Family Apostle Islands, WI Sea Kayaking & Camping
Upcoming dates
5 Days, 4 Nights
Little Sand Bay, WI
$750
Rich in sea caves, lighthouses and sandy shores, the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore is a sea kayaker's dream. Disappear into this pristine collection of islands and shoreline featuring a potpourri of stunning geological formations - caverns, arches and pillars - uniquely accessible to kayakers. We'll pack our gear into our kayaks and set out to explore. You'll spend four days paddling the deep blue waters of Lake Superior before bedding down under the big sky over Gitchee Goomee at night. This trip offers ideal instruction to kayak tripping for the paddler with local experience.
Day One: We will meet outside of Bayfield, WI at Little Sand Bay for an afternoon of basic paddling instruction. Dining at a local restaurant, we will get to know each other, then return to our campground for a campfire and stories of the islands!
Day Two: Today's the day we hit the water! We will pack our gear into our kayaks and head out to the islands! Paddling on the sparkling blue waters, we will camp at either Sand or Oak Islands. Upon our arrival, we'll set up camp together, learning how to set up a tent and the basics of camp safety. The rest of the afternoon can be spent hiking the lush boreal forest or getting some extra paddling in!
Day Three: We will pack up camp and head out to our next island! Today's paddle will cover York and Raspberry Island, as well, with an opporitunity to explore a lighthouse on Raspberry. After a lunch stop, we will move on to our destination for the next two nights (either Oak or Sand Islands) and set up camp! Expect a delicious dinner and a comfortable fire to end the night with.
Day Four: Today is a day of exploration!! We will have a full day to take in the sights and wildlife of the Apostles. Kayaking through sea caves by headlamp, hiking trails and looking for signs of black bear, and developing our paddling skills are all options for the day! With a hearty lunch and dinner, we will end the night with a warm campfire and delicious dessert, recounting our favorite memories from the trip.
Day Five: We will pack up camp and kayak back to the mainland, bidding farewell to the beautiful waters of Lake Superior. We will arrive at either Little Sand Bay or Red Cliff and unload our gear, where The Northwest Passage van awaits us. Shuttling back to our cars, we will say goodbye to our new friends! We aim to be back on the mainland by noon. It is important that you maintain flexibility as weather can influence our itinerary and timing.
**Itinerary subject to change depending on conditions and availability of campsites on the islands.
In order to provide the finest and most complete wilderness experience, we strongly encourage and expect participation in all camp chores, including cooking, washing dishes, setting up and breaking down camp. We will provide all meals on the trail, tents, all camping and cooking equipment, and all kayak-related equipment.
It is essential that you know how to swim to participate in this trip.
You will be sharing a tent with fellow participants each night.
“I enjoyed the variety - from changing weather (several times a day) to mixing hiking with kayaking.”
-Tim K.
“The food was the best I’ve ever had in the wilderness and I traveled with Outward Bound and Wilderness Ventures. I especially appreciated the vegetarian options! Great!” -Claire Dobbs
“Wonderful outfitter! I hope to travel with you again and tell others about you.” -Claire Dobbs
“We really liked circumnavigating Sand Island and exploring the sea caves. Susan and I greatly enjoyed the trip. Next year!?” -John and Susan Trammell
“I just can’t say enough about our guides Chris and Ryan. They were kind, gracious, ortganized, confident. I was nervous about the trip, but they were so confidence-inspiring that my fears were soon relieved. They were great!” -Rebecca Johnston
“I would not have made this trip with anyone but the NWP due to the rough water possibility and my respect for the training and safety concern of your instructors.” -Jim McGehee
“Excellent on all phases: instruction, safety, briefings.” -Phil Danley
“The guides were excellent leaders and did a great job managing the campsite and were very motivating, which really helped me to want to improve my kayaking.” -Colin Danley
“I enjoyed improving my skills and confidence in the kayak.” -Patrick Sajbel
“Rob and John were so great! They were so fun to be with and they were more than willing to teach us paddling skills and they both stood in the cold water a very long time teaching us how to roll. A++++! Thanks guys!” -Brad and Tracey Wierman
“Bonnie and Andrea were outstanding guides - experienced, wise, cheery and flexible. They handled the kids with ease and the adults with levity. They really made the trip for our group.” -Johnson Family
Apostle Islands, a group of 22 islands in Lake Superior, is located in Northern Wisconsin. Rich in sea caves, lighthouses, and sandy shores, the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore is a sea kayaker's dream.
Disappear into this pristine collection of islands and shoreline featuring a potpourri of stunning geological formations - caverns, arches, and pillars - uniquely accessible to kayakers.
History Trivia: Over 800 plant species including Wisconsin listed endangered and threatened species occur within the Lakeshore.
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