• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

The Epicurean Traveler

A Blog For The Culinary Explorer

  • Destinations
    • Asia
    • Europe
      • Denmark
      • Greece
      • Ireland
      • Italy
      • The Netherlands
      • Switzerland
    • North America
      • Canada
      • Central America
        • Costa Rica
      • Mexico
      • USA
        • Colorado
        • Florida
        • Michigan
        • Minnesota
        • New York
        • Wisconsin
    • South America
      • Peru
  • Hotels & Resorts
  • Restaurants
  • Recipes
  • Beer, Wine & Spirits
  • Style
  • Show Search
Hide Search
Door County Kayak on Lake Michigan via EpicureanTravelerBlog.com

Kayaking Lake Michigan Caves In Wisconsin’s Door County

Looking for a fun kayaking tour in Door County, Wisconsin? Door County Kayak Tours invited me on their guided Cave Point County Park kayak tour to review. Read on to see why I enjoyed this beginner-friendly kayaking tour into caves along the Lake Michigan shore! Plus, I share my tips for what to wear and bring on your kayaking excursion with Door County Kayak Tours.

Disclosure:  This post contains affiliate links. When you click on one of these links and make a purchase, I may earn a commission. This is at no extra cost to you, and I only recommend products and services I have or would use myself.

Table of Contents

  •  Kayaking Lake Michigan With Door County Kayak Tours
  • Was I really ready to test my kayaking skills on Lake Michigan?
  • So, I arrived ready to paddle.
  • A kayak for two, please.
  • Then we explored caves by kayak!
  • Wondering what you should wear and bring kayaking?
  • A cautionary tale
  • Book Your Door County Kayak Tour!
    • Read More About Wisconsin
  • What’s the most unique kayaking trip you’ve taken?

 Kayaking Lake Michigan With Door County Kayak Tours

Since naming kayaking to my 30 Before 30 challenge last year, I’ve discovered an enjoyment for leisurely kayaking down a river or around a small lake. So, when Door County Kayak Tours invited me to take their Cave Point kayaking tour and share my experience with you, I was pumped. Kayaking on a large, open body of water — like one of the Great Lakes — would be a new and thrilling adventure for me.

Naturally, I also felt slightly apprehensive. If you’ve met me, you know I’m not the most athletic or coordinated individual. I’m also a worrier, so I wondered …

Was I really ready to test my kayaking skills on Lake Michigan?

Bluffs along the Lake Michigan shoreline in Door County, Wisconsin
This was my view of the limestone bluffs as I kayaked Door County’s Lake Michigan shoreline. (Erin Klema)

The short answer: Yes!

Door County Kayak Tours does three things that put me, a beginner kayaker, at ease:

  • Send two guides on the water with the group.
  • Use tandem kayaks, which are more stable (read: harder to tip) than single kayaks.
  • Teach the basics of paddling before hitting the water.

So, I arrived ready to paddle.

I had been messaging David Rack, owner of Door County Kayak Tours, on and off about my visit basically since his initial invitation. But, it wasn’t until I was actually on my road trip that my Door County plans came together. Looking at the weather that first week of June, Dave decided a tour my first morning in Door County would be best.

This worked out perfectly for my schedule. It left me a full day to explore Door County’s culinary scene. You can read all about the places I ate and drank here and about all the other places local foodies told me to eat and drink here.

Driving from my overnight pit-stop in Green Bay, I passed through scenic Sturgeon Bay on my way up the Door Peninsula to the meeting spot. There, I was pleasantly greeted by our tour guides, Lexington and Emma. Both are college students working what has to be one of the best summer jobs in the Midwest. I boarded the bus, signed a waiver, applied some sunscreen, and was anxious to get on the water.

Door County Kayak Tours bus and kayaks
We arrived by colorful bus at the launch point for our Lake Michigan cave kayaking tour. (Erin Klema)

A kayak for two, please.

