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AMAZING EXPERIENCE!! I am going to list a couple of pros and cons for this place but no matter what company you choose, go kayak pictured rocks. Incredible formations of land that you can't see anywhere else. I lived in Michigan for 20 years and had no idea the Upper Peninsula held the treasures we got to see! Pros: -The guides had a ton of energy and were very patient with the people in our group. We had a great group of good listeners and that helped but our guide was also very flexible and let us veer off into the waters without having to stick super close to us. -The time of day that we went really made a difference. We chose the "sunset" tour so we were able to see the pictures rocks around 4-6pm . Though this is not sunset, it was still pretty to see the sun reflecting off the different colors of the rocks and formations. -the ability to just hop on a bus and hop in a kayak without carrying them helped as well. It just made everything really easy and seamless. Cons: -the bus to the launch off site didn't have A/C which was fine, but we just sat there waiting for other buses to unload and I think that could have been done a little differently. It was too hot to have thirty people sweating in a bus. -tour time said 6 hours but we only kayaked for 3.5 which was fine but maybe make it clear on the site that the bus time would take a hour round trip -I also would have suggested just an hour for lunch, being able to get out and eat our lunch on the beach was great but I didn't need to be there for 1.5 hours, I would have rather done a shorter lunch and gotten back sooner Overall, amazing and an outstanding time we had!

Overall, this was a great experience. Our guide, Tanner, was knowledgeable and fun. He was able to talk to us about the rock formations and made sure to talk to everyone in the group and even learned our names. One of the bases we rode had no AC, which was tough on a hot day, but the ride to the beach was short, so this didn't taint the experience. The kayaking was fun and Pictured Rocks is beautiful. The company is well organized and timely. I recommend this experience.

Absolutely THE BEST ride we've had at pictured rocks. McCoy (our guide) was kind, helpful, and energetic. If we lived closer we would come back weekly and request McCoy! (We live in CO). We did the 6 hour ride today, a little choppy and an amazing time. We cannot stop smiling.

We did the Paddler's Choice trip. 9am-3pm. 6 hour trip but that's not 6 hours on the water. You get on the bus at 9 to be taken to pick out your gear and meet your guide. And at the end you drop off your gear and take the shuttle back to your car. I think the time on the water is more like 10am-2pm with a 1 hour lunch break. Also the trip is not a loop. You paddle past your lunch break spot, then turn around. Have lunch on a beach (provided) and then continue on back. The lunch provided was nice (each person is provided a lunch kit at the start of the trip). However there are no amenities on the beach -- no picnic tables or restrooms or anything. If you love kayaking or just being out on the water, then it won't matter to you that you pass the same formations on the way back. It's a treat to see them up close. For me, personally, my arms were DONE, and I was ready to be back on shore. Because of this, next time I would try the Paddle and Hike, and hike back rather than paddle since I wouldn't miss anything new. Trent was our guide and he was fantastic. Knowledgeable, friendly, chatty and full of personality! My group stayed in #1 Yurt Powers of the Air. Unbelievably gorgeous spot. There were 5 of us. The site claims that 8 people can sleep in this yurt. Uh...maybe if they are small or children, lol The site says there are two bunk beds -- single on top, double on the bottom. If these are full grown adults, only one person can sleep on the bottom. There is a futon that folds out. Maybe two adults could sleep on that, but I doubt it. There is space on the floor for someone to set up some cots or an air mattress so if you have a bigger group, it can work, but you'll want to prepare. The beds are more like gym mats than mattresses. But if you stay in this Yurt you are lulled to sleep by the sound of Mother Superior just beyond the wall. For our group, it was totally worth it. There is a small fridge and a space heater. There is also a Family Dollar in town where we purchased additional bedding when we realized what we brought wasn't enough. Only two Adirondack chairs so if you are in a larger group, bring camp chairs. There is a table and only 2 chairs in the Yurt. It's truly set up like a 'village' here. It reminded me of a Hippie Commune's dream! :) All the other Yurts and Safari tents are close together in a long row. The map on the website makes the other 'sites' look more spaced out than they are. Not much privacy or seclusion here, but the whole setup is clean and lovely, and charming. The Uncle Ducky cruise is not to be missed. Honestly my group had considered skipping it but we really underestimated how nice it was. You can bring food/drinks on board. The restaurant was the only thing that turned out to be disappointing. No problem with the food, in fact it was quite good, but the service that day was very slow. Seemed a little unorganized. That was just our experience, but all I will say is don't let it cause you to miss the boat cruise!

Uncle Ducky's offers a great kayak tour to see the pictures rocks of the Upper Peninsula. I did the 6 hour kayak tour where we were able to see a shipwreck, the pictured rocks, as well as the lovers leap arch. Going into the trip, 6 hours of kayaking seemed daunting, but the pace was reasonable and the kayaks held their own in the Lake Superior waves. I would definitely recommend this kayak tour for anybody who wants and up close view of some of the most spectacular views in the Upper Midwest.

Excellent experience! We did the 6 hr kayak tour and it was fun, informative, relaxing and great to see such a beautiful natural treasure. We had to make modifications to our reservation prior to the event and the Paddling Michigan staff was easy to work with, responsive and gave us confirmation right away. The bus driver to the beach was friendly and shared lots of good information tidbits that made the experience all the better. Our tour guide, Jimmy was a hoot; he was funny, relaxed, and shared lots of good information throughout the 6 hr tour. Now for what I would improve; the lunch thing on this tour is confusing and could use some better clarification. Some tours lunch is included, some (like the one I was in) there time allocated for lunch on the beach but you have to bring your own lunch and I heard it both ways until I checked in. It was fine, I just bought one of their packed lunches which was quite good but for the price, I'd say the packed lunch should be included. The other thing is the life jacket, it smelled a bit, so I recommend dipping it into the lake once you get to the beach. Once I did that at the lunch break, things were better. The gear they provide is excellent.

