Lake Superior Sea Kayaking & Backpacking for Adults
This three-week backpacking and sea kayaking course is your opportunity to explore the rugged North Shore of Lake Superior and the pristine Lake Superior National Marine Conservation Area of Canada.
Build self-confidence, enhance your decision-making abilities and develop self-reliance on this exciting, challenging and introspective adventure. First, learn the art of paddling and balancing a sea kayak and complete challenging open water crossings amidst fog, waves and adverse weather conditions along the rocky, remote Canadian Superior shoreline. Next, trade kayaks for backpacks and hit the Superior Hiking Trail, which meanders through dense boreal forest, offers awe-inspiring overlooks and plunges into pristine river valleys. Ideal for individuals looking to gain outdoor skills and embark on an impactful personal challenge, this journey through the remote and unspoiled North Woods of Minnesota and Ontario is the expedition of a lifetime.
*Please note that you will be required to have a valid passport in order to cross into Canada. If you do not have a passport or need to renew it, please start the process now as it can take weeks to receive your passport.
NOTE: Outward Bound strongly recommends that all students be vaccinated against COVID-19 and up to date as defined by the CDC prior to arriving to their course start. For all open enrollment courses beginning on or after April 15, 2023, Outward Bound will no longer require students to be vaccinated against COVID-19. For questions regarding this policy please see this page or call us at 866-467-7651.
UPCOMING COURSES
This course is closed for the season.
APPLY NOW
This means a course has several open spots and is actively processing applications.
APPLY NOW – Almost Full
This means there are three or fewer currently available spots left on a course. To secure your spot click Apply Now to begin an application!
JOIN WAITLIST
Once a course has reached capacity, three waitlist positions become available. To join a course’s waitlist, click “Join Waitlist” to begin the application process. A $500 deposit is required. This $500 deposit includes a $150 non-refundable application fee and a $350 tuition payment. The $350 tuition payment is refundable only if you cancel your waitlist application or if an open position does not become available. If a position does become available, the applicant will be applied to the open position and the Application and Cancellation Policies of the Regional Outward Bound School will be followed, including forfeiture of the $500 deposit if you cancel 90 days or less prior to the course start date.
Waitlist applicants are encouraged to complete all required admissions documents while awaiting an open position. Positions may become available up to two weeks prior to the course start date. Applicants may only apply to one course. We recommend applying to a course with open positions instead of a course that is accepting waitlist applications. If you have questions, please call 866-467-7651 to speak with one of our Admissions Advisors.
CALL TO APPLY
This means a course is very close to its start date. Although it is unlikely to secure a spot this late, you can call the National Admissions office at 866-467-7651 to discuss your options.
COURSE IS FULL
When a course has reached maximum capacity, meaning all spots and the three waitlist spots are occupied, a course will read “Course Is Full.” This means applications are no longer being accepted.
CLOSED
As a course nears its start date, the availability status may read “Closed.” In this event, a course roster has been finalized and applications are no longer being accepted or processed.
I have grown and challenged myself during this course and I am more focused on things I can do to challenge myself in life. I will carry this experience with me as a positive reminder on the lessons of life and the importance of challenging myself.
Student groups travel to the Canadian north shore of Lake Superior to begin their sea kayak expedition from the Lake Superior National Marine Conservation Area. Students learn the art of paddling a sea kayak in varied weather, landing the craft in a variety of conditions, as well as navigation and rescue techniques. Instructors share the secrets of handling and balancing the boat safely, regardless of the elements. Students develop paddling skills and bond as a group while traveling and camping along the rugged, rocky Superior shoreline.
The Superior Hiking Trail follows the northern shore of the lake from Duluth, Minnesota to Canada, covering almost 300 miles along the low-lying Sawtooth Mountain range. Students spend multiple days hiking on the trail. Well-marked trails, designated campsites and challenging terrain make the Superior Hiking Trail a great backpacking experience for all skill levels.
During climbing days, students learn about general rock climbing equipment, safety and etiquette. Students have many opportunities to climb, belay and rappel while learning and employing safety systems that are compliant with national standards. The rock climbing sites provide a number of different route options including cracks, sheer faces and chimneys. Regardless of a student’s rock climbing background, they are sure to find a route that will engage them and encourage the expansion of their comfort zone.
Looking out over the top of the boreal forest and located 30 feet in the air, the high ropes course is incredible. Students swing from Tarzan ropes, walk on tightrope wires and climb a cargo net before jumping on the zip line for an exhilarating ride back to solid ground.
Canadian Lake Superior
The largest inland sea in the world, the clear emerald green waters of Lake Superior offer a great variety of paddling conditions for sea kayakers. The Lake Superior National Marine Conservation Area is a wilderness archipelago along the Canadian north shore of Lake Superior. A rugged and pristine landscape of sparkling, clear water, cliffs, pebble and sand beaches and numerous islands, it is the largest freshwater, protected marine environment in the world and an ideal destination to hone sea kayaking skills.
Superior Hiking Trail
On the southern edge of the massive granite rock formation known as the Canadian Shield, which runs from Minnesota all the way to Hudson Bay and the Northwest Territories, sits the largest freshwater lake in the world, Lake Superior.
The Superior Hiking Trail is a 296-mile footpath that largely follows the rocky ridgeline above Lake Superior on Minnesota's North Shore from Duluth to the Canadian border. Well-marked trails, campsites and challenging terrain make this a perfect thru-hike destination.
National Geographic says the Superior Hiking Trail “is the best long hike in the country between the Continental Divide and the Appalachian Trail.” At its lowest elevation, along the lakeshore, the trail is 602 feet above sea level. At its highest point the trail is 1,750 feet above sea level and more than 1,000 feet above Lake Superior. The Superior Hiking Trail is characterized by ascents to rock outcroppings and cliffs and descents into numerous river and creek valleys that feature abundant wildlife viewing opportunities.
Course Stories
I have grown and challenged myself during this course and I am more focused on things I can do to challenge myself in life. I will carry this experience with me as a positive reminder on the lessons of life and the importance of challenging myself.
What did I learn from my Outward Bound experience? Just because there's an easy way, it doesn't mean it's the one you can or should take. When it doesn't seem like there's a clear path, by pausing and looking again, new paths can appear. You are stronger and more capable than you think you are. If you can't get out of it, get into it. Living purposefully and intentionally allows me to become more fully whole and human. You can't control what others will do or what will happen to them (or to you), all you can do right now, in this very moment, is to be here right now and to enjoy it for what it is.
Every ritual, routine and challenge were exactly what the doctor ordered. I could not dare accomplish this without our Instructors. They knew exactly when to step in with support and encouragement. It was if they were in my head and knew what I needed.
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Getting Started
If you are ready to enroll on a course click the enroll button next to the course you wish to select or you can enroll over the phone by speaking with one of our Admissions Advisors (toll-free) at 866-467-7651.
To secure your spot on a course you must submit an enrollment form and $500 deposit that is applied toward the total cost of the course and includes a $150 non-refundable enrollment processing fee.