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Isle Royale &
Overnight Tours |
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Rounding
outer barrier islands on a foggy morning on Isle Royale.
Photo courtesy of Greg Million
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Isle
Royale Solitude |
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Isle
Royale Sunset [photo credit: Steve
Brimm] |
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Isle Royale National Park and the Keweenaw Peninsula
are both closely related. They are a mirror image to each other,
sharing the same Michigan county, the same Great Lake and in
fact, are part of the the same rock! Composed of some of the
oldest exposed rock in the world, the unique geologic compounds,
mineral desposits, parallel spiney ridgelines and botany are
virtually identical. Eagles, loon, and water fowl inhabit both,
however, Isle Royale is home to wolves, moose, and otters. Both
showcase premier midwestern wilderness areas ideal for paddling.
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Paddlers
explore the moss covered wooden headstones on
Cemetary Island [credit:
C.DeRop] |
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Adirondack
shelter at Duncan Narrows. One of the few places
where fires are allowed on Isle Royale National
Park [credit: C.DeRop] |
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Our guided
overnight tours are totally inclusive. Tours on Isle Royale
include the use of a single or tandem Boreal Design sea kayak,
all kayak outfitting equipment, a "mini" Water Safety Course/
skills refresher on the afternoon prior to the scheduled departure,
professional guide service, all food and meal preparation, tents
and camping equipment, ferry transportation for individuals
and their kayaks and all Park permits & fees. Participants
need only to provide a sleeping bag, pad, their personal items
and a sense for adventure. *A 20% discount is offered for participants
using their own sea kayaks and full outfitting equipment that
meet our safety requirements.
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| Sun
burning off the morning fog at Merritt Lane on Isle
Royale |
Our overnight tour guide, Don Watson, is an experienced, true
professional having been a guide for over 20 years around Lake
Superior and in Alaska. He is an excellent instructor, very
safety conscious, a certified Wilderness First Responder, a
well-seasoned outdoorsman and is very personable, a good cook
and a great story teller. An adventure with Don as your guide
is certain to be one that's always remembered.
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A
placid paddle through Tobin Harbor |
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Exploring
a rock crevase near Scoville Point |
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Isle
Royale National Park |
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Intermediate
/ Advanced - This trip includes kayak (single & tandem),
kayak equipment, safety course (day prior to scheduled date)
expert guide service, food, tents, ferry transport and Park permit
fees. You provide a sleeping bag and pad.
2011
Isle Royale Schedule |
Duration |
Price
in $ |
June 17-20 |
4 day / 3 night
*Summer Solstice Special |
699 |
July 1-5 |
5
day / 4 night |
989 |
July 16-19 |
4
day / 3 night |
865 |
July 23-28 |
6 day / 5 night |
1095 |
August 2-6 |
5 day / 4 night |
989 |
August 19-22 |
4
day / 3 night |
865 |
August
28-31 |
4
day / 3 night
* End of Summer Special |
799 |
September
9-12 |
4 day/ 3 night
*September
Special
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699 |
ISLE ROYALE Customer
Testimonies:
Dear Sam,
It
has only been a few weeks since our trip and I can't wait
to get back to Copper Harbor in August. My brother and I would
like to say thank you, one more time, for an incredible adventure.
Everything was absolutely perfect. The entire trip was very
well planned and was effortless on our side. At the same time,
you and Don (Watson) were sure to take into account our goals
and expectations. Throughout the entire process, we felt like
Keweenaw Adventure Company did everything possible to make
sure our trip was successful and problem free. Our guide (Don)
was amazing in every way and the equipment was first rate.
I
have been to Isle Royale twice prior to our paddling trip.
After kayaking the islands, I feel like I finally saw Isle
Royale for the first time. Our guide Don was incredibly knowledgeable.
His experience in guiding paddling adventures was obvious.
We set ambitious goals and with his help we were able to achieve
them. We feel that we visited places on Isle Royale we could
have never seen without the help, knowledge and experience
Don provided.
Thanks
for everything you do to make adventures like ours possible!
