Kayaking Beaver Island's Waters: What to Know

Mar 4, 2008 Elizabeth Edwards

Diane Kolak

Kayaking the open waters of the Beaver Island archipelago is challenging, stunning and often thrilling. Here's some of what you need to know to get started.

Getting to Beaver Island From Charlevoix

Ferry: Beaver Island Boat Co., 888-446-4095, bibco.com

Plane: Island Airways, 800-524-6895, islandairways.com; Fresh Air Aviation, 231-237-9482, freshairaviation.net

Private Boat: Beaver Island Marina, 231-448-2300, beaverislandmarina.com. Beaver Island Yacht Dock, 231-448-2252.

Getting to the Outer Islands
Captain Dan Higdon will take you to any or all of the islands. Island Hopper Charter Service: 231-448-2309 or cellular 231-620-2058, islandhopper.beaverisland.net

Paddle to Hog or Garden with kayak guide Ken Bruland. Inland Seas School of Kayaking, 231-448-2221, inlandseaskayaking.com

Stay the Night
Weathervane Terrace, Charlevoix. 800-552-0025. weathervane-chx.com

AmericInn, Charlevoix. 800-396-5007. americinn.com

Beaver Island Lodge, Beaver Island. 231-448-2396, beaverislandlodge.com

More Beaver Island lodging: beaverisland.org

Garden, High and Hog Islands:
Primitive camping only. For more information and to obtain a camp registration card that you need to keep on your person while you're on the island, call the Department of Natural Resources, Gaylord office. 989-732-3541.

Archipelago Reads
The Journal of Beaver Island History Volumes I-IV (Beaver Island Historical Society)

Assassination of a Michigan King by Roger Van Noord (University of Michigan Press, 2000)

Elizabeth Edwards is managing editor of Traverse, Northern Michigan's Magazine.
lissa@traversemagazine.com

Note: This article was first published in August 2006 and was updated for the web February 2008.

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