Our 10 a.m. tour group consisted mostly of twosomes — perfect for tandem kayaking. However, I was flying solo on my Midwest Epicurean Adventure through Wisconsin and Minnesota, so I had the option of a single kayak or kayaking with one of the guides. I opted to paddle with a guide, and looking back that was definitely a smart choice for me.

When you tandem kayak, the paddler in the rear handles most of the steering. Meanwhile, the front paddler sets the pace, and together you attempt to paddle in synchronization. The beauty of the tandem kayak is sharing the work.

Here's the photographic proof I actually kayaked! (Photo courtesy of DCPhotoFun.com)
Here’s the photographic proof I actually kayaked! (Photo courtesy of DCPhotoFun.com)

I don’t know why it took me and Lexington so long to find our rhythm. Actually, it may have been all my photo breaks! But, once we hit our stride, we were really cruising along the shore.

Limestone bluffs along Lake Michigan
The water was so clear you could see right to the bottom. (Erin Klema)

As the front paddler, I had an incredible view of the limestone bluffs, shoreline caves, and crystal-clear teal-blue water. Lexington and Emma occasionally pointed out interesting sights we may have missed on our own — like the stacked rocks along the Cave Point County Park beach.

Cave Point County park visitors stack rocks into stone cairns along the Lake Michigan shore. (Erin Klema/The Epicurean Traveler)
Cave Point County park visitors stack rocks into stone cairns along the Lake Michigan shore. (Erin Klema)

Then we explored caves by kayak!

After paddling along the Cave Point County Park shore, Lexington and Emma guided us into the Devil’s Bathtub, where Door County Kayak Tours’ staff go cliff jumping. Then we kayaked one by one into a cave!

Kayakers paddle into a cave with Door County Kayak Tours
Kayakers paddle into a cave with Door County Kayak Tours. (Erin Klema)

Kayaking into a thousand-year-old cave was truly unique. You can’t see inside these caves from the shore, and watercraft larger than a kayak wouldn’t be able to navigate inside.

After two hours paddling the shore, we returned to the launch site and boarded the bus back to the meeting point. The staff took care of loading the kayaks. Altogether the tour takes about three hours with two spent on the water.

Wondering what you should wear and bring kayaking?

Kayaker sporting gear before Door County Kayak Tours' cave tour
All geared up and ready to kayak Door County’s shoreline! (Erin Klema)

I’ve now kayaked four times, so I’ve learned through trial and error which clothing and gear work best on kayaking trips. So, here are my tips for what to wear and bring on your kayaking tour:

  • Life vest — This will be provided by Door County Kayak Tours.
  • Footwear — Sometimes when kayaking, you need to step into the water to get into and out of your kayak. Therefore, you should wear footwear that can get wet or kayak barefoot. Please note, you will have to walk from the bus to the launch point, so I wouldn’t suggest going barefoot then. The guides will likely have a dry bag where you can store your shoes, but I prefer water shoes.
  • Swimsuit — Though you are unlikely to get drenched while kayaking, you will get wet. You might splash some water into your seat as you step into the kayak, and water will drip off your paddle. For women, a swimsuit bottom is a great base layer. Men might find swim trunks best for kayaking.
  • Dri-fit or light layers — I usually wear workout capris over my swimsuit bottoms whenever I kayak because they are made of fast-drying material. Since my cave tour started in the morning, I layered an Under Armour T-shirt with a lightweight workout jacket. Wear what is comfortable for you considering the temperature, but keep fast-drying clothing in mind when planning your outfit.
  • Sun protection — You’ll get the sunshine’s reflection off the water, so waterproof sunscreen is important. I wasn’t about to lose my Kate Spade sunglasses to Lake Michigan, so I opted for a baseball cap. You might consider wearing a cheap pair of sunglasses or attaching a strap to your shades.
  • Waterproof phone pouch — You’ll definitely want to take some photos of your cave kayak tour! I protected my phone in a waterproof pouch attached to a lanyard around my neck. I bought mine at Bed, Bath & Beyond, and it has a little flotation device, too.
  • Car key in a zippered baggie — You will obviously need to get back into your vehicle, but otherwise keep your personal belongings locked in your car. Pack a Ziplock bag to protect your car key’s remote lock from water. If you don’t have a zippered pocket or space in your waterproof phone pouch for your key, place it in the guide’s dry bag.
  • Form of payment — I remember people filling out payment forms on the bus, so you might need to bring your payment with you. Rather than risking your entire wallet getting stolen, lost, or wet, just bring exactly what you need. You can also keep this in your waterproof pouch or in the zipped plastic bag with your car key. If you plan to tip the guides, you will have time to go back to your car after your tour.


