Apostle Islands Rustic Makwa Den — Attraction in Bayfield

We did a night/shipwreck kayak tour recently with Makwa Den. We are experienced kayakers and have been out with several other Apostle Islands Outfitters.

The positives: The shipwreck was a unique experience. This is honestly what drew us to Makwa Den. The way that the downlights lit them up was fantastic.

The negatives: No paddling demonstration. There were several members of our group that had never paddled on big water or in a tandem kayak. I feel that a little bit of insight on how to paddle would have been beneficial and made their experience better.

Safety concerns: No spray skirts, bilge pumps, paddle floats, or sponges are on their boats. I understand that we were out on a very calm night, but we have experienced first hand how fast conditions can change, especially on Lake Superior. Other outfitters provide these things to be prepared, for if and when things go awry.

Lights. We were provided down lights for looking down through the beautiful waters at the rocks and shipwreck. But there were no up lights. I have done enough boating and kayaking to know that a white light is required on every craft out after dark. This makes us visible to other vessels out on the water. And if something were to go wrong makes us visible to rescue. This missing component made me feel especially unsafe after dark. Secondly the batteries for the down lights were placed on the front of our boats under the elastics and were not in any sort of battery box. I understand that they are closed cell, but again there are rules regarding batteries on watercraft and they were not followed in this application.

Lastly, while we were exploring the wreck (we were the last ones in line) we looked up to see that everyone in our group was at least 200 yards away. It was actually pretty hard to see them because there were no white lights marking their crafts. We did get back in safely, but will not be returning to Makwa Den for any further kayaking adventures.

There are several outstanding outfitters in the Bayfield area, however I feel that Makwa Den falls very short. If something bad were to have happened, I didn’t feel that we were set up in a way that we could get safe if we needed to. I highly encourage spray skirts on every trip on big open waters as well as a bilge pump, sponge, and paddle float on every boat, and a short demonstration on how to use these things is helpful for beginners. These boats should also be equipped with a marker light at night. Until improvements are made in these areas, seek another outfitter that will above all put your safety and the safety of your family first...

Look no further. BOOK YOUR KAYAK TRIP WITH RUSTIC MAKWA DEN TODAY!! They are definitely the best!!! The owners Travis and Troy, and some of their other guides are natives and know the area so well! This Meyers Beach Sea Cave Tour was THE HIGHLIGHT OF OUR WEEK-LONG TRIP IN THE NORTH WOODS! We spent over two hours on Lake Superior, kayaking at our own pace with 2 guides. Our wonderful guides shared their knowledge of the Native American history of the area. We saw some amazing smaller sea caves that the larger kayak outfits did not take the time to stop and see. Plus we saw all the larger sea caves. Our tour was so personal and unique! All our time was spent on the water, not on the beach practicing with our paddles like the other outfitters. We also did not carry our own kayaks up and down the stairs to the beach like other outfitters have you do. Rustic Makwa Den had the kayaks all ready for us at the beach. We took the Meyers Beach Sea Cave Tour on July 2, 2021 and Lake Superior was calm that day. So we did not need to take their alternative trip to Red Cliffs, which I heard is also beautiful. It was just warm enough that we did not have to wear wet suits. We were shocked to see other outfits in wet suits. There is no need for a wet suit if combined temp of air and water = 120F. We were thankful that Rustic Makwa Den advised against wet suits that day as we would have been too hot. Arrive 20 minutes early to park, pay the $5 park free, use the bathrooms, and put on your spray skirt and life jacket. The spray skirt really kept our legs dry. Prior to the tour, I spoke several times with owner Travis. He patiently answered all of my questions as I wanted to make sure everyone in our group could handle sea kayaks. Travis was incredibly helpful, delightful and a pleasure to work with. I was sad he was not available to lead our tour. But our tour guides were Travis’s son as well as the expert kayaker Eli. These guys were INCREDIBLE! They keep their groups small, unlike the other outfits. So it was only our 2 families consisting of 4 adults, 4 teenagers/young adults and then 2 adolescents (ages 12 and 11). The adolescents are not allowed at other kayak outfits. But Rustic Makwa Den put the 2 adolescents in the middle of two triple kayaks with their own paddle. It was a FABULOUS experience for all of us! None of us had any issues with kayaking. It was all so easy. Rustic Makwa Den is far superior than any other outfit! They exceeded all our expectations! Book them today! You will...

1/5 Stars for Apostle Islands Rustic Makwa Den Tour Agency - Night Sea Caves Kayak Tour I had an incredibly disappointing and unsafe experience with Apostle Islands Rustic Makwa Den Tour Agency during their night sea caves kayak tour in Bayfield, Wisconsin. As a first-time kayaker, I expected clear instructions and a professional guide, but this tour was a complete disaster. Our guide was utterly unprepared. When we arrived, he was still cleaning kayaks with a sponge and dirty brown water, scrambling to get things ready. There were no headlamps provided, despite the pitch-dark conditions, which is a glaring safety issue. He claimed he was “working on them,” but they were nowhere to be seen. The only instruction we received was to ensure the words on the paddle faced us—nothing about kayaking technique, handling waves, or safety protocols. My partner and I, both novices in a tandem kayak, were sent straight into Lake Superior’s waves, taking on water immediately because we had no guidance. The equipment was subpar. We were given a flimsy battery-powered drop-in light attached to a wire in a cupholder-like contraption, which felt makeshift and unreliable. The guide himself didn’t even have a light, so we couldn’t see him for most of the tour, making it impossible to follow his lead. He didn’t introduce himself until halfway through, which added to the unprofessional vibe. The tour itself was chaotic and unsafe. The “sea caves” were just shallow indents in the rocks where kayaks got stuck, and I was hit in the arm by another kayaker because we were crammed into tight spaces without guidance. The guide was forgetful, distracted, and frequently stopped to text, leaving us sitting in the water for minutes at a time. At one point, a lady and her child were left behind, and the guide didn’t notice until another kayaker flagged him down. To top it off, one person’s paddle broke, further proving the company’s lack of preparation. This was a terrifying and disorganized experience, especially for first-time kayakers. The guide’s lack of professionalism, poor equipment, and disregard for safety made this tour a nightmare. Do yourself a favor and book with a reputable company that offers daytime tours with proper instruction and safety measures. I strongly advise against this agency—save your money and...