The Little Dipper Tours
Offered Daily @ 8:30 am
Two hours on Lake Huron. The perfect first taste.
The Little Dipper is a guided kayak tour through the Les Cheneaux Islands that fits into a morning without feeling like a compromise — enough time to paddle along a scenic shoreline, drift past quaint cottages tucked into the cedars, and get a real feel for what makes this corner of Lake Huron so special. This isn't tourism you watch from a distance. You're in it — on the water, in the landscape, maybe learning something you didn't expect to.
Two hours is enough to quiet the noise. Enough to make a memory. And if it leaves you wanting another few hours on the water — that's exactly what the Bigger Dipper is for.
Most people after crossing the Mackinac Bridge turn left on their way to Tahquamenon Falls, Pictured Rocks, or Marquette. We get it — those are great destinations after you've eaten fudge on Mackinac Island. But the Les Cheneaux Islands, just 30 minutes east of the bridge, are worth the right turn. Quieter, less trafficked, and genuinely different. Pair a guided kayak ecotour with a hike on the Narnia Trail just east of Cedarville and a stop at one of four local spots scooping ice cream, and you've got an activity day that's hard to top anywhere in the Upper Peninsula.
We launch at 8:30am to catch Lake Huron at its calmest — this also fits perfectly into a checkout morning. On the water early, back on shore before noon, time for lunch before you load up and head south — a much better use of your last morning in the UP than waiting on checkout. This is one of the best introductions to sea kayaking and to the Les Cheneaux Islands that we know of — and we know the area pretty well. No experience necessary.
Bringing kids? Little Dipper kayak tours work beautifully for families. Kids who can listen well and sit independently can ride in the front of a tandem sea kayak — often from around age 5. Kids interested in paddling their own kayak should be comfortable with sustained physical activity and not afraid of getting wet — often around age 10–12, though you know your kids best. Give us a call before booking so we can make sure we have the right kayak reserved for them.
Interested in a guided SUP tour instead? We have guides who love stand-up paddleboarding and can offer the Little Dipper as a guided SUP ecotour on Lake Huron. Contact us to check availability.
Wondering whether a guided kayak tour is worth the investment over renting? [We wrote about that here.]
Every guided tour starts with a beach talk covering the basics. Your trip includes sea kayaks, all gear, and a guide who genuinely loves being out there.