A cautionary tale

This is what happens when you forget to apply sunscreen while kayaking. (Erin Klema/The Epicurean Traveler)
This is what happens when you forget to apply sunscreen while kayaking. (Erin Klema/The Epicurean Traveler)

I have been sporting the most ridiculous tan line all summer thanks to forgetting to put sunscreen on my lower legs. I also hadn’t packed aloe vera for this trip. That is a pale-skin fail if there ever was one. If you find yourself in a similar situation, the Piggly Wiggly in Sister Bay is where I tracked down this much-needed aloe.

You know what? I sport my lower-leg tan like a badge of honor. Every time I catch a glimpse of it, I remember the fun I had on my kayak tour. It was definitely worth my goofy reverse sock-line tan!

Book Your Door County Kayak Tour!

If you want to book a cave kayak tour or see which other tours are available, check out the Door County Kayak Tours website.

Read More About Wisconsin

  • Eight Culinary Experiences You Must Have In Wisconsin’s Door County
  • Where Door County Foodies Eat & Drink
  • Five Reasons To Book Your Trip To Madison, Wisconsin Now
  • HotelRED: Hip Hotel In Wisconsin College Town
  • The Wise: Madison Restaurant ‘Wisely’ Elevates Midwest Comfort Foods
  • Exploring Wisconsin’s Great River Road

Save this guide to kayaking in Door County to your Wisconsin, kayaking, or travel boards on Pinterest for future reference!

Kayaking into caves along the Lake Michigan shore with Door County Kayak Tours, Wisconsin, USA

What’s the most unique kayaking trip you’ve taken?

Tell me about it in a comment below!

Save

Save

Save

Share This Post
Pin on Pinterest
Pinterest
Share on Facebook
Facebook
Share on StumbleUpon
StumbleUpon
Tweet about this on Twitter
Twitter
Share on Tumblr
Tumblr
Share on Reddit
Reddit
Buffer this page
Buffer
Share on LinkedIn
Linkedin
Digg this
Digg
Email this to someone
email

Written by:
erinklema
Published on:
August 8, 2016
Thoughts:
30 Comments

Categories: WisconsinTags: Door County, Door County Kayak Tours, Kayak Tour, Kayaking, Lake Michigan, Midwest Epicurean Adventure, Midwest Travel, Wisconsin

Get My Travel Tips In Your Inbox

Enter your email address to receive my travel articles, packing lists, and foodie travel itinerary ideas in your email!

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Natasha von Geldern

    September 27, 2016 at 12:29 pm

    I love kayaking but I’m not very confident in my abilities at sea so this lake tour sounds perfect to me. I feel your pain re the sunburn 🙁

    Reply
  2. kallsypage

    September 13, 2016 at 10:32 pm

    Thanks for sharing such an informative post! We LOVE kayaking and have long wanted to kayak at Lake Michigan.

    Reply
    • erinklema

      September 14, 2016 at 12:02 am

      You are very welcome, and you should totally do it!

      Reply
  3. Erin R

    September 2, 2016 at 10:56 am

    Headed to Door County for the first time this weekend! Had already booked the kayaking cave tour prior to reading this, but super helpful!! Also loved your piece about eating like a local- super excited to try everything!

