Kayaking, Canoeing & Tubing

 

Have a Safe Float or Paddle

Leave a Float Plan

A float plan contains important information such as your name and address, vessel description, names of people in your group, safety equipment, planned route, length of trip and return date. Leave your float plan with a friend or family member and tell them who to call if you are overdue or an emergency arises. When planning your trip, we suggest paddling no more than 10 miles per day for beginners or 15 miles per day for experienced paddlers. The USCG mobile app includes a float plan function.

Have Alternate Plans

If conditions on Lake Michigan are not favorable for your planned trip, you may want to paddle one of the rivers or inland lakes in the National Lakeshore, which are not as affected by high winds and waves. Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore has several inland lakes that you can explore which can provide an enjoyable safe alternative if winds and high waves keep you from paddling the “Big Lake”. These smaller lakes provide excellent wildlife viewing – especially loons, ducks, swans, and other birds.

Clean Your Kayaks

Please clean, drain, and dry your boat after you leave any body of water, especially Lake Michigan, to prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species. This is especially important for our inland lakes. Aquatic invasive species can have major negative impacts to lakes, streams, and how we recreate.

U.S. Coast Guard Equipment Requirements

All vessels on Lake Michigan, or any body of water in Michigan, are required to have a wearable Personal Floatation Device (PFD) per person on board and a sound providing device that is audible for one half mile for 4 to 6 seconds (such as a horn or whistle). We highly recommend wearing your PFD while kayaking on Lake Michigan. When operating from sunset to sunrise and in or near areas of reduced visibility, use navigational lights that may be seen by others and be equipped with a visual distress signal.

In Case of Emergency

If you have a Marine Band Radio, you can contact the U.S. Coast Guard on Channel 16. If not carrying a radio, carry a cell phone in a water-proof container and call 911 in case of emergency. Be sure to give a description of your location and include that you are in Lake Michigan near Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. In some places along the lakeshore your cell phone will pick up a cell tower in Wisconsin instead of one in Michigan, so you need to be specific about your location.

Kayak Safety Resources: American Canoe Association Kayak Safety Tips

 

 

 

You will find a lot of water in and around the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. That means there are many opportunities to float in a tube or paddle a canoe or kayak. Bring your own boat, raft, or tube or you can rent one in the area.

River Paddling & Floating

Two rivers provide easy river paddling and floating. The Platte River is located in the southern part of the park, and canoes, kayaks, and tubes can be rented where the river crosses M-22. In the northern part of the park, near Glen Arbor, the Crystal River flows from Glen Lake to Lake Michigan and canoes and kayaks can be rented in Glen Arbor. Low water levels in the Crystal River can make canoeing difficult at times.

You will enjoy the peaceful natural setting of the river. Look for wildflowers along the bank or a Great Blue Heron feeding in the river ahead.

 

The Platte River can be a busy place on a hot summer day. 

Terry Phipps 2005

 

School Lake in the Fall

Kerry Kelly 2005

 

Inland Lakes

Inland lakes offer some of the best wildlife viewing along the lakeshore. There are 26 Inland Lakes within the Lakeshore. Some most ideal for kayaking include Loon Lake, located near the Platte River in the southern part of the park. There is parking lot and lake access just off M-22. Loon Lake has a fully accessible Kayak Launch. School Lake and Bass Lake (North) are small inland lakes in the northern part of the park. The public access for School Lake is from county 669.

 

Kayaking on Lake Michigan.

Phil Akers 2013

 

Kayaking on Lake Michigan

With over 35 miles of pristine sandy beaches and areas of bluffs up to 500 feet above Lake Michigan, Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore is a perfect place to kayak on the “Big Lake.” Kayaking provides a unique view of the Dunes and glacial moraine bluffs that can’t be experienced from shore. The magnitude of the bluffs and dunes and the contrasting colors of sand bracketed by blue sky and water create images that you won’t soon forget.

Lake Michigan is beautiful – but unpredictable! Kayakers must be prepared for cold temperatures, high winds, fog, and rough seas that may occur at any time. Be constantly alert to changing conditions and you should consult the current marine forecast before starting any trip (NOAA 1-906-475-5212 or Marine Band Radio Channel 16).

Paddle Close

Stay within 400 feet of shore so if you have problems, you have a good chance of reaching shore safely. Cutting across the bays (Sleeping Bear Bay and Good Harbor Bay) may cut the length of your paddle, but it also takes you farther away from the safety of shore. Staying close to shore also provides better views of wildlife, the geological formations, and the historic U.S. Life-Saving Station and village of Glen Haven

Be Wind Aware

Most of the Lake Michigan shoreline in Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore has a wide sandy beach that paddlers can use to get off the water if wind and waves make paddling hazardous. There are sections of the Lakeshore where a safe-landing beach is not available in high wind and wave conditions: from Esch Road to Empire (Empire Bluffs) in a west wind, from North Bar Lake to Sleeping Bear Point (Sleeping Bear Bluffs) in a west wind, and around Pyramid Point in a north wind. These areas should be avoided in high wind conditions.

 

Sea Kayak and Recreational Kayak side-by-side

Kayak Types - Sea Kayak vs Recreation Kayak

Sea kayaks with a spray skirt are recommended because they are safer on Lake Michigan. Recreational kayaks are designed for inland waters and can be dangerous in high winds and big waves. Sea kayaks for single person use are generally 16 to 19 feet long, with hatches and bulkheads providing floatation in the front and back.
Sea kayaks ride low in the water and are difficult for other boaters to see. Consider using a brightly colored kayak, PFD, and clothing to make yourself more visible to other boaters.
Recreational kayaks are usually 10 to 14 feet long with a large open cockpit and at most one hatch & bulkhead.

 

 

Duration:

2 minutes, 40 seconds

Be prepared. Plan like a Park Ranger. Do you know what you need to hike in the dunes? Are you aware of rip currents in Lake Michigan?

 

Kayaking to the Manitou Islands

While paddling to one of the Manitou Islands might be enticing, it is also dangerous! It is approximately 8 miles from the mainland to the islands at the nearest point, which requires about a 3 hour paddle trip with no place to stop. You are also crossing a major shipping lane where freighters and other power boats frequent. We do not recommend paddling to the islands unless you are in a group of experienced paddlers who are able to perform deep water rescue and kayak re-entry. If you want to paddle around one of the islands, you can arrange to take your kayak to the island on the Manitou Island Transit ferry.

For multi-day kayak trips, be prepared with provisions for at least one extra day. In your gear, include a Marine Band Radio (Ch. 16 for U.S. Coast Guard) or a cell phone stored in a water-proof container, first aid kit, emergency signal device (flare, strobe light or mirror), self-contained stove, an extra paddle, compass, maps, insect repellant, tow line, rain gear, waterproof matches, and dry storage containers.