Decent price point for what you get. I was happy we arrived early because I was unaware I had to go to their location then turn around and drive like 20 minutes outside of town to a parking area they have for you to be picked up by buses for another ride to where the kayaking occurs. I liked our guide but kayaking on the great lakes is no joke and he had limited guidance to us on safety at all other than "do not blow your whistle unless you need it." I have gone kayaking enough to know how to back paddle and how to approach waves but not everyone does and some basics would be helpful. The kayaks are okay a bit dated and my skirting was not water proof anymore and leaked badly. At least our rudder still worked properly. The paddle was nice at about 2 hours to Miners and back. If you are looking for a decent trip out not half bad. I now bought my own kayak so I no longer need their services.

We weren't sure we would be able to go kayaking to Pictured Rocks because the weather went from sunny and 90 to cloudy, rainy and cold. Luckily the day we scheduled to kayak, the sun broke through and it warmed up enough to go. We got to go into a shallow, dripping cave and paddled Kissing Rock. It was pretty choppy and tougher padding back to the beach but enjoyed the experience. You can't beat a Great Lake.

This place almost has it all. We kayaked for 5 hours. The trip was suppose to last six hours. The staff was very friendly. In the beginning they could have have better directions on how to use the kayaks. We also wish they would have offered a hot lunch somewhere on the trip. We have white water rafted in the past and have had this option. The weather was great and scenery was breath taking. The price of the trip was worth it, we used a group on. The other downfall is that we had to wait about 50 minutes for the bus to pick us up and take us back to camp. There was also two check in points to start the trip. This easily could be done in 1. We camped here the night before we kayaked. I understand the campground can't control campers but you think they would tell everyone when quiet hours are. The price we paid for our yurt was expensive. There was no free ice or firewood. Glad we stayed one night it was a good experience. It could easily have been better but also could have been way worse. The yurt could have easily slept 5-6 people.

The camp site was off Hwy 28, so it would be a bit noisy if your tent/yurt is by the road. But each room is spacious and clean. We had a package with kayaking, canoing, and dinner cruise included. Please note the dinner cruise is misleading as you actually eat the dinner at the adjacent restaurant prior to the cruise trip. Each site has a fire pit, grill and picnic table. 2-4 lawn chairs are available for each site. The check-in staff was friendly and the communication with the site host was timely. It's a great location for family with older kids and it's or girls weekend.

Great views! We took the taste of the rocks trip and really enjoyed it. The water is so beautiful and the rocks are unlike anything I've seen!! Not challenging so good for a range of abilities
6 years ago
It wasn't too bad except our tour guide didn't let us get close to the rocks while other tour guides did. We spent a lot of money and were very dissatisfied that we got stuck with some crappy tour guide. read more
8 years ago
This is the beat kayak tour! I'm so sad to see it only has 3 stars. We had the best guide who was knowledgeable about everything and we got to see everything we wanted to and more! Highly recommend this company over other ones in the city. Also the people we're awesome!!!!! We did the 5 hour tour, the long one is definitely worth it! read more
6 years ago
No social distancing, no ventilation, guides not wearing masks, etc. What a disappointing experience!! We booked a kayaking tour with the expectation that they would be following the guidelines they listed out on their website, but sadly that was not the case. They started by packing us into a bus with no ventilation with 30 or so people with no efforts or ability to social distance. The driver was wearing a mask, but when we arrived to the beach, not a single guide had a mask on, even when helping guests get settled in their kayaks many did not put masks on. After unloading a bus of guests, there was no sanitization prior to the next group getting on. I understand these are challenging times, but Uncle Ducky's did not seem to care about the health and safety of those coming to enjoy their day out on the waters. I would not book with them again! read more
6 years ago
We had an amazing time on our sunset kayak adventure yesterday for our 20th wedding anniversary. Johnny tsunami was our guide and hew was super knowledgeable and very patient with us. Great guide, would definitely recommend for anyone. read more
8 years ago
We had a great trip and our guide, Steve, did a great job. We will be recommending your tour group in the future to friends and family. This is the best way to see the Painted Rocks. On the day we went it was nice and clear so we made it all the way to Rainbow Cave and then back to Miners Castle. read more
6 years ago
Really enjoyed kayaking from miners castle to Mosquito river on Lake Superior. We chose the 6 hour tour, which was the perfect amount of time. We felt the 8 hour would have been a little too long. Ashley, our tour guide was amazing and shared history of the lake, fun rock mineral facts, and showed us a ship wreck. She was lighthearted and knowledgeable about the area. Loved that there was free coffee and dry bags for valuables provided. The only thing to be aware of is that social distancing was nonexistent at miners castle beach where we started and ended. read more
6 years ago
My 60 year old mother, my 18 year old daughter and myself (40), did the 6 hour kayak tour. The staff was great! Fun, upbeat, playful, everything you would expect from a business that offers an outdoor adventure! Clay was our tour guide, even though he had a dry sense of humor and you could only believe 78% of what he told you, we absolutely loved him! He was very cautious and our safety was his main concern. He made my mom feel comfortable and that was important seeing as she had never kayaked before. On another note, as much as we enjoyed our tour I wouldn't suggest the 6 hour tour for anyone who is a beginner kayaker, not physically fit, extreme issues with carpal tunnel, or any shoulder issues. It was a bit much for all 3 of us. All of us felt like we had jello arms and our hands and forearms hurt from paddling. But this was not the fault of the company, this was just our bad decision making. The last half of the trip was just rowing back to our starting point. We all agreed we would only do the 3 hour tour next time. Make sure to use water shoes! Made all the difference in the world when we stoped at Mosquito beach for lunch! read more
