We are thrilled that you have chosen Superior Kayaking Company to guide you on a kayak tour of our beautiful Lake Superior. For most of our paddlers, this is their first experience in a sea-kayak. There are a lot of unknowns and questions that come along with an adventure like this, so we have attempted to answer the most common questions we receive from our guests.
What do I need to bring with me?
Superior Kayaking Company provides all the kayaking and safety equipment for our expeditions. However, there are a few personal items you will want to have with you. Consult the lists below to get an idea of what we provide and what you should bring.
WHAT WE BRING
Sea Kayaks
Paddles
Personal Floatation Device (PFDs)
Spray Skirts
Dry Bags
First Aid Kits
Bilge Pumps
Paddle Floats
Marine VHF Radios
WHAT YOU BRING
Lunch
Water or Sports Drink
Sunscreen
Bug Repellant
Sunglasses
Rain Jacket
Extra Layers
Camera
Where does each trip start/end?
All of our Grand Island expeditions begin at Powell Point, the location of the Grand Island Ferry Dock. The address is N8016 Grand Island Landing Rd, Munising, MI 49862. Our guides will be on location before the expedition's scheduled start time. There is free public parking in this area; we only ask that all our guests park as far from the lake as possible to avoid congestion near the water.
For our Presque Isle expedition in Marquette, MI, we begin our trips at the Middle Bay beach on the western edge of the park. Guests can park in the parking areas near the Presque Isle Pavilion (turn left after entering the park). The address is 3 Peter White Dr, Marquette, MI 49855. Our guides will be at the beach before the expedition's scheduled start time.
What should I wear?
Our best advice: Layer! Lake Superior has a cooling effect on this area of the UP, so we tend to experience lower temperatures with a cool breeze out on the water. That said, we also have a few warm spells every summer with highs in the 80s and even 90s. The best way to prepare for a typical day is to wear a warm layer (softshell, fleece, spring jacket, etc) in the morning with a lighter layer (tank top, sun shirt, etc) underneath for later in the day. Most people warm up quickly when they start paddling, and are ready to shed their jacket well before lunch.
Pants or shorts are both acceptable. However, we recommend against wearing blue jeans or other cotton because it can be uncomfortable and cold if wet.
We try our best to keep your feet dry, but that isn’t always possible. Most of our clients prefer to wear some kind of water shoe or outdoor sandal (Chaco, Keen, Teva, etc). Some wear tennis shoes and take the chance they’ll get wet. It’s up to you!
Do we paddle in big waves? What about rain?
Superior Kayaking Company takes every precaution to limit risk on the water. We monitor weather forecasts and wind/wave maps before and during our trips and will cancel trips in the event of unsafe conditions. Most trips will have waves ranging from calm to 2 feet in height. We will paddle through light to moderate rain showers and fog. Thunderstorms will cause trips to be delayed or cancelled entirely if they are forecasted for the entire day.
Are there going to be other people paddling with us? Can I book a private trip?
Yes, there may be a few other paddlers on your trip. And yes, you can book a private trip if you would prefer to be alone. The cost of booking a private trip is $175 in addition to the regular trip fee. If your group is the only scheduled tour of the day, this fee does not apply.
Do you have group rates?
Yes, we offer discounts for groups of 6 or more. The discounts will vary based on the size of the group, so please give us a call for more information.
Can I request a single kayak?
All of our trips are operated with tandem kayaks. The increased width of tandems makes them significantly more stable (not prone to capsize) than single kayaks. They allow our guests to take pictures of the scenery while a partner still controls the kayak. And they allow a stronger paddler to team up with a weaker paddler so that nobody struggles to keep up with the group.
If you come with a partner or group, you will share a kayak with the people you came with. If there is an odd number in the group, a guide will assign a single to one of the paddlers, or the guide will paddle a tandem with a client. On very rare occasions, a guide may need to use their discretion to switch partners around for safety reasons.
I haven’t ever sea kayaked before. Can I still join a trip?
Yes! In fact, the majority of our clients haven’t sea kayaked before. We believe the safest way to kayak for the first time is with a guide, and we’d be honored if you chose us to show you the ropes. Any person who is reasonably healthy should be able to go on all of our excursions. Individuals with specific questions or concerns about their height, weight, or strength should give us a call so we can discuss them with you personally.
Am I able to bring children on the trip?
Yes, please bring your family. We allow children as young as 8 to join a trip. Having tandem kayaks allows an adult to paddle with a younger paddler. If there will be children in your group, please be sure to mention that when making a reservation so that we can prepare accordingly and have an extra guide available if necessary.
What kind of certifications do you have?
All of our guides are CPR and First Aid certified and have Level III Coastal Kayak Trip Leader certification through the American Canoe Association (ACA). We carry first aid kits and waterproof marine VHF radios on all trips.
When do I pay and what if I have to cancel my trip?
All day trips will be paid in full at the time of reservation. We will email you an invoice that can be paid with any common credit/debit card. Once you submit payment, your reservation is secure.
- If you cancel 7 or more days before your trip, you can be refunded less a 15% administrative fee.
- Cancellations will less than 7 days notice will not be refunded, but we will credit your purchase towards a future trip within one calendar year.
What if Superior Kayaking Company cancels the trip due to bad weather?
We don’t like bad weather, and we’re sure you don’t either. It isn’t very often that we are unable to paddle two days in a row, so we recommend booking your kayak trip at the beginning of your visit to the area. This gives you some wiggle room to reschedule for the next day if necessary. Clients who have been rained out will be given priority on the next available trip. Can’t go on the next available trip? That’s okay, we can give you a voucher to come back and paddle with us when it fits your schedule.
While rescheduling is always our first priority, we occasionally have guests with a very narrow window of time in the area and who come from many states (and countries!) away to visit. Sometimes a voucher just isn’t a good solution. With this in mind, Superior Kayaking Company is willing to provide a full monetary refund to our guests who are unable to reschedule a trip that was cancelled for weather. And we still hope to see you back :)