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Carbiou Expeditions

Paradise an hour drive from the city.

By Mike and Colleen Petzold Mike and Colleen Petzold, owners of Caribou Expeditions, are avid paddlers who have lived in the North for over two decades

August 22, 2023

Editor's Note: Caribou Expeditions is no longer operating as of 2023.

"From our base on Lake Superior in Northern Ontario (since 1994) we provide guided sea kayak and canoe tours, white-water river trips, including wilderness overnight camping, lodge-to-lodge kayaking, kayak instruction, and outfitting."

Mike and Colleen Petzold, owners of Caribou Expeditions, are avid paddlers who have lived in the area for over two decades. In addition to our local excursions, we frequently kayak the St. Lawrence and the Barrier Reef in Belize. Mike Petzold, Owner and Guide Mike founder of Caribou Expeditions, 1994, and former professional biologist, has been guiding for over a decade. Having received four star certification from the British Canoe Union, as well as Instructor Certification from paddling Canada. Colleen Arvisais, Owner and Guide Colleen has guided trips along Lake Superior and the St. Lawrence for the past twelve years. A professional Forestry Technician (recently retired), she enjoys hiking, kayaking, birding and vegetarian cooking. She is a certified First Aid/CPR Instructor and holds a Four Star British Canoe Union certification.

Their guides are experienced outdoors people with decades of paddling experience, certified in first aid, and are advanced paddlers with high levels of certification from the BCU and/or Paddling Canada.

Conor Mihell, Adventure GuideConor Mihell brings Greenland-style paddling to the North Shore of Superior. He is trained as a sea kayak guide and instructor under AECSKO and CRCA. A graduate of environmental science at the University of Guelph and a prolific outdoor writer, he ha been paddling SLake Superior as well as other exotic destinations for the past decade.

Bruce Lash, Adventure GuideBruce Lash, is a senior instructor with the British Canoe Union. Bruce has been paddling and instructing for over two decades, and was former owner of Lake Superior Kayak Adventures.

Caribou Expeditions are proud members of Paddling Ontario, Paddling Canada, and the Sault Ste. Marie Chamber of Commerce.

5 Sea Kayak Day Trips!

Just an hours' drive north of Sault Ste. Marie, Lake Superior offers exceptional coastal kayaking for all skill levels. From Voyageurs' Lodge we transport you to the put-in and have a van waiting at the take-out so there is no need to back-track. Each trip is planned to take advantage of prevailing winds for the day and are suitable for all skill levels - the pace is relaxed to accommodate beginners and families in tandem kayaks. Note: tandem kayaks are used unless person has completed Sea Kayak Basics (3 hrs), or has equivalent paddling skills. Youth (<16 yrs), 50% off.

Tour S1a: Batchawana Island, Lake Superior
1 day, 18 km (11 mi)

Just 60 km from the city of Sault Ste. Marie, paddle the sheltered waters of Batchawana Bay, Lake Superior. Bald eagle, osprey, beaver and mink are seen along this shore. We kayak to Harmony Bay where a van will transport us back to the starting point

Tour begins with basic sea kayak instruction, and offers an introduction to sea kayaking.

Trip at a Glance :
Dates: Saturdays, beginning June 21
Departure: Voyageurs' Lodge, Batchawana Bay at 9:00 a.m.
Price: $140 CDN (taxes included)
Level: Beginner/Novice
Distance: 18 km
Duration: 1 days
Included: kayaks, guides, lunch, shuttle
Not Included: Personal gear
Note: Ideal for novice paddlers

Itinerary

The evening prior to the trip, accommodation is available at the Voyageurs' Lodge on Batchawana Bay (60 km or 36 miles) north of Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario. Please inform us and we will book this accommodation for you. For those who prefer to camp Pancake Bay Provincial Park is 5 km north of the lodge.

9:00 a.m. Tour begins at the Voyageurs' Lodge on Batchawana, with one hour of basic training (paddle strokes, turning, and safety procedures).
10:00 a.m.-12:00 Paddle to Batchawana Island. Short (100 metre) portage across the narrow isthmus
12:00 -1:00 p.m. Lunch on the island
1:00 -3:00 p.m. Paddle to the Flower Pot Islands to view heron colony
3:00 p.m. Rest break on the Island
3:30-5:00 p.m. Take out at Harmony Bay, and return by van to the Park

Tour S1b: Pancake Bay to Mamainse, Lake Superior
1 day, 16 km (10 mi)

From Pancake Bay Provincial Park, Lake Superior (65 km from Sault Ste. Marie) we paddle north, at a relaxing pace, along the open coast of Lake Superior. We end our sea kayak trip near the rugged lava flows of Mamainse, for return tranpsortation to the park.

Tour begins with basic sea kayak instruction, and offers a good introduction to sea kayaking.

Trip at a Glance :
Dates: Saturdays and Mondays, Beginning June 30
Departure: Voyageurs' Lodge, Batchawana Bay at 9:00 a.m.
Price: $140 CDN (taxes included)
Level: Beginner/Novice
Distance: 16 km
Duration: 1 days
Included: kayaks, guides, lunch, shuttle
Not Included: Personal gear
Note: Ideal for novice paddlers

Itinerary

9:00 a.m. Meet at Voyageurs' Lodge and drive to Pancake Bay Provincial Park bordering Lake Superior (10 minute drive) to begin one hour of basic training (paddle strokes, turning, and safety procedure).
10:00 a.m.-12:00 Paddle north on Lake Superior to the beautiful sand beach at Sawpit Bay.
12:00 -1:00 p.m. Lunch at Sawpit Bay.
1:00 -2:30 p.m. As we kayak along the coast, you will observe beautiful conglomerate outcroppings among the black lava flows.
3:00 p.m. Rest break
3:30-5:00 p.m. Take out at the sheltered beach near Mamainse for return transportation by van to Pancake Bay Provincial Park.