So cool!! I wish I would have done a longer tour because there was so much to see and we had the nicest weather! Our tour guide was really nice and informative and I'm incredibly jealous that she gets to spend her summers doing kayaking tours. If you have an afternoon to explore, check out pictured rocks via kayak. It's beautiful! read more
9 years ago
Had an excellent time on the Paddle and Hike adventure. Patrick was a fantastic guide, as was Ian. The guide to guest ratio was much better than I expected; only 6 tandem boats (12 people) per guide. With the reasonable size of the group, I felt that we all had the luxury to go at our own pace and explore when we wished. Patrick (and a helpful tailwind) kept us on/ahead of schedule and I never felt rushed. Lunch on Mosquito Beach with time to explore the nearby trails was invigorating. Out on the water, being so close to the rocks and the beautiful views were not experiences to be missed. I had previously done a cruise/boat tour of the Pictured Rocks and thought I had seen them as well as I could, but I was wrong. The day was gorgeous and although the trip was quite strenuous, it was an exhilarating experience. The hike was longer than I expected but very helpful to loosen up after a long day in the boats. I loved that the guides pointed out interesting features to us along the way. I would definitely recommend this experience. I am giving four stars because our trip was postponed from last year due to unfavorable weather that day. I understand there are safety and financial concerns for the company, but at the time I wanted a refund and was refused, despite living a 7+ hour drive from Munising. Ultimately, I am glad to have had the experience, but I disagree with that policy. read more
9 years ago
My husband and I came up there for our anniversary on May 7th from Indiana. We wanted an adventure at Pictured Rocks and we got it! We stayed at Uncle Ducky's Paddlers Village in a yurt. It was pretty chilly that time of year but the yurt was so cozy. We stayed in number 11 and was right on the beach. It was a quick walk up to the toliets and a little more to the shower rooms. Great for people on the go. Also after 9 hours of hiking we stopped at the Duck Pond Eatery right in front of the village and had a great hot meal. Loved this place and want to go back to bring the kids. read more
10 years ago
The Pictured Rocks are gorgeous and worth the trip. The operation is a mess. As others have noted, it takes you a LONG time to get in the water. And this is isn't because the beach is a super-remote area or because they're spending time doing any kind of useful safety instruction. It's because of a series of dubious organizational choices. First, there are three separate staging areas for a single trip -- you drive to the main office, get a wristband that entitles you to drive to a giant parking lot seven miles away, where you get a shuttle that takes you to the actual trailhead. I can understand some reasons not to park everybody at the actual trailhead, but the first of these stops seems just designed to waste your time. Second, even once we got to the beach it took a long time to get going. Our guide (who I actually grew to like) spent a lot of time telling jokes rather than actually helping people sort out their equipment. And the groups (12 people per guide) are simply too large to move efficiently. And because the groups are of such mixed ability level, some people end up holding back the whole group. Unlike the other reviewers, I'm not so sure they had high quality equipment either. Everything more or less worked, which I do appreciate, but one member of our group had a broken paddle which forced our guide to run across the beach in search of another one (more delays before getting in the water). And our guides moved us from one boat to another before finding one they thought was adequate. The foot pedals kept shifting around, because apparently (I am not making this up) the Uncle Ducky's staff keeps the broken pedals fixed in position by wedging them in place with small rocks. More delays getting in the water. Once we were in the water, the rocks were really cool, but the size of our group and the delays getting in the water made it harder to spend our time seeing and exploring them. But here I am complaining because the rocks and their mineral formations are really neat. Kayaking up to them, like reading foreign poetry in its original language, lets you experience them in a way that you can experience no other way. (Seeing them from above while hiking is also cool, but this is different.) Now despite all of this, our guide, Nick, was really quite good. Other than a sort of annoying tendency to just randomly make up facts as a method of joking with some customers, he gave us the best experience he could under the circumstances. When we had to skip a particularly cool passageway on our outbound trip, he made sure to find time for us to do it on the inbound trip, even though it required him to pull rank and block some other groups to make room for us. And he seemed to understand that some of us wanted to paddle closer and farther than the rest of the group, which he was very tolerant of so long as he could keep an eye on us and keep us out of trouble. We were very grateful to him for having the judgment and discretion not to ruin our trip. All told, we spent about 6.5 hours on this trip, and only about 3.5 of them were spent on the water. I understand full well why the operation runs this way, but if you can find another way to kayak out to Pictured Rocks, I'd recommend that. Uncle Ducky's could provide smaller groups, or groups more clustered on the basis of speed, experience, and ability, but it isn't worth it to them and you end up paying the price. I'm giving two stars instead of one because the rocks really are worth seeing, and because our guide was good enough to let us see them, within the logistical constraints he suffered. read more
11 years ago
