Isle Royale Season Opener
Early Season Isle Royale Explorer
May 13–22, 2007 | Dates dependent on the First ferry. Cold water. Empty campsites. Isle Royale before the crowds arrive.
Paddle into one of America’s most remote and breathtaking national parks as the island wakes from its long winter. We’ll strap our sea kayaks to the roof of a ferry, cross more than 50 miles of open water, and land on Isle Royale—the largest island in the largest freshwater lake in the world.
This special early-season expedition offers a rare chance to experience Isle Royale before the crowds arrive. Expect cold water, crisp mornings, unpredictable May weather, and very few other people. In return, we’ll explore quiet campsites, empty stretches of shoreline, secluded beaches, hidden coves, and the ancient volcanic rock of an island shaped by Lake Superior.
This isn’t just another paddling trip. It’s an adventure into untamed wilderness, where moose roam the shoreline, wolves keep to the shadows, and loons call across the glassy bays. Between paddles, we’ll hike to sweeping viewpoints, explore historic sites, swim in Superior’s icy-clear water, try our hand at lake trout fishing, and photograph the island’s rugged beauty.
Over ten days, including two travel days and eight nights on the island with days of paddling and exploring, we’ll follow a flexible route shaped by Lake Superior, the weather, and the group’s skills and interests. Good conditions may mean a longer paddling day; an interesting campsite or a change in weather may convince us to stay put and explore. We don’t just “bag miles.” We immerse ourselves in Superior’s nature and culture at a pace that lets us truly connect with this extraordinary place.
Early season makes this a more committed adventure than our summer trips. Lake Superior will be extremely cold, nights may approach freezing, and May can deliver sunshine, rain, strong winds, or even snow. Participants should be intermediate sea kayakers comfortable paddling 8–15 miles per day in 2–3 foot seas with winds up to approximately 15 knots. You should also be familiar with group rescues, wilderness camping, and changing plans as conditions require. If you have past formal training, ACA Levels 2–4 are appropriate.
Uncommon Adventures has guided more expeditions to Isle Royale than anyone else. Our long-standing relationships with park staff mean you’ll get an insider’s perspective on the island’s history, wildlife, and conservation efforts. We’ve learned that Lake Superior—not an itinerary—gets the final vote.
To ensure your safety and maintain the flexibility of small camps, we limit this trip to just five participants.
Location: Isle Royale National Park, Lake Superior, Michigan
Tentative Dates dependent on the ferry schedule: May 13–22, 2007
Duration: 10 days (2 travel, 8 nights on the island)
Group Size: Maximum 5 paddlers for safety and flexibility
Deposit: $500 to reserve your spot
Trip Highlights
- Paddle 50–70 miles of world-class Lake Superior kayaking routes
- Explore remote coves, cliffs, beaches, and historic sites of Isle Royale National Park
- Enjoy guided day hikes, wildlife watching, fishing, and photography
- Experience the island before the summer crowds arrive
- Small-group adventure—maximum of 5 paddlers (plus guides) for safety and flexibility
- Gourmet backcountry meals and expert instruction included
Who Is This For? (Paddling Skills)
Designed for intermediate paddlers. You should be comfortable paddling 8–15 miles/day in 2–3 ft seas with winds up to approximately 15 knots and familiar with group rescues. If you have past formal training, then ACA Levels 2 – 4 are appropriate.
Not yet there? Join our Isle Royale Sampler trips or one of our kayak skills workshops to prepare.
Sample -Day Itinerary
(2 travel days included)
Day 1
Rendezvous in Copper Harbor at 4:00 PM (Minnetonka Resort) for a quick backcountry orientation, followed by a group dinner.
Day 2
7:00 AM ferry (Isle Royale Queen) across Lake Superior to Rock Harbor. Organize and paddle to first campsite.
Days 3 – 9
Paddling days (avg 4–5 hours/day) mixed with hikes, fishing, photography, and wildlife watching. The heart of the trip–you’ll find yourself paddling an average of 4 or 5 hours/day sandwiched with day hikes, fishing, shooting photos, looking for Moose and listening to the music of our largest freshwater sea. We may choose a layover at a particularly nice campsite to give us more time to explore and linger a bit. You should be prepared for temps between 40- 80…bring a wool hat and a swimsuit. We’ll be covering 50 to 70 miles total with a fairly relaxed pace. You can count on learning lots of new paddle skills and having a truly spectacular experience.
Day 10
Afternoon ferry back to Copper Harbor. Group dinner and overnight at the Minnetonka.
Day 11
Travel day: continue home or explore the fabulous Keweenaw Peninsula.
Dates for 2027
- Tentative based on first ferry schedule: May 13 – 22
What’s Included:
- One night lodging before and one after in Copper Harbor (double occupancy – single occupancy rates available)
- Round-trip ferry for you & your kayak
- National Park permits & daily user fee
- Expert sea kayak guides
- All group gear (tents, kitchen gear, dry bags, safety and camp gear)
- Gourmet backcountry meals
What’s Not Included
- Travel to/from Copper Harbor
- Kayak rental (available—reserve early). If need a kayak, please add that as an add-on to your booking, to be sure we have one for you.
- Personal gear (see packing list).
- Travel Insurance (strongly recommended)
- Guide gratuities (10+% suggested)
Kayaking Equipment
We do not include kayaks on this trip because most paddlers at this level have their own. Your boat should be a touring kayak at least 16 feet long, with front and rear bulkheads. High performance expedition-equipped rentals are available from us with prior reservation: They include PFD, carbon hybrid paddle (Werner Shuna is our standard), sprayskirt and pump. We will transport your rental boat for you. We offer a variety of sizes and models from Current Designs, Wilderness Systems and NDK…with drop skegs and day hatches.
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