    Reply
    • erinklema

      September 3, 2016 at 3:12 pm

      Erin, have fun in Door County and enjoy your kayaking tour and all the food!

      Reply
  4. RobRob @TravelLatte(.net)

    August 18, 2016 at 12:50 pm

    How fun! I love kayaking and canoeing, and even Ann is warming up to it. Best kayaking trip I’ve taken was at Lake Powell – pretty amazing to paddle beside 100′ cliffs in your little boat! But the water was nowhere near as clear and pretty as what you had – plus, the shoreline is beautiful!

    Reply
  5. Annika

    August 17, 2016 at 1:05 am

    I never tried kayaking before but if given a chance I would love to try it! Love the photo too.

    Reply
  6. Francesca Mazurkiewicz

    August 15, 2016 at 1:26 pm

    LOVE.IT.

    I haven’t been to Door County in years. I’m definitely going to kayak when I make it back!

    Reply
  7. RoarLoud

    August 13, 2016 at 10:05 pm

    I love kayaks and caves! This looks great except for the burn!

    Reply
  8. Marcelle Simone Heller

    August 13, 2016 at 12:04 pm

    We’ve been in Door County in 2014 but the weather wasn’t great. You were lucky – with sunshine it looks just stunning. The Kayak tour to the cave is a wonderful way to explore. #WeekendWanderlust

    Reply
  9. mymeenalife

    August 12, 2016 at 2:50 am

    Your photos have shown me a side of Lake Michigan that I haven’t seen before – I didn’t know it was so beautiful or that there was so much to explore! I’ve only been kayaking once, but once was enough to make me respect people who do it often. It’s not easy! 🙂

    Reply
    • erinklema

      August 12, 2016 at 10:28 am

      Me too! So much respect for kayakers, especially sea kayakers. Kayaking is definitely an upper-body workout, and I found paddling on the opposite side of the boat that you want to turn to be counter-intuitive. Otherwise, I’ve come to love kayaking. I think the key, as a beginner, is to find easy tours. I actually found kayaking on Lake Michigan easier than the river because there weren’t any obstacles to dodge and a current pushing you right toward those obstacles! 🙂

      Reply
  10. Mags

    August 11, 2016 at 10:57 pm

    Looks like a great time. I’ve recently discovered kayaking as well, and I LOVE it. Looks like you found a great place for it.

    Reply
    • erinklema

      August 12, 2016 at 12:13 am

      Yeah, I need to work kayaking into more of my trips!

      Reply
    • erinklema

      August 12, 2016 at 10:30 am

      Yes! Being from Michigan, I’ve always loved Lake Michigan. But, I had never seen the lake from the Wisconsin side until this trip. It was beautiful scenery for a kayak tour!

      Reply
  11. Buddy The Traveling Monkey

    August 11, 2016 at 7:45 pm

    Kayaking sounds fun! I would’ve preferred to go with a guide as well. And too bad about your tan lines! Something similar happened to me when i went tubing once. Because of how i was sitting, when I got up I had a white stripe across my stomach!

    Reply
    • erinklema

      August 11, 2016 at 9:28 pm

      It was a lot of fun! I love to be on the water. It’s just unfortunate that it sometimes results in sunburns that create awkward tan lines.

      Reply
  12. melody pittman

    August 11, 2016 at 7:07 am

    I”m so glad you enjoyed! I love kayaking and the great upper body workout you get. The sunburn looks incredibly painful but is really funny. Thanks for the laugh today. Bucket list checked off! Way to go girl!

    Reply
    • erinklema

      August 11, 2016 at 9:24 pm

      Worst sunburn I’ve had in years! And, it really has resulted in the funniest tan line I’ve ever had.

      Reply
  13. 2foodtrippers

    August 11, 2016 at 6:33 am

    What an awesome experience (not counting the wicked sunburn). I’d like to try this kind of kayaking adventure one day myself.

