top of page

Guided kayak adventures on the Great Lakes

Take the path less paddled

Kayak Guide Justin's logo

Sea Kayak Tours of Door County, Wisconsin

Top rated door county outdoor activity TripAdvisor
TravelGreen_Logo.jpg

Why Kayak Guide Justin?

Explore Door County with unique tours designed for travelers looking for authentic, and off-the-beaten path travel experiences with smaller groups, really nice kayaks and a highly trained guide that can offer lots of nature education & local history along the way. 

single person kayaking along forest shoreline
a couple of friends kayaking
Untitled (1)_edited (1).webp
kayak guide leading a group of kayakers in yellow boats
family of kayakers at sunset

Single person kayaks

Enjoy the freedom of paddling your own single-person kayak!  

Small group sizes

Tours are kept small to offer a more personalized experience.

Iconic Door County 

Carefully curated tours that show you the very best nature & scenery.

Expert local guide

Stay safe & learn more on tour with a certified sea kayak instructor & naturalist.

Awesome kayaks

Featuring high-end kayaks with deluxe comfort seats for a more enjoyable tour. 

5-Star Rated on Google & TripAdvisor

"Simply the BEST kayak tour guide in Door County. Justin is a great guide, skilled kayaker, knowledgeable and passionate about Door County...
IMG_4086 (1).webp

Most popular tour

Easy skill level

2 hours

Iconic Door County at its finest with a shipwreck, ancient cliff drawings, island views and tall limestone bluffs. 

IMG_4313.webp

4 hours

Exclusive tour route

Picnic lunch included

A guided kayaking adventure from Washington Island to Rock Island, exploring natural history, geology and beauty of these Great Lakes islands.

IMG_3870.JPG

4 hours

Kayaking & hiking

Picnic lunch included

Kayak and take a short hike on this guided adventure through Door County's #1 state park, includes picnic.

5FE8F9E9-BA40-471F-9232-FC5E2F727F93_1_105_c.webp

3.5 hours

Kayaking & hiking

Eco-tour

From stunning water views to fossil hunting, rocky headlands to sand beaches, this tour captures the best of Door County.

_edited.jpg

2 hours

Eco-tour

Easy skill level

MINK RIVER ESTUARY
ECO-TOUR

Explore one of the world's last remaining freshwater estuaries with a Wisconsin naturalist.

IMG_4875.webp

3.5 hours

Kayaking & hiking

Easy skill level

Kayak the rocky headlands of Cave Point and the largest sand dunes on this side of Lake Michigan for an iconic Door County adventure.

kayakdoorcounty.webp

Tell us what you want to see and we'll suggest the best possible private tour option based upon your skills, preferences, interests as well as your preferred tour date/time. Choose from 2 hour or 4 hour for custom tours. Finally a tour made just for you!

IMG_4875.webp
Top rated door county outdoor activity TripAdvisor
Door County Kayak Tours

5.0

5 star rated on Google

Customer Reviews

"We've been coming to Door County for decades and this was one of our all-time great adventures, thanks to Justin. We were scheduled to explore the Niagara Escarpment, but the wind and waves would have been too much for us. Justin adjusted the plan on the fly, and we went to the calmer side of the peninsula and explored the Mink River estuary. I can't imagine a better guide: Justin's instruction was excellent - we were on the water in no time.

 

Justin really knows the area, every aspect: geology, history, conservation, birds, flora, fauna, the little water-lilies and the huge sweep of forests. He encouraged us gently, kept us moving, and yet we never felt rushed. We talked, but we also listened. We learned about the waterways, and we learned about ourselves and what we could do with an able guide. An amazing adventure with a fabulous waterman. Wherever you might go with him - do it!"

Stewart Hickman. July 2024, 5.0 stars on Google Reviews & TripAdvisor 

SEA KAYAK LESSONS 

Kayak Guide Justin is an ACA Certified Level 3 Coastal Sea Kayak Instructor offering sea kayak classes, team trainings for guides and one-on one coaching for paddlers of all skill levels. Bring your own sea kayak or rent one for your lesson. Classes can be arranged for single or multiple sessions. Class sizes are limited to 5 participants.

solokayaker.webp

4 hours

Ages 16+

Lesson & short tour

SEA KAYAK STARTER COURSE

Want to learn a lifelong hobby that offers a connection to nature, amazing health benefits & endless adventures? Learn to sea kayak! In this 4 hour lesson you'll learn the basics of paddling, how to keep your balance, self-rescue and how to properly use all the equipment. Best thing about this class is that no experience is needed and all the necessary kayaking gear is included with lesson.

IMG_2301.JPG

2.5 days

L3 assessment req'd

May 28-30

8617D88C-60CA-4DA9-AFC9-1BC64538D5AD.jpeg

4 hours

Ages 16+

All skill levels welcome

Here's your chance to get one-on-one coaching from an ACA certified Coastal Sea Kayak Instructor to help you progress and become a proficient sea kayaker. This course is for paddlers of all skill levels to take their kayaking to a higher level. The coaching session will provide customized lesson plan designed for you with lots hands-on time in the water. Up to 5 students allowed per session.

