunch or snacks. We plan to be off the water by mid-afternoon, set up camp, and then enjoy hiking, some short paddles in unloaded boats, or relaxing in camp!

What kind of equipment do you use?
We use rotomolded plastic kayaks, expedition equipped with bow and stern hatches and rudders. We'll bring mostly single kayaks on this trip, though we often bring our double kayak along so people can switch around and try different paddling options. Our camping equipment includes Kelty and Eureka two-person tents.

How many people are on this trip? How many guides? Who are the guides/what are their qualifications?
Our group size for this trip ranges from 5-12. The Northwest Passage sends one guide for every five participants. Our guides are drawn from our staff of kayaking instructors, all hold certifications from the ACA or BCU (the governing bodies of sea kayaking in North America), and in Wilderness First Aid.

Itinerary - Fact Sheet - Common Questions - Top of Page

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