top of page
WINTER KAYAKING
The sea kayak was created over 4,000 years ago in the icy waters of the Arctic circle as a way for early humans to hunt sea mammals. They needed an agile, light watercraft that was highly manueverable and could handle dynamic conditions brought on by wind and waves. The sea kayak is well suited to navigate the cold, dynamic waters of the upper Great Lakes as well.
Nowadays there is no longer a necessity for hunting from a sea kayak but with the right gear, proper training & technique and a very good understanding of the consequences, winter sea kayaking can be done safely. It is quite possibly the most beautiful time of year to be on the water. One of the most commonly asked questions I get as a tour guide in the summer months is: Does the water freeze over each winter? The shallows will freeze but the deep open water will stay open for the most part. On average, Lake Michigan gets about 17% covered in ice just to put it in perspective. The Great Lakes ice cover rate is erratic, with some years seeing more ice. 2023 was the lowest amount of ice cover ever recorded.
Kayak Guide Justin is a sea kayaker on the Great Lakes that paddles all 12 months of the year. Living close to the water has its advantages and there can always be some option to launch because of Door County being a peninsula. Why does Kayak Guide Justin paddle in the winter? His response, "Because it's peaceful, stunningly beautiful and so fascinating to witness the startling transformation of the water throughout the seasons. And it's nice to stay active and get some exercise during the coldest part of the year."
bottom of page