GPTempDownload 36.jpg

2.5 hours

All skill levels welcome

Paddle rental available

INTRO TO THE GREENLAND PADDLE 

The most commonly asked question I get when kayaking is "what kind of paddle is that?" The Greenland paddle is a traditional design in use for over 4,000 years during the evolution of sea kayaking. In just a few hours you'll learn the basic theory & technique with on-water instruction. The benefits of learning this paddle will keep your shoulders safe and extend your kayaking career. Greenland paddle rental included with lesson.

This 3 day course will test & teach your ability to paddle in wind and waves here on the upper Great Lakes. This course can count as your level 3 skills assessment or level 3 IDW instructor workshop for eligible participants. 3 full days of training with lunch breaks and rest breaks with classroom and on-water time. Much of the class will be hands on in the water so please come prepared with functioning equipment. Sea kayaks and gear can be rented but must be arranged in advance. Class is limited to 5 participants.

IMG_4086 (1).webp

A Sea Kayaker's Guide to the Universe

Image by Daniel Prado

Looking for a new way to experience the outdoors? Sea kayaking offers adventure, wellness and peace of mind. Get started here with lessons & coaching.

Kayak Guide Justin is an ACA Certified Level 3 Coastal Sea Kayak Instructor offering sea kayak classes, team trainings for guides and one-on one coaching for paddlers of all skill levels.

Bring your own sea kayak or rent one for your lesson. Classes can be arranged for single or multiple sessions. Class sizes are limited to 5 participants per session.

seniors having fun kayaking in door county on a sunny day

Sea kayaking is an amazing watersport with many healthy benefits and no age limit!
 
 Want to learn more? Join us for an indoor 2-hour class that will cover the basics, inlcude short video of kayaking the Great Lakes as well as a Q&A with a local professional guide at Northeast Wisconsin Technical College as offered through the (DCLIR) Door County Learning In Retirement Program.
 
FInd out more about the DCLIR Program & Register here.

416008c4-729e-486a-9aef-f221e0929d98.webp

Welcome to Door County, Wisconsin—a place where rugged cliffs meet the rolling waves of Lake Michigan, where ancient history is etched into limestone bluffs, and where nature puts on a show in every season. Whether you're a curious explorer, a history buff, or just someone who loves a good sunset over the water, Door County has something special for you!

 

A Land Shaped by Time

Let’s start with the geology—because Door County’s landscape is seriously cool. The backbone of the peninsula is the Niagara Escarpment, a massive limestone formation that stretches from Wisconsin all the way to Niagara Falls. Yep, that same rock that helps create one of the world's most famous waterfalls also forms Door County’s signature cliffs and caves! Over millions of years, wind, waves, and glaciers have carved out dramatic shorelines, hidden sea caves, and rugged rock formations like those found at Cave Point County Park.

 

An Ecological Wonderland

Door County is an outdoor paradise, boasting over 300 miles of shoreline, five state parks, and a mix of boreal forest, wetlands, and inland lakes. It’s a prime spot for spotting rare orchids, migrating birds, and even the occasional fox or white-tailed deer. In the spring and summer, monarch butterflies drift lazily across fields of wild lupine, while in autumn, the peninsula explodes in fiery reds and golds as the maples and oaks put on their annual display. And let’s not forget winter—when the landscape transforms into a snow-covered wonderland perfect for cross-country skiing and silent, snowy hikes.

 

A Rich and Storied Past

Long before Door County became a vacationer’s dream, it was home to the Potawatomi people, who lived off the land and waters here for centuries. French explorers arrived in the 1600s, and by the 19th century, hardy Scandinavian settlers were making a life here, farming, fishing, and building the iconic cherry orchards that are still famous today. But the peninsula’s history isn’t all sunshine and cherries—its waters are also home to over 250 shipwrecks, and offer a glimpse into Door County's past.

 

Come See It for Yourself!

From the towering cliffs of Door Bluff to the tranquil waters of Baileys Harbor, from the quirky maritime history of Sturgeon Bay to the charming villages dotting the coast, Door County is a place where nature and history come together in unforgettable ways. Whether you’re hiking through the forest, paddling along the shore, or just enjoying a classic fish boil under the stars, one thing’s for sure—you’ll want to come back again and again. Ready to explore?

Click on the interactive map below 

Looking for somewhere to go for a hike? Click here for map to find some of the best hiking trails in Door County.​

DCLT_logo 2.png

Offering free public access to many beautiful trails for all skill levels.

Since our inception in 1986, the Door County Land Trust has worked to preserve, maintain and enhance lands that contribute significantly to the scenic beauty, open space, and ecological integrity of Door County. In pursuit of this mission, we have earned a reputation as one of the Midwest’s premier conservation organizations. We have worked with scores of landowners to protect more than 9,100 acres of fields, forests, farmlands, orchards, wetlands and shoreline. We are a local, non-profit, non-governmental organization supported by more than 2,800 households who love Door County and share a concern for its future.

What is eco-travel?

Eco-travel is all about exploring the world while minimizing your impact on the environment you visit by choosing activities that respect nature and local communities. Sea kayaking is a perfect example— a human-powered way to glide silently through the water without engines, pollution or noise and leaves no trace so that others may enjoy the outdoors as well. Kayak Guide Justin is proud to be a member of Wisconsin's Travel Green program and is dedicated to sustainable business practices to support our local community and environment.

TravelGreen_Logo.jpg

Subscribe here for
email updates.

For tour questions
text or call

All other inquiries

Thanks for submitting!

summerfun.JPG
bottom of page
Book Now Book Now