Corey
Derop, Dennis Derop, June 2008
Customer
Comments from Nan B. August 2007:
"Isle Royale is the perfect paddling
location for all skill levels. Our guide had expert skils
and knowledge. I felt I was safe at all times. Every campsite
had a magnificant view. There's nothing better than watching
the sun set with the boreal forest in the foreground. This
experience was everything I was hoping for".
Comments from
Gary Pike's Adventure - Labor Day Weekend 2003:
" I have told dozens of people about my kayak adventure
to Isle Royale. I tell anyone who will listen! And, like a
new father, I have photos, but they are of water/shore-scapes,
sunshine and moose! The lighthouse and fishery "museums" are
a great place to visit."
"The trip far exceeded my expectations in every way; it has
everything"
"May God bless your future endeavors! Gary
Pike, P.E. September 2003 "
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Keweenaw
Water Trail |
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South
Side Sea Stacks [credit: T.Mackay] |
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The Keweenaw Water Trail
is a designated route that was established for paddlers to explore
the Keweenaw Peninsula. The 100 mile plus route ultimately enables
an experienced paddler to circumnavigate the " Copper Island"
and offers many other options for shorter day trips and overnights.
The "tip of the Keweenaw", the northern most locale, in particular
is a true uninhabited wilderness area. Over 8000 acres and 9
miles of undeveloped Lake Superior Shoreline were acquired by
the State of Michigan in 2002 as a part of the largest conservation
acquisition in its history and now lies in a State Forest designation.
There are no facilities of any kind and camping is primitive.
Our overnight tours will highlight this geological fantasy land
of various rock types, crystal-clear water, cliffs, sea caves
and arches, sea stacks, the Montreal Falls, intermittent sugar-sand
beaches and campsites visited by the Voyagers. All of this incredible
scenery is neighbored by quaint harbor-side communities filled
with the history of their maritime and mining past. The Keweenaw
Peninsula is gradually being discovered and is becoming one
the premier locations for sea kayak adventures on Lake Superior.
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Rock
Hounding Break [credit:
T.Mackay] |
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Bete
Gris and Bare Bluff [credit: T.Mackay] |
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Our guided overnight tours of the Keweenaw Water Trail are all
inclusive. We provide all of the aforementioned as for our Isle
Royale Tours, without the ferryboat transportation and associated
Park Permit fees. Tours in the Keweenaw are intended to be point
to point trips, although are always dependant on wind, wave
and weather conditions as well as current marine forecasts.
Our overnight tour guide, Don Watson, will be leading these
trips when not on Isle Royale.
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Rounding
the tip of the Keweenaw [credit: T.Mackay] |
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Mouth
of the Montreal Falls on Lake Superior |
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Intermediate / Advanced - This
trip includes kayak and all equipment, safety course (day prior
to departure), guide service, food and tent. You provide a sleeping
bag, pad and a sense for adventure.
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KWT Tour Schedule |
Duration |
Price
in $ |
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June
24-26 |
3
day / 2 night |
425 |
*
June Special...Tip of the Keweenaw: Bete Gris
to Copper Harbor |
July 29-31 |
3
day / 2 night |
529 |
Tip
of the Keweenaw: Bete Gris to Copper Harbor |
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August 14-17 |
4
day / 3 night |
650 |
South
side & Tip of the Keweenaw: Gay to Copper Harbor |
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Sunset
at base camp at Keystone Bay
photo couresty of Rich Strohl |
The
Fine Print: All scheduled dates and tour duration's are tentative.
It may be possible to schedule for specific dates, time frames
and trips not listed depending on the availability of a guide(s),
kayaks & equipment and ferry boat capacity to Isle
Royale. Please contact the Keweenaw Adventure Company staff
to inquire about making any special arrangements.
Reservations and a 50% deposit are required at least 3 weeks
prior to the scheduled tour and is non-refundable if less
than 2 weeks prior to the scheduled departure. There is a
15% charge for cancellations made more than 2 weeks prior
to the scheduled tour. All Overnight Tours require a 2 person
minimum. An absolute maximum group size of 5 participants
(6 including the guide) is regulated by the National Park
Service for Isle Royale Tours. Larger groups may be accommodated
for Keweenaw Water Trail Tours with the aid of a second guide.
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photo
by Diane ursu |
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