This place needs to be looked at two ways - the experience you can get, and the service and implementation. On the experience, hands down if you don't own a kayak and want to see the Pictured Rocks, this is the absolute best way to do it. Seeing the rocks in a kayak gets you to places that you just can't go while renting a pontoon or on one of the cruises. The experience is definitely worth five stars. If you read previous reviews and the issues those folks had, they are still there, and absolutely true. We showed up about 30 minutes beforehand, and it was fairly disorganized. You signed it, and they said wait around until everyone got there. Finally, about 20 minutes after our scheduled time, we went to Miners Beach with very little info other than how to get there. It's not a difficult road though, and no one should have a problem getting there. When you get to the beach, it's a free-for-all to park, and a cluster to get your gear, which they hand you with little instruction. Then you wait some more, and finally when everyone has their stuff you go to the beach, and you go to a general area next to a kayak. Very little details once again. Paddling a kayak is really easy, but their instructions were very poor. Safety instructions were even worse. They try and put you in groups of 8 or so, which took much longer than it should because the guides had a hard time figuring out how to do this. Our kayak's rudder didn't work. It's not the end of the world, but it would have made the trip a bit easier instead of having to paddle steer the entire way. It seems like quite a few of the rudders were not work, which was pointed out before and should have been fixed. Our guide had a little bit of information that he could share, but was again pretty disorganized. He was fairly informed of the area and could answer some questions. But mostly, he hung out with the kayak that had two girls, and flirted with them the entire trip. Which should be noted, if you are expecting 4 hours on the water (for the half day trip), you will be disappointed. By the time we got in the water, our trip was about 2 hours on the water. So, bottom line. I'd probably do this again, because the experience was that good. But I would know what I'm getting into beforehand. Make sure you get a kayak with a working rudder. Bring a water bottle that will easily fit into the bungee cages, and bring a waterproof pouch for your camera, or something to get it in and out easy. Don't expect a ton of time on the water or a proficient guide. You will still probably have a good time, but it could (and should) be so much better. read more
12 years ago
My girlfriend and I received the full day tour from my mom for a Christmas present. We were so excited planning the trip and throughout the days leading up to the tour. A few days before our trip, we took a look at the reviews on Yelp. This somewhat tempered our expectations and caused us some concern. However, we had a BLAST! I can only say that the previous reviewers had ridiculous expectations and didn't take any ownership of their part in making this tour work. The best way to describe the experience w/ Uncle Ducky's is organized chaos. You just have to go into it with an open mind and a willing spirit to have a good time. Don't get overwhelmed with everything that's happening and speak up if you have questions or concerns. We started out w/ a tour group w/ some people who were inexperienced. They ended up quitting. Fortunately our tour guide (Erin) handed us off to another guide (Christina). The next group we were with were just a step above the previous group. It was slow going, but we took the idle time available to snap some great pictures of the rocks and even a shipwreck (bring a waterproof camera with you!). We paddled through Lovers Leap then had a picnic on Mosquito Beach. It was absolutely LOVELY! The paddle out was pretty rough going with the weather and waves. It is hard work - so keep this in mind if you are planning on bringing kids. The ride back in was a lot easier. We got really lucky with the weather (we went in mid-August) - the sun started shining in time for our picnic lunch. On the way back, we were able to go through a crevice in the rocks (just enough space for the boat to fit). All of the tour guides were excellent. They were very attentive, especially when it was time to come ashore. The next day we stopped back by the shop to buy some mementos. Aaron helped us pick out our treasures and was a pure delight to talk to. Everyone at Uncle Ducky's was so nice to work with. We will definitely go back for another trip. read more
13 years ago
We recently did the pictured rocks paddle & hike with Uncle Ducky. The details of how the logistics work where few so for the folks like me that have to know before hand here is how it works. You meet at the Munising Falls Visitors Center parking lot. Look for a person holding a clip board. Once all are accounted for you follow them in your car to the put in, about a 10 minute drive. Arrive at put in(Miners Beach), gear up and head to the water where the kayaks will be waiting. Tandems are used and It was OK however given the super calm water conditions I would have preferred a single. Paddle about 5 miles and stop for lunch (that you bring with you) at Mosquito Beach, they allow about an hour so you have plenty of time to go for a swim & such. To my surprise and my wife's relief there is actually a composting toilet a short walk away. After lunch you paddle a few more hours to Chapel Rock and you end your paddle there. The guide will point you to the right trail that will lead you to a parking lot where a shuttle van will then take you back to your car. The hike part is 3-4 miles depending on what signage you are looking at. Either way it does not sound that long but a after 10 miles of paddling it's plenty. Our guide (I forget her name) was super nice and offered some informative details regarding the area. My only frustration was with our boat, I was having some rudder control issues so be sure to get it sorted out before you head out. It's a long trip if you are battling with your boat. Once adjusted things where much better. The night before our kayak trip we did the sunset cruise, you see the same area but it's 100% better being in the kayak. Overall it was a very pleasant trip and would highly recommend it. read more
7 years ago
Uncle Ducky's was a great experience. Did the 2 mile tour. Perfect day on the water and our tour guide Logan was a really nice guy.
