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Treasure Islands

Thereu2019s a reason theu00a0Slate Islandsu00a0are a perennial favourite amongst Naturally Superior Adventures guests. Paddling this archipelago located 10 kilometres off the north shore of Lake Superior offers the perfect mix of sheltered paddling and exposed coast, amazing flora, fauna and geology, and rich human history. If youu2019re looking for a novice-friendly trip that captures the best of Lake Superior, the Slate Islands is it!

Treasure Islands

Woodland caribou, an endangered species, are common at the Slate Islands.

Paddling conditions: Evidenced by their donut-like shape, the Slate Islands were formed when the Earthu2019s crust rebounded from a meteorite impact 500 million years ago. This unique landform produces perfect paddling conditions: The islandsu2019 parentheses-like shape creates bombproof shelter for calm-water paddling in all conditions within the inner islands, while the outer coast features rugged headlands and broad gravel beachesu2014testaments to Lake Superioru2019s powerful autumn storms. Regardless of the weather, thereu2019s always paddling to be had.

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Treasure Islands

Cruising the outer coast of the Slates, under the gaze of the Slate Island lighthouse.

u00a0Natural heritage: The Slates are best-known for woodland caribou, a species at risk in Ontario. Because of the islandsu2019 isolation, a remnant population of caribou still inhabits the Slates. Numbers vary from 100 to 600 animals, related to the boom and bust cycles of vegetation. This u201cclosed systemu201d has given wildlife biologists a natural laboratory to study population dynamics. Certain arctic/alpine plant species, including mountain avens, encrusted saxifrage and birds-eye primrose, also thrive in the Slates isolation. Thatu2019s because Lake Superioru2019s perpetually cool waters create a microclimate for these cold-adapted species, whose lineage dates back to the last ice age. Meanwhile, rockhounds canu2019t get enough of the Slatesu2019 unique geologyu2014including flaky, slate-coloured rocks known as u201cshatterconesu201d (formed by meteorite impact) and abandoned gold and copper mines.

Treasure Islands

Encrusted saxifrage is an arctic/alpine plant typically found 1,600 km north of Lake Superior.

Cultural history: Adolph King, the son of Slate Island lighthouse keepers, told colourful stories of growing up on Patterson Island at the turn of the 20th century. King and his brothers regularly made the 10-kilometre crossing to the mainland town of Jackfish, then a bustling railway town, by rowboat. Often, the boys returned to their island home in darkness, steering by their wits and the woefully inadequate light of a kerosene lantern. The Kingu2019s lighthouse still stands sentinel on the Slate Islandsu2019 south shore, offering modern-day visitors a glimpse of a long-lost lifestyle.

Read adventure bloggers Dave and Debu2019s (aka The Planet D) report on their adventures at the Slate Islands.

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Facing Waves at Naturally Superior Adventures

In the fall of 2013, paddlesports media icon Ken Whiting and a film crew for Facing Waves, anu00a0Outside Television series, arrived at Naturally Superior Adventures to capture the beauty and thrill of sea kayaking on Lake Superior. The inland sea and northern Ontariou2019s scenic Algoma Country delivered exactly what Whiting was looking for: A mix of calm and rough water paddling, stunning sunsets, an intense wildlife encounter and wilderness day hiking to complement the paddling adventures.

Naturally Superior Adventures capitalizes on one of the most diverse paddling environments in the world. Lake Superior presents numerous options for day- and multiday sea kayak touring in a variety of water conditions and the Michipicoten River affords lots of shelter from wind and waves. This segment also shows Sinclair Cove, a secluded, island-pocked inlet in Lake Superior Provincial Park thatu2019s located a short paddle from the Agawa Rock pictographs, and a short clip outlining the regionu2019s wonderful array of hiking trails.

Many paddlers come to Lake Superior with the intention of experiencing its notoriously fickle moods. Indeed, Naturally Superior Adventures is renowned amongst rough-water sea kayakers and surf kayakers. Michipicoten Bay boasts conditions for all levels of rough-water paddlers: Surf beaches, rocky cliffs and unique standing waves at the mouth of the Michipicoten River. While the lakeu2019s ocean-like waves are awe-inspiring to behold, theyu2019re most common in the shoulder seasons. As Whiting demonstrates, the strongest memories of most Lake Superior paddlers recall stunning sunsets and misty mornings on glassy-calm water.