Trek & Trail — Local services in Bayfield

We had an amazing time on our kayak adventure with Trek and Trail. Booking was convenient and easy online. The office is easily accessed in Bayfield, where we were greeted promptly and kindly when we arrived to check in and receive our wetsuits. Wear a bathing suit underneath the wet suits - the tighter, the better. Those wet suits compress!

Meyer's Beach was easy to locate and we received clear directions to it upon check in. We were even able to pay the state parking fee at the Trek and Trail main office, which was super convenient! (You can still pay the fee by QR code at the parking lot, though.)

Mads and Anders were our guides on our half-day trip and they handled the full group (12 guests in 6 kayaks) in an easy and fun way. We received a quick tutorial about how to paddle and how the gear works while still on land, and they got us onto the water very quickly. We had amazing weather on the day of our trip and the lake was calm, which made paddling easy. Don't be fooled - you WILL feel it in your shoulders the next day! At least I did, but I haven't been kayaking in over a decade before this trip.

The sea caves were beautiful and breathtaking. My husband and I got better and better at guiding our kayak as the trip went on. Anders and Mads kept the group together well and were able to tell us the geologic history of the cliffs. When we returned, they helped pull our kayaks out of the water for us so we could get out with a minimum of splashing.

Notes - the splash skirt on the kayak is a lifesaver. You will get splashed, but not soaked. They do provide dry bags so you can safely stow your phone and keys, but I found it more convenient to tuck my phone under my sun shirt into my wet suit by my shoulder so I could pull out quickly and easily to take photos.

I would absolutely recommend Trek and Trail! I would love to come back someday when my kids are old enough to go so we can...

I began planning for this adventure in February. I am fortunate to have a group of friends that love wilderness adventures as much as I do. From the start Aidan, the owner of Trek & Trail, was responsive, kind and willing to talk on the phone & answer many questions. Our group of 4 women (age range 36-58) did a 3 day trip. We camped on 2 islands, (spent time on 4), made our way through incredible sea caves, saw a ship wreck, ate amazing food, camped in stunning sites, hiked to 2 light houses, picked on our sweet guide, laughed a lot, paddled 25+ miles & picked fresh blueberries to add to the pancakes! The only thing I would change is to add 1 more day, 1/2 hanging at the campsite and 1/2 doing a "day trip" paddle. Our guide Alex was a charming young man that put up with us with grace and humor. He shared just the right amount of history, local lore and geology to make us feel knowledgeable about the islands. The key to making all that happen was the fact that we felt safe the entire trip!! There is something so special and unique about Gichigami, I felt warmly wrapped in the vastness of the great lake!

A little side note: For those hesitant to do the kayak flipping drill (I worried about it for months) it was actually quite easy! Not worth my dreading the event!! I actually had fun with it!

I will be planning another trip (or 2) with Trek & Trail in the next few years!

Thanks...

My husband and I wanted to rent a tandem kayak so we could do our own Apostle Island paddling itinerary. Trek and Trail did a great job of orienting us. They gave us sound guidance for our interests and ability before we arrived. Then we got customized navigation information, they told us how to respond to weather, wildlife, waves, and more. They require that you pass a basic kayaking course for a nominal fee, which we appreciate. You should not be launching on Lake Superior without some training, especially recovering from a capsize. They helped us load our kayak on our vehicle as well, including ropes and padding. They have a well-stocked store on site for all manner of adventure needs. As it happened, there was an unusual wind storm that resulted in a 2 1/2 day Small Craft Advisory. We had rented the marine radio (vital!). We saw that the lake can look calm in the lee of an island and blow you off the map as you turn a corner, so we stayed put, checked the radio often, used our binoculars to check wave action in different directions. Trek and Trail had notified the Park Service that we were out there, and folks were on the lookout for us when the advisory lifted. Overall, we felt well-cared for, and well-prepared for...