Come and sea kayak the Apostle Islands sea caves with experienced guide Maddy! Camp under the stars, explore remote sandy beaches and crystal clear waters, and venture into some of the most famous of the Apostle Islands sea caves, as well as remote caves. On land, we’ll hike to waterfalls, lighthouses, and enjoy the best that the Bayfield Peninsula has to offer. On this trip, we’ll work together to learn the basics of sea kayaking, camping, and wilderness travel to build confidence in the outdoors.
Note: The minimum age limit is 12 years old. We welcome mother/daughter duos!
This trip is beginner-friendly, but it is an involved adventure trip! Every paddler is expected to help carry their boats to the water, follow important safety instructions, and be willing to potentially paddle hard in waves and wind! Paddlers should expect to paddle in a tandem kayak with a partner, and tackle 5-12 miles a day. A moderate level of physical fitness is a great fit for this trip, but this trip is beginner-friendly for new paddlers with a positive attitude. With a positive attitude, a person who has never been in a kayak before but is open to learning will excel on this kind of trip!
Note: Shoulder injuries may make kayaking distances uncomfortable. Max height 6'6" and max weight of 275 lbs. These restrictions are due to the type of kayak required for safe passage on Lake Superior.
Please reach out to our experienced kayaking guide Maddy directly at hello@madelinemarquardt.com for questions about whether or not the trip is a good fit for you.
1 night in a bunkhouse in Cornucopia; 3 nights camping in shared tents with 2 ladies per tent. Bring your own sleeping bag and pad.
All meals included (4 breakfasts, 4 lunches, and 4 dinners)
4-day kayaking the Apostle Islands
Commemorative Chicas Abroad swag included for you to enjoy during and after the adventure
Confidence and new skills in the outdoors, as well as make lifelong memories and new friends!
Arrive in Cornucopia, WI around noon on day 1 and depart around 1:00 on day 5; the nearest airport is Duluth, MN if you are flying
The adventure begins and ends in Bayfield, WI. Once the group is determined we will meet to discuss shared rides, rental cars, etc. There may be a small fee if sharing a rental car with other guests.
Bring your own sleeping bag and pad
Travel insurance is highly recommend to cover any unforeseen events. Chicas Abroad will provide you with a link to our recommended carrier upon booking, but you may choose any carrier.
Your Chicas Abroad tour leader works countless hours before and during the trip to ensure a seamless experience so you can adventure more and worry less! $20-40 per day is typical and much appreciated
The group will meet at Lost Creek Adventures in Cornucopia, WI around noon. We will coordinate with the group for who is driving themselves and try to arrange ride sharing and sharing a rental car for those flying into Duluth. Our goal is to keep the number of cars to a minimum.
After settling into our bunkhouse and introductions, the group will head out on a short 2.5 mile hike to Lost Creek Falls. This is an easy and beginner-friendly hike.
In the evening there will be creek swimming opportunities to cool off from the hike.
We'll start off the night with pizza from the popular local ManyPenny Bistro! We can accommodate any dietary restrictions you note in the registration.
We will finish our first day getting to know one another, introduction to the Apostle Island National Lakeshore, and the basics of camping/kayaking led by experienced local guide, Maddy. Not only is this going to be a fun adventure, you will also learn important skills and knowledge about the local area!
Included Meals: Welcome Dinner
Accommodation: Bunkhouse with bunk beds and shared bathroom; bring your sleeping bag for bedding
Note: We will have a group call a prior to the adventure to discuss ride-sharing and other logistics.
We will start our morning with a hearty breakfast and coffee to get us prepared for our first kayaking day!
Safety first! We will begin with an introduction to Sea Kayaking and Safety Course, followed by packing the kayaks and launching to Sand Island! Wetsuits are required to be worn at all times while kayaking (provided by the kayaking company) in additional to traditional safety gear, and every participant strongly encouraged to perform a wet exit before launching, but not required. This is an involved adventure trip where everyone will leave with real paddling experience!!
We will spend the day sea kayaking in tandem kayaks to Sand or Oak Island (weather dependent) and taking in the gorgeous views!
We will land at our destination in the late afternoon and make camp. There will be some down time to set up and settle in, and scout out good swimming beaches.
Our amazing guide, Maddy, will prepare another delicious camp dinner for us followed by relaxing time around the campfire. We will take in the sunset and stargaze before retreating to our tents for the night.
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Wilderness camping in shared tents (2 per tent) with pit toilets and no showers. Swimming is encouraged in Lake Superior, but soap is not permitted.
Activity: Kayaking - 4-7 miles; 2-5 hours. Time on water is dependent on sea state.
After breakfast and coffee, we will launch our kayaks for a fun-filled adventure. Today we will explore remote sea caves while looking for wildlife along the way, such as bears and eagles. We will enjoy seeing picturesque lighthouses and beautiful beaches.
We will stop at a beach midday for lunch and maybe a dip in the lake to cool off.
We will return to camp in the late afternoon for another gourmet meal provided by Maddy, along with campfires and star-gazing.
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Wilderness camping in shared tents (2 per tent) with pit toilets and no showers. Swimming is encouraged in Lake Superior, but soap is not permitted.
Activity: Kayaking - 6-12 miles 5-6 hours, dependent on group needs and sea state
It will be an early morning with breakfast and coffee to start the day while we break down our camp and load our gear back in the kayaks. We'll spend this day exploring some of the more remote sea caves, relaxing on beaches, hiking to lighthouses, and exploring all that the Apostle Islands have to offer.
We will stop at a beach midday for lunch and maybe a dip in the lake to cool off.
Finally, we'll make our way to our last campsite in the Apostle Islands and enjoy our final night in the wilderness.
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Shared tents; shower and toilet access available at the camp site.
Activity: Kayaking 7-10 miles; 3-5 hours
It's our last day, so we will make the most of it! We will start with breakfast and coffee, of course. Then we will begin our paddle back to Meyers Beach, our end point, traversing some of the most popular, famous, and impressive sea caves in the Apostle Islands!
We will have a final lunch on the beach, do our final boat pack-up, and say our goodbyes to our new friends.
We expect to have completed the day by 1:00 (weather dependent) , so please plan your departure plans accordingly.
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Activity: Kayaking approximately 3 hours
