Kayaking and Stand-Up-Paddle-Boarding on the North Shore MN

Ever wanted to try paddling a kayak, canoe, or stand-up paddleboard (SUP)? The North Shore Water Festival is your chance! Stone Harbor Wilderness Supply in Grand Marais, MN holds this event during the third weekend in July to introduce people to the sports. 

Schedule of mini-tours and events

The 2021 North Shore Water Festival will be held on Saturday, July 17. The event is held on Lake Superior, in the Grand Marais, MN harbor. Featured events include free mini-tours and demos on kayaks and stand-up paddleboards, live music, and a book signing. 

Saturday, July 17 – 10:00 am to 4:00 pm

• Kayaking tours are offered every half hour starting at 10:30.
• Stand Up Paddle Board tours will be once an hour starting at 10:15.
• Stand Up Paddle Board Yoga is offered in 4 sessions.
• Signing up for the mini-tours in advance is recommended

Reps from Grey Duck SUPs and canoes, Eddyline kayaks, AquaGlide inflatable kayaks, Aqua-Bound, Bending Branches, Cannon/Accent paddles, Nemo, and Primus will be on hand to answer questions about equipment.

Live Music in Harbor Park includes Wild Mountain Thyme on  Friday 4-7 and Brotherless Arms Saturday 1-4.

Sunday July 18  – 10:00am to 3:00pm

• Stand Up Paddle Board Yoga is offered in 3 sessions.
• Signing up in advance is recommended

North Shore Water Festival at the Grand Marais Harbor

The beautiful Grand Marais Harbor on Lake Superior is the hub of all kinds of summer activities. Picture kids throwing rocks, families picnicking and relaxing on the shore, and dogs playing fetch into the water. Plus, it’s in the middle of all of the great shops and restaurants in downtown Grand Marias. 

North Shore Water Festival, Grand Marais, MN

The North Shore Water Festival creates a fun vibe around the harbor with kayaks and SUP’s sprawled out on the beach, people coming and going on the water, guides getting their groups ready to take off onto Lake Superior, and live music on the beach.

Stone Harbor Wilderness Supply offers all kinds of kayak, canoe, and stand-up-paddleboard (SUP) demos and mini-tours for the event. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced paddler there is something for you! Your tour guide will set you up with a boat that is just right for your skill and experience level.

Kayak Demos lined up on shore.

Stone Harbor has some of the best brands including Eddyline, Wilderness Systems, P&H, Pau Hana, and Grey Duck. And there are experts available to answer all of your questions. 

Mini-Tours Around the Grand Marais Harbor

Throughout the day there is a schedule of guided tours around the Grand Marais MN harbor. Kayaking, canoeing, SUP tours, and SUP yoga! It’s best if you pre-register for an activity online, but you can sign up in person as space allows. 

Paddling Across the Grand Marais MN Harbor

After getting suited up in life jackets and into our kayaks the four of us took off into the Grand Marais harbor. 

Kayak tour at the North Shore Water Festival

We paddled across the Grand Marais MN harbor and watched the schooner Hjordis cross our path.

kayaking by the schooner Hjordis, Grand Marais MN

After reaching the rock jetty near the campground, we looped around to get a nice view of the light station. We also caught a glimpse of another group doing SUP yoga! 

SUP Yoga with Stone Harbor Wilderness Supply

Then we leisurely made our way back to shore. It was so easy and fun, and I loved the feeling of bobbing on the water. I’m hooked on kayaking now! 

Check out this video of the North Shore Water Festival!

Stone Harbor Wilderness Supply

Stone Harbor Wilderness Supply offers all kinds of guided tours by land and by sea! Explore Artists Point on a kayak. Paddleboard around an inland lake. Canoe into the Boundary Waters. Take a hiking adventure in the Superior National Forest. And in the winter the guides at Stone Harbor can take you river skiing, ice climbing, ice fishing, and more. Please note that mini-tours around the Grand Marais harbor are only offered during the North Shore Water Festival. 

learning how to stand-up-paddleboard

Stone Harbor Wilderness Supply in downtown Grand Marais offers equipment sales and rentals to get out outside! Everything from paddle sports, camping, backpacking, BWCA gear, backcountry skiing, ice climbing, and more. Check out their high-performance gear and apparel – perfect for your North Shore adventures, and beyond. 

Stone Harbor Wilderness Supply

Tips to enjoy the North Shore Water Festival

• Plan ahead and sign up for the tours you’d like to experience. Walk-ins are welcome based on availability.
• Dress in layers. It is usually colder by the lake
• Stick around and enjoy live music or other water-festival activities such as book signings and film showings.
• Stop into Stone Harbor Wilderness Supply to shop their selection of paddle sports equipment, outdoor gear, high-performance apparel, and everything you need to explore the outdoors!

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