Recommended Kayak Rentals

The following are stores in the Michigan area we've actually been to which appeared to rent good boats and provide good service. Prices or information may be out-of-date, please check with the store for the latest:

Woodmoor Resort - Drummond Island - When the local Drummond Island Outfitters went out of business, Woodmoor purchased their fleet of boats, and now offer them for rent - you do not have to be a guest at the hotel. Boats include Aquaterra Chinooks, one Sea Lion, and one tandem. Prices are $45-$50/day. Woodmoor also offers tours and instruction by appointment. Call (800) 999-6343 or check out their web site for more info.

Pine River Paddlesports Center - Pine and Manistee Rivers, Wellston - Very friendly owners and staff. They rent just about everything - canoes, rafts, whitewater boats (Dagger Vortex, Response, Freefall, Animas), and touring and sea kayaks (Dagger Bayou, Bayou 2, Vesper and Seeker). They provide transportation to the rivers, or rent Yakima roof racks so you can take the boats where you want.

Pelee Wings - Leamington, Ontario, near Point Pelee - rents Valley Skerray RMX sea kayaks for $40 Canadian per day. Launch right into Lake Erie or neighboring marshes from the store. The store will provide foam blocks and tie-downs for transporting the kayaks locally, or will shuttle the boats to the inland marshes in the National Park for a small fee. Note that the location doesn't provide for any good overnight trips unless you are experienced enough to paddle the 10 or so miles out to nearby islands. (519) 326-5193.

The Outpost - Holland - This outfitter also has several types of sea kayaks for rent, though you're on your own for transporting them (they do provide tie-downs). Also, the store is closed on Sunday, making boat return difficult for a weekend trip. (616) 396-5556.

Northern Waters Sea Kayaking - Munising - Rents Dagger and other sea kayaks. Inexperienced renters who wish to venture out onto Lake Superior are wisely required to take a training class. Guided paddling tours of Pictured Rocks and Grand Island are also available. (906) 387-2323.

SunTrail Outfitters - Hepworth, Ontario, at the base of the Bruce Peninsula - SunTrail offers a number of excellent boats from Dagger and Aquaterra for rental at only $30 Canadian per day. (Old Town Loons are also available, though we found that they provide a curious combination of both slow speed and poor tracking.) SunTrail will provide foam blocks and tie-downs for no charge, or provide guided tours. The store also has a decent selection of camping and paddling gear. (519) 935-2478.

The Outfitter - Harbor Springs - The Outfitter rents Prijon Seayaks ($48 per day) and Ocean Kayak sit-on-tops ($48 single, $72 tandem per day). Lessons available by appointment. Runs trips per schedule posted on their site. (616) 526-2621.

Penrod's - Au Sable River, Grayling - Rents Perception and Dagger boats including Keowees, Bayous, Acadias and Spectrums for river use.

E.M.S. - Farmington Hills - Offers several Perception boats for rental including Chinook, Eclipse, and Passage. $20-$35/day, depending on how long you rent for. Includes tie down equipment. (248) 932-5953. (While we've never verified with the stores, according the to the EMS website the Traverse City and Kentwood stores also offer rentals.)

Other Kayak Rentals/Tour Guides with Web Sites

We haven't been to the rest of these, so we can't comment on their service, but here's a list of web sites of places in Michigan that rent kayaks and/or offer guided tours:

Keweenaw Adventure Company - Copper Harbor, Keweenaw Peninsula. Instruction, guided tours, and Necky sea kayak rentals.

Woods and Water Ecotours - Cedarville - Boat rental, instruction, and guided tours in the Eastern Upper Peninsula, including Les Cheneaux Islands, Drummond Island.

Great Northern Adventures - Marquette - Guided tours in Pictured Rocks, Garden Peninsula, and Les Cheneaux Islands.

Kayak Leelanau - Leland - Guided tours and lessons (no rentals). Beautiful wooden boats, with single and triple cockpit designs.

Alcona Canoe Rental - AuSable River, Glennie

Baldwin Canoe Rental - Pere Marquette and Pine Rivers, Baldwin

Niles Canoe Rental - Dowagiac and St. Joseph Rivers, Niles

Great Lakes Docks and Decks - Algonac (Lake St. Clair area)

Gotts' Landing - AuSable, Mio

Parmalee Trading Post - AuSable, Lewiston

Rollway Resort - AuSable, Hale

 Return to Michigan Kayaking Home Page