The Michigan Center for Geographic Information indicates that West Michigan (our immediate region) has 6,881 miles of rivers and streams, most of which are highly accessible for kayak use and provide beautiful paddle trips. Note that this is but a portion of the 51,348 miles recorded for the entire state. We live in a paddler’s paradise, there is no question about it.

Our plan and purpose at Kayak-Kayak is to introduce our friends and fellow paddlers to some of the best of these waters.

Holland is situated among the great “Big Three” major watersheds of the Grand, Kalamazoo and Muskegon Rivers. There are several minor watersheds like the Macatawa and Pigeon rivers. These rivers all have significant historic and economic significance, particularly the  “big three”, they were the site and source of the first major fortunes  made in west Michigan. Notably these fortunes were in the fur trade, in which John Jacob Astor established his first fortune from his Grand Haven headquarters to reinvest in New York City real estate. Then 50 years later the lumber barons took over and made fortunes from the rebuilding of Chicago and several of the eastern cities. In all of this, the rivers played a principal role; to wit: the Big Three rivers were named first and the cities located on their banks took those names later.

Paddling the Grand River will provide access to a multitude of creeks and lakes that feed the river and are being upgraded by Ottawa County Parks and Recreation in a major effort to provide water access to the public. There are short portages to beautiful small lakes and bayous. This river once held a seven mile long log jam during the spring run off in the 1880’s. This passed summer we paddled many of these waters and with the help of the Werner’s paddle we were able to map kayak trails with mileage points for the major rivers in the area. We have these maps available at the store.

Logs remain scattered and submerged throughout the lower Kalamazoo as it meanders to Saugatuck. Take a one hour, three hour or four hour trip down the Kalamazoo as you paddle back into history and through the beautiful Allegan forest. The colors are terrific in the fall.

The Pigeon River like the Kalamazoo brings you back decades to the quiet, environmentally compelling adventure of woods, turtles and all kinds of wild birds. You may wish the services of a birding expert from the local Outdoor Discovery Center to accompany your party. We have teamed up with the Discovery to provide tours and some lectures in 2009.

Kayak-Kayak will be sponsoring Tuesday and Saturday group paddles during the summer. Beginning with a brief orientation about paddling and the paddle trail for the day, we will get on the water mid morning.  We will haul the boats from our store, getting back after lunch. Rentals are available. We also offer group and family rates. There will be a modest organizational and boat handling charge for each kayaker. Please make reservations.

We will haul and handle the boats. It is expected that the cost will be $65 for double occupancy per night; plus a $100 per person organizational fee. We will go out for our meals.

Erie Canal

We scouted the Erie Canal this year and we are tentatively planning a four day paddling trip there. Our goal is to paddle through a series of locks and visited a few of the historic towns along the way. We will arrange local accommodations. We will publish more about this trip as more details are finalized.
Georgian Bay