6 years ago
A mistake was made on their end with scheduling. We asked for a refund due to the fact that is wasn't our fault and they wouldn't budge. We had driven 10 + hours for this trip and were out $550. They didn't even apologize or show any ounce of forgiveness. read more
There was no mention of Covid masking and most of the 34 people on the boat were not masked. The ride was sold out with every seat taken. The cruise started after 5:30 pm and we were back at the dock before 7 pm. You're basically riding on a big pontoon. Many people on the ride said they felt we'd been had. $64 is a total rip off. The only reason I booked this was because the Pictured Rock evening cruise was full. The crew members were nice but apparently were completely unaware of the governor's orders which were referenced on the Pictured Rock cruise line (which is only filling boats at half capacity). read more
8 years ago
BEWARE!!!! Me and my friends took the sunset paddle (6 hours tour , only 2 hours paddling ) It was horrible experience . The kayaks were poorly maintained. During the tour , our friends kayak had stuck rudder and the kayak was always turning right , they had very hard time trying to paddle straight and were separated from the group , eventually they flipped over , our tour guide wasn't around , he was so far away from them , that he didn't even noticed that . It was life-threatening situation for them . When they finally got to the beach , they were shivering and shocked. Our tour guide said that the whole group need to hike 4 miles back! It was totally unprofessional , he couldn't handle the situation !!!!! I advise you to find different company to do your kayak tour with read more
11 years ago
I really enjoyed my tour but there were a few things that i chose to take a couple stars off for. We made our reservation online for a 4 hour tour from noon to 4pm. They have a kennel that you can leave your dog in free of charge while you're out on the water which is really great. The young man that was watching the kennel was very nice and we saw him taking our dog for a walk when we returned, which was cool because I'm sure my dog was sad/bored without us. Anyway so we met at the facility at 11:45 am and checked in. At noon, the 2 young guys that were checking us all in held up a map and said we had to all drive down to Miner's Castle. I'm really not sure why we meet at Uncle Ducky's if we have a 20 minute ride to go on right after. The map was kind of confusing and they didn't have enough printed directions to hand out to everyone so they said to just follow their car. Unfortunately there were so many cars and red lights that we all kind of got separated. Luckily I found the location on my GPS but once you get into the park there are a few dirt roads and parking lots. We followed some of the cars in our group into the lot we thought we were told to meet at but found out that was incorrect, it was another lot 2 more miles into the park. I took off a star for the unorganized check in and meeting. Anyway, once we found the right lot, we were given our gear and walked down to the beach where we got a brief safety lecture. Then we were paired up and the guides broke us into groups so we always had someone to follow and get information from. Our guide Becca was very nice and patient with our group, we enjoyed having her as a guide. I took off another star because we watched one of the idiot guides leading 4 girls up to a cliff and letting them jump into the lake. Apparently this was his first week and he was putting these girls and the company he works for at a huge risk. The water was pretty shallow and cold, and the rocks are very slippery and dangerous. Luckily none of the girls were hurt but the irresponsible guide really bothered me because it seems this company will hire any stoner college kid off the streets. Overall, we had a nice time on the water and it was a great experience but the 4 hour tour was really 2 1/2 to 3 hours long. Uncle Ducky's, please consider hiring more responsible guides. I understand most of them are college kids making summer money but someone could have been hurt really badly and that didn't make me feel very good. read more
12 years ago
We only experienced one of the many trips they have to offer on this trip but definitely plan to return for more, including some of the overnight kayaking and camping excursions. The guides were friendly and experienced, focused on safety and ensuring a good time. Their equipment all appears to be in excellent condition (or you can bring your own if you have some as we did). They also sell some gear if you're in the market, some of which was remarkably inexpensive. We were quite pleased overall. As others mentioned, not the best at being organized perhaps, but not bad. As for someone's concern that they didnt give her, a novice, a "non-tipping kayak", I'm afraid that there really is no such thing. Sea kayaks are by definition, long and slim stable when you keep your weight centered but can tip if you don't. That's kayaking, it's not pontoon boating. Hence the PFD and guides. read more
11 years ago
Great kayak trip. The best way to see the shoreline, in my opinion. We had an absolutely beautiful day and out guide was pretty good. We saw everything and had a nice stop at the beach. As for the negative reviews, it was a little unorganized but our guide said that they just doubled the size of thier business to accommodate so many people and I think they are just working out the kinks. It was fine. There was probably 80 people there for the Sunday morning trip. That's a lot of people to get organizated. read more
5 years ago
If you are concerned about Covid, don't do this. Nobody is masking while on the bus ride to the beach. The life jackets are not cleaned after each use. If you do go, I would bring your own. It was overly crowded getting to the launch. But overall you do get some beautiful scenery. read more
11 years ago
Great tours and awesome guides, worth every penny , great family trip, my 9yr old and 8yr old loved kayaking. read more
11 years ago
Very awesome tour! Even though due to weather we had to take the alternate route by the island it was still beautiful, informative, & very fun! The guides are amazing & actually the reason I'd kayak through this company again. The weather made it a bit challenging (so it may be why) but I did keep one star back because our tour was not the full six hours we had paid for. read more
5 years ago
opted for the 3 hour trip. The weather was not conducive to kayak pictured rocks, so we headed out to grand island. Clark was the most totally awesome guide. He was knowledgeable, helpful and super charming and funny. The equipment was great and worked perfectly fine. Clark also recommended Blackrocks Brewery in Marquette. The Mykiss IPA was fantastic! Thanks to all of the guides and paddlers. Will go again next year! read more
6 years ago
We had a great time today on our taste of the rocks tour. It was a pretty seamless check in and shuttle down to the beach area. Everyone on the bus had masks on and were very mindful of social distancing. Our kayak guide was Kasey. She was great! Very informative, very sweet and very patient with us. We did have a really great group though! Overall we had a wonderful time! I highly recommend kayaking the pictured rocks read more
8 years ago
I would have given a zero if I could have. DO NOT pre-pay for your kayaking trips...they will not refund your money which means I just threw $300 in the trash..terrible service!!!! read more
8 years ago
