Door County’s “Silent Sport”

Kayaking in Door County is one of the best activities to spend your summer afternoons. With over 300 miles of shoreline, the peninsula has easy access to water from any town. Favorite spots for locals are Pebble Beach, Garret Bay in Gills Rock, and the passage from Washington Island to Rock Island.

On Rock Island, there are Native American carvings in the limestone. They are hard to get to by foot so the kayak provides an easy way to access this remote area. The passage between Washington Island and Rock Island is a difficult paddle and be aware that this is a shipping lane and can possibly be busy with boat traffic.
Don’t own a kayak? There are numerous companies up here that have them available to rent and provide guided tours. On June 20, Washington Island is hosting its annual Canoe & kayak race, expedition & symposium. Come participate kayaking for all ages or experience levels. For more information, check out www.wickres.com. Also coming up, on July 9th-12th the 6th annual Sea Kayak Symposium is being held at Wagon Trail. Experience the Mink River estuary at its finest complete with guided tours, lessons, and youth programs. Great for all ages! See www.everyonepaddles.com for more info.

Any hardcore kayakers out there? Two of our locals made the trek from Door County across the lake and up to Fayette, MI. Dale Krolick & Chuck Scully made the crossing a couple years ago. The trip took six days but can be done in four. Just goes to show you, there are limitless options when staying in Door County.

With 300 miles of shoreline, the possibilities are endless!
For those looking for a little less of an adventure, Pebble Beach, Schoolhouse Beach, or Garret Bay provide a beautiful paddle without the risk of much traffic. For kids, I would recommend Pebble Beach or Schoolhouse Beach. These protected coves create a great place to learn how to paddle and have nice waves on windy days for playing in. Garret Bay has a ship wreck right at the launch site. If you paddle south along the shore you can see the limestone cliffs from an angle that is unsurpassed. The clear water and flat rocks provide a great place to swim and have a picnic.

Door County has many kayaking events scheduled for this summer. Paddlefest @ Nicolet Bay
happens on June 6th this year in Peninsula State Park.   Washington Island Canoe & kayak race, expedition & symposium begins June 20 and includes a “Death’s Door Passage” from Northport to Jackson Harbor. For more info check out http://www.washingtonislandcanoeandkayakevent.com. Check out http://kayakdoorcounty.com/doorcounty-events.htm for a complete listing of all things kayak related!

Door County Lodging isn’t the only one writing about kayaking up here. The Chicage Tribune recently posted an article about a first hand experience on the water. Check out what kayaking in Door County really is at  http://bit.ly/qHlAs.