Home Kayak Trips "The Big One" Pigeon River to Silver Islet

Sea Kayak Pigeon River to Silver Islet

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Sea Kayak Islands of Myth and Magic
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FAST FACTS Sleeping giant
Description: Guided and partially outfitted sea kayak trip–seven days kayaking, seven nights camping, half-day group skills workshop
Skill: Intermediate to advanced paddling skills and backcountry camping experience
Pace: Moderate with occasionally demanding portions
Min. Age: 18
Distance: 90 km (average paddling speed of 4.5 to 6 km/hr)
Dates: July 4-11, 2010
Cost: $1,695 CDN for this section. For complete pricing as part of "The Big One" click here.
Includes: Full guiding and outfitting, meals, park fees, shuttles. (Sea kayaks and tents additional.)
fish boat
cobble landing


Sea kayak Lake Superior's northwestern islands, an archipelago of First Nations magic and voyageur lore. This guided and outfitted first leg of the Lake Superior Sea Kayak Pageant follows an island chain from Pigeon River at the Ontario-Minnesota border to Pie Island and Thunder Cape, ending at the quaint community of Silver Islet. We love how The Big One has been so successful, we are doing it again this year.

Sea kayaking the Victoria, Spar, Thompson and Pie island chain is an experience unlike any other on Lake Superior. The area's unique physical geography is comprised of flat-topped, sandstone mesas that are reminiscent of the American southwest-save for the Boreal forest greenery. Sheer and scree slopes tower above the clear-green water of Lake Superior. The islands are predominantly undeveloped, except for a couple first-come, first-served saunas that make for pleasant stops along the way. At several points hundred-year-old mining shafts peer out of steep island shores-signs of a time when Lake Superior's northwest shore was thought to be home to a mother lode of silver.

The trip's most scenic highlight is Pie Island, where the voyageurs once camped beneath 1,000-foot peaks on their annual trip along Superior's north shore. From here-weather permitting-we'll sea kayak to Sleeping Giant, at the tip of the Sibley Peninsula and camp at the foot of this legendary landform before ending our trip at Silver Islet.

Your trip begins on Sunday at noon when we will meet at Silver Islet, an hour east of Thunder Bay. From here, we'll shuttle to a Pigeon River-area bed and breakfast where we will prepare for our seven-day trip. On Monday morning, we set off by sea kayak on the largest lake in the world. Seven days later, we'll be picked up in Silver Islet.

Daily paddling distances range from 10 to 26 kilometres with a full no paddling day included to accommodate rough weather or a more relaxed or exploratory group pace. Although time is built in for rough conditions, it is a trip for paddlers in good condition with previous paddling and wilderness camping experience.

The lake is mostly calm in summer, but when it gets rough we enjoy the view from shore. Although each group will travel according to its own pace, we tend to spend most of the day on the water leaving lots of time for "covering the distance" and exploring the coast.

You will be responsible for carrying a portion of the group gear in your kayak, as well as your tent, sleeping bag and personal gear. Don't worry about cooking or clean-up - all food preparation is taken care of by our wilderness chefs!


Equipment and Services

We Provide: Professional instruction and guiding; Accommodations (B&B and/or camping and all meals from Sunday dinner to the following Sunday afternoon; transportation; all group safety, camping, cooking, eating and sanitation gear.

You Provide: Fully outfitted expedition sea kayak (minimum 16.5 feet in length with two sealed bulkheads – rudder or skeg are recommended), tent, sleeping bag and pad and all personal equipment and clothing. A detailed recommended list is provided on registration.

Outfitting: We have expedition outfitted sea kayaks ($20 day) and tents ($5 day) available at reduced rates for trip guests who prefer to use our equipment.

Check out the Photo Gallery for images of this section.

Show me Section 2 of The Big One.


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" Rock Island Lodge is the destination of choice- only regret is that we did not spend more time here to enjoy kayaking and exploring.  We will have to return. "

Sue Haver, Duluth, MN