Uncle Ducky's village site is not good. 1 Star for being located near Munising/pictures rocks. The experience is not that which is represented on the website. It looks like all the tents are near the water and that it's in a wooded area. The actual village is behind a restaurant on a side street. Houses neighbor the site looking toward the water on the right. Only a few tents get water view and are jammed very tight together. The other tents are also jammed together so you can hear your neighbors throughout the night. The trail to the bathroom or dish washing station is through the village about 2 or 3 feet from your porch so you hear people walking through all night (I added pictures so refer to them). You hear the road traffic all night and cars on the side street as well. You don't hear the water. The bathroom was pretty gross, showers need updating since the walls are falling apart. Doors are left open in the bathroom for full exposure. The kayak rental is not on site. We kind of expected everything to be a one stop shop. Expect to drive. We ended up using a different tour service which we really enjoyed since we were so unhappy with Uncle Ducky's village. Just expect to be disappointed if you go here. It's not like it's represented on their site. Pictures are limited to water view sites. You should get a state camp ground site or stay at the holiday inn down the street. read more
I did the half day guided trip, which for me, was the perfect amount of time. Since it was very windy on the day we kayaked, we kayaked across the bay and along Grand Island. It wasn't our first choice, but was fine. The guides were very personable. They made an obvious attempt of keeping everything fun, and were constantly cracking jokes. I highly recommend kayaking when traveling to Munising and the Pictured Rocks area. You can't go wrong if you choose Uncle Ducky's. read more
6 years ago
Our original plan was the 6 hour sunset tour. Poor weather prevented our tour from happening. The anticipation immediately turned to disappointment. It's hard to give this any more than 3 stars, even if it was outside the company's "control". We were offered a partial refund and a shorter tour, a rebooking for another day (which didn't work for us since we were only there for one day) or a full refund. We took the partial refund (which should have been at least half and we got maybe 1/3 back) and a shorter tour which only was 2 hours and the sightseeing was very inadequate. Our guides gave no information on the tour and were very disengaged. Hind sight for significantly less money you can take a boat tour which has a higher likelihood of going and more comfortable. My husband and I both found the kayaks to be uncomfortable at about the halfway point, ie seats non adjustable, my husband has a 11.5 size foot has to sit heals in toes out in order to have them fit in the kayak. If you are an avid kayaker you would be more likely to enjoy the kayaking tour. read more
8 years ago
Only thing good about this trip was the kayak trip. Our guides were great. Now, everything else was bad. The pics on their website don't paint a good picture of what it is. Small place with a road running down the side. The middle section of the campground is awful. Check where you staying. We went to redeem our dinner at duck pond. Should be called suck pond. They were out of glasses , dishes and food. Do not pre-pay for trips or anything. We found out it that it is cheaper to pay on your own. This is a very bad misrepresentation of what you get! read more
9 years ago
My best friend and I had planned a big birthday trip over Labor Day weekend. I live in Houston Texas and she lives right outside Detroit so we don't get to see each other often. We decided we would take a little road trip and go kayaking among other things. Then Harvey hit, the devastation of my town is truly unfathomable and we are still recovering. As we pick up the pieces and try to return our community to function I have been overwhelmed by the kindness and generosity within our community and from other states. If you are one of those people, thank you. I called all our rentals and hotels and excursions to cancel as all airlines were shut down and even if they weren't the roads were impassable. Everyone was wonderful and understanding except Uncle Ducky's. I called multiple times Tuesday and Wednesday and finally received a call back on Wednesday that was rather brief. I explained my situation and asked if they would be willing to give me a full refund as we could use the money right now and we were in a fairly extreme and unusual situation. The lady was fairly rude and then informed me I should have called 7 days in advance. I told her I had no plans of canceling originally and had I known we would be wiped out by a hurricane I would have but my city is under water and we could really use the money. Since my friend lives in Detroit she said she didn't think we could get a refund. I guess she thought my friend should make the 4 hour drive to go kayak alone (???). I kindly asked her again and she said she would talk to her general manager and hangs up. No word on she'd get back in touch, nothing. So I call again Thursday to check on the status, no answer. Friday we are issued a refund for $80.93. According to their cancellation policy even if you are heartless we called 5 days in advance (finally spoke 4 days in advance) so we should have received 75% minus a $25 admin fee (what?). We paid $211.86 so the minimum we should have received is $133.90. Honestly, we would have returned to kayak there when I was able to make the next trip we wont now. They are losing money by treating their customers this way. Please don't support this company this is not what small businesses should look like we don't need these kind of people here. I attached screenshots for my proof, don't let yourself be scammed. read more
10 years ago
2 stars for the scenery - can't be ruined but, this business and it's staff.....they tarnished the trip. I was warned by the locals the evening before - I picked the wrong tour company. Listen to the locals!!! STOP - BOOK NORTHERN WATERS! Ducky's was an expensive bad experience. 1. This is not a professional group of people. The staff seemed to be college students only. We never encountered a direct employee over the age of 25. They are not professionally dressed. It was various degrees of board shorts and athletic bras/spandex bottoms. If you needed a staff member - there were not indications of a uniform tee. The young men went about shirtless - but so did the females. It was an episode of UP Baywatch. 2. Our guide was knowledgeable but his presentation was grating. He spoke poorly. The word "um" was used 27 times in 5 minutes ----we had a 5+hour trip. We paddled out of hearing and skipped the presentation due to his poor grammar. 3. We are avid, strong kayakers. The staff made no attempt to pair skill sets within groups. The entire trip was spent waiting for one boat to keep up. We spent as much time waiting as paddling. On the return trip - all of the boats in our group left the guide with that boat and returned to shore on our own. 4. UPON arriving at the beach to disembark - a girl in no uniform starting resetting our crafts. We aren't sure if she was an employee because she had no logo wear for the company. We left the beach with no instructions - carrying paddles, skirt and life jackets. Our group walked back to the place we were dropped off - guessed how to get rid of our equipment. No employee was on site for assist. Lucky for the company, we guessed correctly. All equipment was packed away wet. Which leads me to point 5. 5. The equipment is very fragrant. My life vest smelled of mildew, and my partner said his skirt smelled like gym socks. The paddles are very worn. The rubber guides do not stay in place - if they have any. The seat of my front spot was non-adjustable. My back hurts today from keeping myself balanced - the foot pegs were broke in our boat. I had no body support the entire trip. My advise - skip this company's great internet advertising ploy --- use the other guy in the area. He is a true blue local. read more
8 years ago
Great kayaking experience, about six hours on the kayak and two hours hiking. A bit pricy but any other place you need to make reservations a week before. Got next day reservation with this. Guides seem very friendly. read more
9 years ago
