Lake Superior Provincial Park
Lake Superior Provincial Park is one of the great sea kayaking destinations in North America: glacially carved coastline, dramatic cliffs, river mouths, sandy beaches, and the kind of exposure that puts everything you've learned to work. This five-day expedition runs Gargantua Harbour to Old Woman Bay, one of Superior's most striking stretches.
Your group travels as an expedition pod, navigating together, cooking together, setting up camp together. Everyone has an active role. That's how expedition skills are actually learned.
Itinerary
Exact locations and pace may shift based on weather and lake conditions. Superior demands flexibility.
What's Included
- Five-day instructional expedition with experienced Kayak Ontario coaches at 1:4 ratio
- Group meals, planned, prepared, and cooked together as an expedition pod (Days 1 to 4)
- Shared group camping gear: tarps, group kitchen essentials
- Park permits arranged for the group
What to Bring
- Sea kayak and dry suit: bring your own, or rent from us and select at checkout
- Transportation to and from Gargantua Harbour, participants arrange their own
- Personal paddling layers: neoprene, paddle jacket, base layers
- Snacks and extra personal food: assume all snacks are on you, and bring plenty. Group meals cover Days 1 to 4, but you want more than enough of your own food to stay fuelled and happy across a hard-paddling week. Day 0 dinner and the Day 5 chip-truck stop are also your own.
- Personal camping gear: sleeping bag, sleeping pad, tent, available to rent if you don't have your own
Good to Know
- This is an active expedition. Everyone participates in paddling, cooking, camp setup, and logistics. No passengers.
- Lake Superior's weather and conditions can change rapidly. The itinerary adapts as needed, and that is part of the experience.
- Geological highlights throughout: glacially-formed scratches, gouges, erratics, and river mouth beaches that are worth the paddle alone.
- Rentals available: expedition kayak, dry suit, and camping gear. Select your rentals at checkout.
Prerequisite: Kayak Ontario Level 1 minimum, Level 2 recommended. An equivalent Paddle Canada or ORCKA sea kayak Level 1 also qualifies. You should be comfortable with wet exits, assisted rescues, and sustained paddling in variable conditions. Not sure if you're ready? Get in touch and we'll help you assess.
Questions
Do I need my own kayak or gear?
How does food work?
How do I get to Gargantua Harbour?
What if the weather is bad?
Can I earn a certification on this expedition?
Is this a guided tour?
Certification Pathway
This expedition works for every level of the ORCKA Kayak Tripping and Guiding pathway. Come to tour with no assessment, or pair it with the matching online module to certify. Either way, the kilometres, nights, and leadership you log here count toward your progress.
KT3, the capstone (coming soon). Where you cross from skilled tripper to trip leader. Pass it and you hold an ORCKA trip leader designation, qualified to plan, lead, and guide multi-day expeditions of your own. This expedition counts toward it too.
See how the full pathway works →
We acknowledge that this expedition in Lake Superior Provincial Park takes place on the traditional territories of the Anishinaabe peoples, within lands covered by the Robinson-Superior Treaty of 1850. Communities including Michipicoten First Nation to the north and Batchewana First Nation to the south continue to hold deep connections to these waters. We are grateful for their enduring care and support.
This acknowledgement, accompanied by action, includes contributions to Indigenous-led organizations that make a lasting impact.