Isle Royale Forums

I heard you could rent a canoe at Windigo. Does anyone know where you check these out at and what is the cost?

On a related note. Is there room for campers on Beaver Island ? or is it just a dock for people sleeping in their boats?

Canoe rental rates at Windigo are the same as R.H.: http://rockharborlodge.com/marina-rock-harbor. Inquire at the store.
There are 3 shelters, no tent sites, on Beaver Island.

Hi PhilRanger-

This is true. The Store takes care of the canoe rentals and they also rent kayaks or motorboats. For a canoe or kayak it is $37.55 for a full day and $23.10 for a half. For a motorboat it is $77.55 for a full day and $43.10 for a half. A credit card is required.

There is a campground at Beaver Island. There are three shelters available for anybody who would like to stay in them. First come-first served.

Enjoy your trip!

From our June trip, we wanted to paddle out to Beaver Island our last night and camp there. We were told in the store that you have to modify your itinerary (no big deal) to show beaver island and that is the only overnight use they will let you have. Also a half day is 4 hours and a whole day is 8 (but really less since you have to have it back before the store closes). The other think I thought was weird is that the lady that runs the store said it was getting pretty rough when we went and asked about the half day for a harbor paddle... if that was rough enough to not rent the canoes I don't know how they ever rent any, there was barely a ripple on the water.

Long story short we tried and couldn't get the canoe to go to beaver island or fish the harbor. Next time we bring our own and not have to worry about it.

So if I read Lucky Chicken's post correctly, a full day's rental is only 8 hours ?I would like to paddle out to Beaver Island and explore it and spend the night. My math tells me I would want the canoe for longer than 8 hours. Correct?

Lucky Chicken wrote:The other think I thought was weird is that the lady that runs the store said it was getting pretty rough when we went and asked about the half day for a harbor paddle... if that was rough enough to not rent the canoes I don't know how they ever rent any, there was barely a ripple on the water.

I can personally attest to the overly cautious operators. Last year at the Rock Harbor Marina, which is operated by the same outfit as the Windigo concession, they would not rent their power boats (14 ft aluminum Lunds with 10 to 15 HP outboard). From my perspective it appeared OK for even a canoe (maybe a little windy). Maybe they knew something about what the seas were like just around the corner or the upcoming forecast. I didn't push the issue. Bottom line, it's always good to have a plan B.

philranger wrote:So if I read Lucky Chicken's post correctly, a full day's rental is only 8 hours ?I would like to paddle out to Beaver Island and explore it and spend the night. My math tells me I would want the canoe for longer than 8 hours. Correct?

Yes, but they will let you overnight apparently if conditions are right. The cost for overnight is the same as a day rental, you just need to have the canoe back in the morning. The day rental is only 8 hours because they want it back before the store closes.

Regarding weather - the concession operators traditionally don't rent their watercraft if the Marine Forecast FOR LAKE SUPERIOR is anything beyond a certain point. Protecting themselves from liability for poor judgement of customers? Anyway, even if your plans are all on protected water it doesn't take much breeze for them to stop renting. One of the saddest things I ever saw was a Boy Scout troop who planned and trained for two years to do a canoe trip on IsRo and arrived (with reservations for the canoes) to be told they could not have the canoes to do their trip. The kids ended up backpacking with canoe packs to salvage something from the trip, and I hope it turned out to be a fun adventure for them.....having seen that, I would bring a backpacking pack on a planned canoe trip rather than a Duluth Pack, to have the right gear along as a Plan B.