Beware of pre-paid bait and switch!!! My experience wasn't the best. We paid for the full Paddle & Hike Tour but were told the conditions would only allow us to do the 3-hour tour (it was a smooth and beautiful day!). The guys who checked us in said we would be REFUNDED the difference or we could take the full credit and come back another day (we live HOURS away) so we went ahead expecting a refund to our card. but after we got home we were told those guys didn't tell us the right info (which we based our decision on) and that we could only get a partial credit to use in the next year. Very disappointed. We didn't get what we paid for and ALL of the staff should be given the correct information otherwise you should have someone present who can answer on behalf of the company. read more
8 years ago
We purchased 2 adult kayaking paddlers choice slots. For the money we paid, we expected working equipment. It was still an enjoyable time. Ian, our guide was amazing. The experience was reduced however, due to the quality of equipment. read more
8 years ago
Our little group of three had a lot of logistical issues, and had to reschedule twice. We felt terrible, but we were so happy they let us do it the second time. This little trip was worth the wait. It was the perfect amount of time and effort. They have snacks and a bathroom at a store where you check in, in case you're wondering. They also take you to a state park area where there are bathrooms. Our guide had a degree in zoology, so the tour was informative. The equipment (including life jackets) was clean and well-maintained. read more
8 years ago
Great time. Joe was a great guide. It was a fun adventure as well as a learning experience
5 years ago
My family (2 adults and our 4 kids ages 9-23) had reservations for the 3 hour tour. About 30 minutes into it my 12 year old and I quickly became sick. We were unable to continue and lagged behind our group which continued on without us to where we lost sight of them. The next group came up and that guide told us we needed to stay up with our group. I let her know we were feeling very sick. I assumed she would radio to our guide since he had no idea what happened to one of the kayaks he was responsible for. My husband wound up being the one to let our guide know his wife and daughter were no longer around and finally our guide realized he was missing 2 people and radioed for someone. My husband turned around and got to us (after around 20 minutes sitting and vomiting overboard we attempted to turn around and head back since it didn't seem like anyone realized we were missing). A rescue kayak got to us and this girl was AMAZING! We were so sick and worthless for paddling. She threw a chain onto our kayak and got us back to the beach quickly. Rescue girl gets 5 stars. Our guide having no idea what happened to a kayak in his group is inexcusable. We were completely out of sight for at least 20 minutes! read more
13 years ago
A few weeks ago I vacationed in the UP and KNEW I wanted to kayak. I had only kayaked once before in the ocean and through the mangroves in Florida. When I called to book my 4.5 Hour Kayaking Tour I explained that I was a novice and was very clear about my single kayaking experience. The lady on the other end of the phone seemed to take note. She explained what was included, including dry bags. I also told her that it was just me: kayaking for one! The charge was $99. The next day there was a charge for $198 on my bank statement. I contacted Uncle Ducky, and they explained they had charged me for two. I reiterated that I only booked for one, and they reversed the $99 difference. I never really got instructions on where to meet the kayaking tour folks, but some searching on their website and on other (non-Yelp) reviews suggested the meet-up place was at the Visitor's Center. Still, the area was unfamiliar to me and I wanted to be sure. I tried calling Uncle Ducky's several times (the reception out there is bad) and FINALLY got through. I was at the Visitor's Center, but unsure if I had to walk somewhere nearby. The same lady who registered my trip answered, and told me that I needed to go to the "Interpretive Center - - NOT the Visitor's Center." So in a panic I drove up and down the nearby roads looking for the Interpretive Center. I eventually stopped at the Park Office, interrupted a Park employee, and asked (she was very gracious and even gave me a map). So where was the meeting point? The VISITOR'S CENTER, where I was originally. Ohhhh boyyyy! Once I found the Uncle Ducky girls with the kayak on top of their truck (though maybe having it marked "Uncle Ducky Kayaking Tours" would be helpful...), we caravanned over to the launch point. The girls running the operation handed us paddles, skirts, and then stated that they didn't know where the dry bags were and "Does anyone really need them?". Everyone responded that they did. One of the girls told the other that the dry bags were in the other truck, so "the other" went to retrieve them. Everyone got a dry bag except for me. I had to insist on getting one since I had electronics with me. "The other" girl begrudgingly obliged (she had to make an extra trip up the beach and to the parking lot to retrieve another one). I was the only single with 8 others (so 9 of us total). Thus, everyone had double kayaks and I had a single. When I was pulled out into the water I almost tipped. They didn't give me a NON-tipping kayak, though I told them when I registered that I'm a novice and have kayaked only once before?! I envisioned my demise by drowning, as I was rocking left and right (not to mention front and back in the choppy water). Every muscle in my body was tense trying to not rock the kayak. I did end up getting the general hang of steadying myself, but was pretty terrified for most of the trip, especially as the waves and wind increased. The worst part? Getting marooned on rocks. Yep... My entire kayak was pushed sideways (parallel to the water) up onto a shallow rock bed and I couldn't get myself off. Our guide had gone off, close to the head of the pack, talking about the scenery and rocks with other kayakers. Thankfully two women in my group noticed my kayak getting pushed by the waves onto the rocks. I was petrified and didn't know what to do.... Oh god, am I going to tip? Should I try to get OUT of the kayak? They helped free me, which took about 10 minutes. AFTER they helped get me off the rocks and back into the lake, THEN our guide showed up. Our guide was a NICE girl and was knowledgeable about a sunken ship and, uh, how the colors ended up in the Pictured Rocks and what mineral corresponded to what color, but she wasn't very attentive of the people in the group. She didn't give us information about, oh, what to do if you tip, or what happens if you get marooned on rocks or any other possible dangers. She did ask how I was doing a few times earlier in the trip, but that was about it. The women who saved me from the rocks remarked several times (to me) through the rest of our trip that (1) they thought it was ridiculous I wasn't given a non-tipping kayak, and (2) that our guide was so absent and generally inattentive. Our 4.5 hour trip actually ended up being only 2 hours (1pm-3pm). I'm not sure whether to be angry about paying $99 for 2 hours of terrifying kayaking, or being thankful that it was only 2 hours and I avoided drowning in Lake Superior during that time. Would I kayak with Uncle Ducky in the future? Hellllls no! I feel like EVERYTHING that I communicated on the phone while registering went unheeded and that, despite instructions on how to paddle, we were pretty much plopped in the water and left to our own devices. I'm a pretty adventurous, athletic, and resilient person, but I felt they were really flighty (dare I say negligent???) in how they conducted their business. read more
More info about Paddling Michigan
1331 W Munising Ave
Munising, MI 49862
Directions
(906) 387-1695
Call Now
Visit Website
http://www.paddlingmichigan.com
Hours
What time does Paddling Michigan open?