Tour S1C: Mica Bay - Alona Bay, Lake Superior
1 day, 16 km (10 mi)

Lake Superior from Mica Bay to Alona Bay is one of the most scenic coastal sections of eastern Lake Superior (85 km from Sault Ste. Marie). We paddle in a figure eight loop, passing secluded coves, and sheer granite rock faces.

Tour begins with basic sea kayak instruction, and offers a good introduction to sea kayaking.

Trip at a Glance :
Dates: Wednesdays, beginning July 2
Departure: Voyageurs' Lodge, Batchawana Bay at 9:00 a.m.
Price: $150 CDN (taxes included)
Level: Beginner/Novice
Distance: 16 km
Duration: 1 days
Included: kayaks, guides, lunch, shuttle
Not Included: Personal gear
Note: Ideal for novice paddlers

Itinerary

9:00 a.m. Meet at Voyageurs' Lodge and drive to our put-in at Alona Bay (25 minute drive) where we begin basic training (paddle strokes, turning, and safety procedures).
10:00 a.m.-12:00 Paddle south along Alona bay to a lava beach at Alona Bay.
12:00 -1:00 p.m. Lunch
1:00-5:00 p.m.

As we kayak along the coast, we reach a large granite headland at south end of Alona Bay, and continue through a series of narrow channels and small granite islands. WE take several break stops along the way. Just before Mica Bay we paddle back to Alona Bay where you will be transported back to Voyageurs' Lodge.

Tour S1d: Pictographs, Agawa Bay
1 day, 12 km (7 mi)

In the heart of Lake Superior Provincial Park, we find ourself facing ancient pictographs of the Ojibway people from the vantage of our kayaks. Mishipehsu, the great horned lynx, is depicted in a spectacular pictograph of the spirit that is Lake Superior. We paddle by the islands of Sinclair Cove and peer into crystalline coves reverberrating with the surge of Lake Superior.

Tour begins with basic sea kayak instruction. Meeting points are in Sault Ste. Marie, Pancake Bay and Agawa Bay where we take on passengers for this special day on Lake Superior

Trip at a Glance :
Dates: Thursdays, beginning July 3
Departure: Water Tower Inn, 8:00 am, Voyageurs' Lodge, Batchawana Bay at 9:00 a.m., Agawa Bay Campground at 10:00 am
Price: $155 CDN (taxes included); For departures from Sault Ste. Marie, add $60
Level: Beginner/Novice
Distance: 12 km
Duration: 1 days
Included: kayaks, guides, lunch, shuttle
Not Included: Personal gear
Note: Ideal for novice paddlers

Itinerary

10:20 a.m. We arrive at Sinclair Cove to begin one hour of basic training (paddle strokes, turning, and safety procedure).
10:30 a.m.- 11:00 explore the cove then paddle south for the short twenty minute paddle to the pictographs. Some pictographs can only be seen by the water; we will discuss the history and cultural significance of the pictographs.
11:00- 12:00 p.m. We will paddle through the small island chain south of the pictographs and return to Sinclair Cove for lunch
1:00pm - 2:30 p.m. We continue north out of the cove to Barret Island. The island has a massive granite resting spot - plenty of time to explore and pick blueberries.
2:30-3:15 p.m. Paddle back to Sinclair Cove for the return van ride (arrive in Sault Ste. Marie at 6:00 pm

Tour R1: Goulais River, Algoma
1 Day, 22 km (13 mi.)

Descending through the densely forested Canadian shield, the Goulais River valley, west of Searchmont, in northern Ontario, offers a leisurely canoeing day trip on mild current, interrupted at times by several rapids. This is a day-trip for those wishing to practice Class II whitewater. We offer this trip as a guided canoe or kayak tour, but canoe and kayak rentals and shuttles are available.

This relaxing day-trip is just a short half-hour drive from Sault Ste. Marie. A great way for a group to enjoy a spring adventure. Given enough notice, we can customize a trip for your own group on alternative dates.

We provide canoes, shuttle and lunch. So relax, meet us at our base and begin your guided canoeing adventure!

Trip at a Glance:
Dates: 2014: May 31, June 1, 7, 8, 15, 21, 22, Sept. 29, Oct. 6
See updated calendar, or call for additional dates.
Departure: Caribou Expeditions, Goulais Bay, 9:00 a.m.
Price: $105 CDN (taxes included)
Level: Beginner/Novice
Distance: 22 km
Duration: 1 days
Included: kayaks, guides, lunch, shuttle
Not Included: Personal gear
Note: Ideal for novice paddlers

Itinerary

This day-trip begins at our base on Goulais Bay (thirty km north of Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, on the Trans Canada, then 11 km west on Hwy 552). Camping is available the night prior to the tour at the at Pancake Bay Provincial Park, just a 60 km north of Sault Ste. Marie on Hwy 17, or a KOA campground just 25 km north of the city. There are numerous lodges and motels in the area.

Day 1. At 9:00 a.m. we assemble at our base on Goulais Bay, get fitted into gear, discuss canoe and kayak safety procedures, load the trailer and transport everyone to the put-in on the Goulais River - west of Searchmont (a forty minute drive). Personal vehicles will be left at our base on Goulais Bay. After our guides demonstrate wet-exits and safety procedures, we guide you down the river valley, stopping for lunch (provided) and several breaks along the way. We arrive at the take-out by 4:00 PM and are back at Goulais Bay by 5:00 p.m. to end our canoe day trip adventure on the Goulais River.