Why You Should Sea Kayak Isle Royale

John Paul Jones

Sea kayaking is a unique way to explore and experience remote waterways. A sea kayak is built to handle the challenging conditions you can find in Lake Superior, whilst also providing plenty of storage for camping gear and food. You can even carry more than you would on a backpacking trip, without the pesky weight of your gear resting upon your shoulders!

The trail system on Isle Royale is magnificent, and the interior lakes provide calm flatwater paddling with serene natural beauty, so why not just canoe or hike? With a sea kayak you can reach places that few get to see and have the confidence to handle Lake Superiors' ever-changing conditions. Isle Royale's main island might be the focal point of most trips, but the park is an archipelago of over 400 islands with 75 percent of it being underwater, covering roughly 400,000 acres of Lake Superior!

John Paul Jones

From a sea kayak you can explore long finger bays and various barrier islands imbued with a plethora of ancient rock formations. Most are covered in bright orange splotches of elegant sunburst lichen, opalescent white lines of quartz, and flocks of nesting herring gulls. The relentless pounding of Lake Superior’s might has carved numerous caves, arches, and sheer bluffs above the water’s icy depths.

Each island has its own character, its own story. Some are seemingly nothing more than lonesome, barren boulders exposed offshore in the surrounding frigid shades of azure and cerulean. Others harbor elevated peaks with dense boreal forests, soft spongy bogs, and carpets of native wildflowers. Plentiful wildlife, including several species of songbirds, raptors, waterfowl, moose, beaver, and even the occasional curious wolf, inhabit these isolated ecosystems.

Isle Royale has a challenging and diverse marine environment that allows you to really test your paddling and navigation skills. There are plenty of fun natural obstacles, with wind, waves, and currents to play in. It’s the perfect environment for properly prepared intermediate and advanced level paddlers. Though it is not the place for a novice sea kayaker to try their first solo outing, there are a few reputable outfitters in the surrounding areas who offer training and guided experiences!

John Paul Jones

Lake Superior can be unpredictable, and your route should be planned conservatively based on the weather conditions with your group's skill level in mind. Isle Royale’s geology also provides a multitude of protected coves, sheltered channels, and tranquil bays that allow you to immerse yourself in the wilderness that has been largely untouched by modern influence, even when the weather is less than ideal. Getting truly “off the beaten path” through paddling allows ample opportunity for communing with nature, deep introspection, and connecting with others through the bond of a shared wilderness experience.

Isle Royale is Michigan's most northern and most remote wilderness. It can seem like a daunting endeavor crossing the largest lake by surface in the world to get here, but there is a myriad of resources to help. Michigan and Minnesota are mainland points of entry, with several different ferries granting passage through the summer months. With a little planning and preparation, it can be an easily accessible wilderness destination to delve into a truly untamed backcountry sea kayaking adventure!

Written by: John Paul Jones

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