Detroit River Urban Kayaking Trip July 24-27
Sponsors: Kathy Blumer, Rob Blumer & Kathy Estes (Assisted by David & Susan Nord)
Trip Level 3 (Coastal Kayaking)
Join us for an urban kayaking experience on the Detroit River. Participants will paddle international waters between Canada and the United States and can expect to see the dynamic Detroit skyline, the busy Ambassador Bridge, the nearly completed new Gordie Howe bridge, freighters and ships from many countries, factories that crowd up to the seawalls, and natural areas that are home to many types of birds.
This HCKC sponsored trip is structured as a set of four (4) sequential day trips that will average 10-15 miles per day. Conditions will vary each day, including open water under the bridges, sheltered canals, coves and inlets on islands of varying size, and busy shipping channels to cross.
Due to the weather and other factors, the itinerary and sequence will be finalized closer to the trip date and is subject to change in order to maintain kayaker safety.
Dates
Campers should plan to arrive Wednesday 7/23/25. Day Trips are planned Thursday 7/24/25 thru Saturday 7/26/25 An optional shorter paddle may be added for Sunday 7/27/23 for those who don’t have a long travel day on Sunday.
Experience level
Experience level: HCKC Level 3 (Coastal Kayaking)
Weather and water conditions
Choppy water with reflecting waves from seawalls in some spots, higher waves from freighters and powerboats, shipping channels, limited put-ins and take-outs. Up to 2 MPH current in some spots.
In late July, air temperatures range between 70-85 degrees during the day, rain is possible, water temperature averages 70 degrees.
Group size
Maximum 12 people (Not including trip leaders and helpers).
Camping
Sterling State Park
2800 State Park Road Monroe, Michigan, 48162 (734) 289-2715
https://www.michigan.org/property/sterling-state-park
The only Michigan state park on Lake Erie, Sterling State Park's 1,300 acres offers great recreational opportunities including over one mile of beach, boating, shore fishing on Lake Erie and the fishing lagoons, lakefront camping, wildlife viewing and 6 miles of trails.
Logistics
Trip participants will drive to a different put-in location each day and unload / load boats at that location. Each day trip will start and end from that location (no shuttles).
Sterling State Park is the only camping option in the area, it is located 37 miles from downtown Detroit and 15 miles from Lake Erie Metropark.
Sponsors / Co-Sponsors
Rob, Kathy and Kathy are local to the Detroit area and are experienced paddling in all of the candidate locations. Other local paddlers have been recruited to provide history and commentary on the areas we will be paddling.
Other trip info
Candidate day trips are:
Background image provided by Karl Zemlin www.zemlinphoto.com
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