Michipicoten Island

The Mysterious Floating Island off of Lake Superior

Guided and partially outfitted sea kayak trip–seven days kayaking, seven nights camping, half-day group skills workshop.

 Dates

Dates TBD

 Price

TBD

 More Trips

 Trip Includes

  • Qualified Guide(s)
  • All Meals and Snacks
  • Group Safety and Communication Gear
  • Group Camping Gear
  • Boat or Bush Plane Shuttles

 Extra Trip Options

  • Meal Adjustment (Contact us if you wish to bring your own meals.)
  • Camping Gear Rentals
  • Reduced rate for Pre & Post Trip Accommodations at Rock Island Lodge. Use code: TRIPGUEST

Trip Description

Michipicoten Island, the mysterious “floating Island”, is one of Lake Superior’s largest yet most remote and inaccessible islands. Approximately 20 x 40 km in size, her past is rich with Ojibway spirits, copper mining rushes, lighthouses and shipwrecks, wacky sea beavers and, most recently, a growing woodland caribou population.

Your sea kayak trip begins with a half-day group safety and paddling skills workshop at our paddling centre on Rock Island Lodge located on Lake Superior at the mouth of the Michipicoten River. A hearty meal and trip orientation will take place in our front room facing west towards Michipicoten Island. The next morning we’ll shuttle to Hattie Cove in Pukaskwa National Park to meet Captain Keith McCuaig and charter the Melissa June, a 30 x 11 foot aluminum landing craft catamaran, for the trip out and later return from Michipicoten Island.

This island circumnavigation captures the remote, forgotten nature of Michipicoten. Once shunned by First Nations peoples as a place of malevolent giants, Michipicoten became one of Ontario’s most promising sources of copper and provided easy access to Lake Superior’s seemingly endless bounty of fish in the early 1900s. Since then, the copper mine and fishing village have been abandoned. All that remains are old mine shafts, ramshackle buildings and flourishing populations of woodland caribou and beaver. Throw in a couple of lighthouses and a few shipwrecks and you’ve got everything all wrapped up in this island expedition.

This trip is designed for intermediate paddlers. Your enjoyment will be enhanced if you are in good physical condition and comfortable with wilderness camping. Lake Superior is mostly calm in summer, but when it gets rough we enjoy the view from shore.

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.

Typical Trip Itinerary

Day Activity / Campsite Distance Sights & Highlights
1 Arrive. Group skills workshop, trip preparation and whitefish barbecue. Rock Island, Government Dock Beach, Michipicoten River
2 Morning van shuttle to Hattie Cove and boat shuttle to Michipicoten Island’s East End Lighthouse. 5km Pukaskwa National Park and Pukaskwa coastline, East End Lighthouse
3 Camp on north coast. 15km Bridal Veil Falls, Steep cliffs
4 Camp at Quebec Mines area. 15km Abandoned copper mines
5 Camp at Junction/West Sand Bay area. 15km Shipwreck, gravel tombolo
6 Camp at East Sand Bay area. 20km Quebec Harbour, Davieaux Island, Agate Island
7 Camp at East End Lighthouse area. 10km Cozens Cove
8 Boat pick-up and return to Rock Island. Superior’s Pukaskwa Coast

Take a 360 Virtual Tour

Visit a few of the many spectacular vistas along this trip route.

Cozens Cove Davieaux Island Quebec Rocks Sea Cave

Trip Map

Trip Photo Gallery

We would be happy to answer any questions you may have.
Please email us at [email protected] or phone 1-800-203-9092.