Shortly after launching at Schauer Park looking northeast
Paddling south towards Cave Point with houses along the shore
Rock formations begin to form along the shore
More rock formations, the beginning of Cave Point County Park, and the water is getting rougher
Rough water
Close-up of one of the caves
Heading north
Door County – Cave Point
Cave Point is one the most popular places to kayak in Door County with local liveries offering rentals and guided tours. The water is very clean but winds greatly affect the quality of the trip.
The best place to launch is Schauer Park which is to the north of Cave Point. The trip started out calm as the bay shields against the wind, which was 10-15 mph blowing from the south. Once the private property ended, the rock formations along the shore appeared as the park came into view. The water also became a lot more choppy with high waves.
Due to the conditions, I was able to get great views of the caves but could not go in them due to high waves and “kickback” from the shore. Once I got to the end and headed north, the trip was still rough but a lot easier as I was traveling with the wind.
Overall it’s a scenic paddle but a lot shorter than other Great Lakes trips such as Meyers Beach at the Apostle Islands or Pictured Rocks. The cliffs are also a lot lower with a max height of about 20 feet. When making the trip I’d recommend attempting when the winds are less than 10 mph or the trip will be very rough.
- Door County Adventure Center
- Peninsula Kayak Company
- Door County Kayak Tours
- Cave Point Paddle & Pedal
Thanks Peter for the review! WisconsinRiverTrips.com is always very appreciative of guest reviews, and if you the reader is ever interested in submitting one, you can use this online form.
Note to readers, Lake Michigan can be dangerous. Paddlers are advised to carefully monitor forecasts for wind and waves, and to stay off if they look rough. Ideally wind is less than 8 mph and waves less than a foot. Waves will typically be strongest in the afternoon and if the wind direction is blowing toward shore. Sample wave forecasts include Windy.com, NOAA, and Buoyweather.com. Water temperature can also be very cold, especially further from shore. Water will be warmest July to September.
Trip Map
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