    Reply
  14. rachdean1R

    August 9, 2016 at 6:47 pm

    This looks like so much fun. Thanks for all the great info.

    Reply
  15. Bree

    August 9, 2016 at 1:20 pm

    This looks like so much fun. I was telling my husband how I want to do more thins like this next summer.

    Reply
  16. RonRon

    August 9, 2016 at 1:03 pm

    What an amazing experience and amazing view you have and witnessed. Lovely indeed!

    Reply
  17. Crystal (The Imperfect Mom)

    August 9, 2016 at 8:50 am

    I just went for the first time. I was thrown out there with no lessons nothing. I ran into a boat. It’s a great workout.

    Reply
    • erinklema

      August 9, 2016 at 10:54 am

      It is a great workout! Don’t feel bad about running into a boat. My first kayaking experience involved me running into a tree! My kayak was full of twigs and leaves. I was a mess.

      Reply
      • Crystal (The Imperfect Mom)

        August 9, 2016 at 11:04 am

        Lol!!!

        Reply
  18. Eileen True

    August 8, 2016 at 10:19 pm

    Your photos of the water are so beautiful. It’s hard to imagine that the water is that crystal clear. Nice descriptive/how-to article and I now feel very prepared if I ever get up the nerve (as a non-swimmer) to kayak. Doesn’t sound hard at all!

    Reply
    • erinklema

      August 9, 2016 at 10:58 am

      Eileen, the water was so clear. We could see right to the bottom. Lake Michigan is really gorgeous along the Door County shore. This was a great tour for beginner kayakers. It really isn’t difficult, especially when you are in a kayak with someone who knows what they are doing!

      Reply
  19. Carryn

    August 8, 2016 at 6:10 pm

    This looks and sounds like fun. Thanks for sharing your tips

    Reply
    • erinklema

      August 9, 2016 at 10:59 am

      So much fun! Thanks for stopping by my blog, Carryn!

      Reply

What do you think? Leave your comment here ... Cancel reply

Primary Sidebar

Welcome!

Hi, I'm Erin, and welcome to my culinary travel blog! I'm a proud Michigander sharing culinary adventures with you from the Midwest and beyond. Though I'm exploring the world one bite at a time, I'm confident I could live on pizza and red wine. I mean, if I really had to.

In Your Inbox

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Connect With Us

  • View theepicureantraveler’s profile on Facebook
  • View epctraveler’s profile on Twitter
  • View michiganepicure’s profile on Instagram
  • View erinklema’s profile on Pinterest

Note To Our Readers

As a resource for culinary travelers, we hope you continue to daydream about traveling and use this site to plan future trips. If you do travel at this time, please do so as safely as possible for yourself and others.

Recent Posts

  • 7 Health Benefits of Tofu — A Superfood of Asian Cuisines
  • Where to Eat in Amsterdam: 5 Best Amsterdam Restaurants (According to a Netherlands Expert)
  • Top 8 Copenhagen Seafood Restaurants: Where to Eat Seafood in Denmark’s Capital
  • Five International Travel Documents You May Need To See (And Taste) The World
  • Seven Traditional Irish Foods To Eat In Ireland (Or On St. Patrick’s Day)

Popular Posts

8 Beautiful Lavender Fields You Must See In Michigan
Fort Lauderdale Weekend Getaway Guide For Foodies (With Map)
Essential Boston: Five Things To Do In Boston During Your First Visit
10 Culinary Experiences To Savor In Atlanta
Five Tips For What To Wear In Colorado
Saugatuck, Michigan Trip: Four Things To Do In A Day

Proud Member Of

Everywhere
CLEVER Badge

Footer

Copyright © 2021 · The Epicurean Traveler

Affiliate Disclosure

As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

Follow Us

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Work With Us
  • Contact Us
This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish.AcceptReject Read More
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled

Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.

Non-necessary

Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.

SAVE & ACCEPT