Paddling Michigan opens at 8:00 AM on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
What time does Paddling Michigan close?
Paddling Michigan closes at 8:00 PM on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
Mon-Sun 8:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Payment methods
Does Paddling Michigan take credit cards?
Yes, Paddling Michigan takes credit cards.
Outdoor Amenities
Does Paddling Michigan have bike parking?
Yes, Paddling Michigan has bike parking.
Does Paddling Michigan have parking?
Yes, Paddling Michigan has parking options. Private Lot Parking
From the Business
Specialties
Guided Sea kayaking tours at Michigan's Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore and Grand Island, 7 daily trips at the Pictured Rocks. All day, 1/2 day, and a paddle and hike and a 2.5 hour tour. Pets are not allowed in the National Park however of have a kennel at our store that is free to kennel you pet while paddling with us.
History
Established in 1994.
Established in 1994 as a fishing charter service in Marquette, Michigan by William Duckwall a previous marina owner and retired Airline Pilot Uncle Ducky Outdoors starting the paddling business by renting canoes and kayaks. As the popularity of kayaking grew the Pictured Rocks guided tours were added and that has become our primary business. As of 2013 Paddling Michigan has over 100 kayaks and can handle groups up to 50 in number at a time. Also, in 2013 an ecommerce website was added as was the Necky line of kayaks and Old Town canoes.
Meet the Business Owner: William D.
Paddling Michigan is owned by William and Suellen Duckwall
Ask the Community - Paddling Michigan
Review Highlights - Paddling Michigan
“They do provide a "light meal" that you'll be enjoy on mosquito beach where there's a cool little waterfall to explore.”
Mentioned in 7 reviews
Why does Yelp recommend reviews?
8 reviews that are not currently recommended
The reviews below are not factored into the business's overall star rating.
9 years ago
Ordered the paddler's choice ($154) for two, which is a 7 hours long trip with lunch on July 2nd. Upon arrival, they told us that they needed to downgrade my trip to 4 hours grand island trip due to the potential weather condition (sunny the whole time) and promised me to refund the difference. Logically, I would expect ($154x2 - $109x2) + tax credit back to my credit card. Unfortunately, uncle ducky is un-shamefully ignoring the matter. There are other kayaking company in the area. Go elsewhere or expect getting rip off if your weather turn out not ideal. Nevertheless, the crew and trip lead were nice. It's just sad that they worked for an owner who scams. read more
7 years ago
Do NOT book a vacation package through them!!!! I canceled my trip in the allotted time for a full refund due to moving out of state for a job transfer. Turns out it was never canceled, it was REBOOKED for a year later and the only way I knew was I happened to answer my phone and they asked if I was going to be there by 8pm, I told then I cxl'd this trip. They called me back the next day and apologized stating my trip was in fact canceled. Double checked with the credit card company...nope....almost $2000 for a trip never used. I'll be contacting my cc company to dispute these charges. BUYER BEWARE...STAY AWAY!!!!! read more
8 years ago
We were late due to our own stupidity (clocks not changing) and the staff member at Uncle Ducky's moved us to the evening kayaking tour at no extra cost. Our guide (Grant) was super friendly and we had an unforgettable time. I didn't want the tour to end. I usually don't write reviews but I had a wonderful time and I wanted to offset some of the bad reviews here. I think some people don't realize that the guides cannot control the weather or the conditions of the water and can only prepare you so much. Sometimes you have to wipe up to learn how to handle yourself better. Would definitely use them again!! read more
7 years ago
We canceled our trip, I was told no problem everything was canceled. My credit card was charged for $1780.00 and the refund never came back. I emailed Eric, a different person than I cancelled the trip with, and received a cancellation email. Now my text emails are being ignored and if they think I'm just going to ignore that they kept my money and provided 0 services they are sadly mistaken. I urge you to find something else to do in Michigan and not risk dealing with shady people that deliberately do dishonest things to keep your hard earned money. read more
6 years ago
My group of 10 did the tandem kayaking tour from 3-9p and my group had nothing short of an amazing experience. Our guide Jen was knowledgable, fun, professional, and relatable. She made our group feel comfortable with the kayak techniques and she made our experience unforgettable. The shuttle service was also very accommodating since we were a bit late to our tour. Overall an excellent experience, will definitely be back for another tour and we will certainly be requesting Jen again. read more
7 years ago
buyer beware!!!!!!!!!!! do not book a vacation through this group. they are a crooked, underhanded, dishonest company. i'm out almost 1800 because i canceled my trip, they rebooked it without notifying me and then said i did a no show. please spread the word until they are shut down you should not be allowed to stay in business when you steal peoples hard earned money!!!!!! read more
11 years ago
Bad. Really, really, bad. They will take you out in treacherous water just to keep your money.
7 years ago
Terrible operation with rude and inexperienced staff. Spend your money somewhere else.
Paddling Michigan - rafting - Updated September 2026
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