Guided Trips & Events☀️🐻🌲

Summer/Fall 2025 trips with Maddy (me)

Hi there, I’m Maddy and I work as an outdoors guide/ freelance writer! I’ve got four years of experience as a Lake Superior sea kayaking guide, plus two years guiding and paddling on the West Coast, and I’m stoked to show you around!

quick note: Check back here for more trips as they’re added for summer/fall 2025.

These are guided trips: I will be instructing, cooking, and teaching basic backcountry skills! for questions about the trips below, email me at hello [at] madelinemarquardt.com

For private sea kayak guiding in the Apostles for summer ‘26, you can reach out to me at hello@madelinemarquardt.com! Group minimum for a trip like this is six (or willing to pay for up to six spots to keep it private) or for a larger group minimum ten. I have some limited availability, but I’m also happy to help set you up with another qualified guide :)

DAY TRIPS!!! SUNSET & SEA CAVES CORNUCOPIA, WISCONSIN: August 2 (5 spots), August 16 (7 spots)

I’ve been working as a sea kayaking guide since 2018, and for a long time people have been asking if there’s a way to book a day trip with me— for the first time ever, I’m offering three custom sea kayaking day trips near the Apostle Islands in summer 2025! These trips follow the route of the Romans Point Sea Caves Trip (please read policies+ about the trip before booking!) with Lost Creek Adventures, with the only differences being that I’ll be your guide, and we’re going for an evening paddle with a picnic dinner instead of lunch!

Scenes from Roman's Point!

The Roman’s Point route takes you through a scenic slough with floating islands (and carnivorous plants!) past scenic beaches, through red rock sea caves, and eventually into Cornucopia, Wisconsin. This trip is a point to point, meaning you never have to paddle back the way you came, and perhaps my favorite day trip route on Lake Superior.

Note that these are quite literally just the normal guided trips I’ve run commercially in the summer for Lost Creek Adventures, just that you can book with me directly. I’m making my normal guide wage for this trip, and so will any co-guide out with me! Guides depend on tips, so please consider budgeting for guide tips!

WOMEN’S ROCK CLIMBING September 21, Tettegouche State Park, MN (4 spots left!)

Come join me and the Climb Forged out at Tettegouche State Park in Minnesota to rock climb over Lake Superior! This trip was a blast last year and is sure to be fun this year as well. This is a beginner-friendly activity! I’ll be organizing group camping and a Saturday hiking Friday/Saturday night for anyone who wants to join and hang out as a group.

I usually photograph this event and share images in a Google Drive after! It’s always a really fun time and a great way to make outdoorsy friends!

(Please bring a tip for our climbing guides Mason & Annika on this trip! 10-20% is typical, or $20 on a day trip like this!)

FAQs:

Q: Do I have to have previous kayaking/camping experience?

Not at all! Plenty of people hop on these trips without ever having camping before, and these trips are a really good way to dive right into the world of outdoor/backcountry travel. It matters far more that you’re stoked to be outside and ready to learn and be part of a team than that you have previous experience. Plus, that’s quite literally what I’m here for :)

Q: What level of physical fitness is required for these trips?

Moderate, depending on the trip. We can accommodate a lot of injuries but shoulder injuries are really hard when paddling. Overall, expect to paddle hard occasionally, and for it to be sometimes challenging and other times really pleasant and peaceful. Probably it will feel like a mental challenge some times, but when you’re finished you'll look back and thing wow, I really did that.

The Apostle Islands overnight trip tends to be the most typically “hardcore” with higher milage and more complex weather, so if you’re looking for a true wilderness challenge that’s the one for you— it is still absolutely beginner friendly (I often guide kids trips out here too!). The San Juan Islands trip is more cushy with an emphasis on having a very chill time; I would say most levels of physical fitness will enjoy a trip like this. Still, we’ll be on a large tide which means there might be some “hey I need you to paddle as hard as you can for 15 minutes for real, right now, just do it” moments.

*keep in mind shoulder injuries are really, really hard for paddlers, and you’ll be sitting in enclosed cockpit boats while sea kayaking. 250 lbs tends to be the hard limit for who is comfortable and can safely use sea kayaks, but please email me if you have further questions!

Q: What gear do I need for a trip like this?

Great question! A pair of shoes to paddle in (adventure sandals), a pair of shoes for camp, a sleeping bag and pad (can be provided for San Juans trip, I still recommend packing your own, it’s just such personal gear), and clothes to wear throughout the trip. All kayaking specific gear (PFD, paddle) is also provided.

For more info and advice on what to pack for kayaking, click here, but keep in mind you will not need to pack your own life jacket, safety gear, paddle, cooking gear, ect. (unless you want to, then you can!)

Q: What the age ranges? Can I bring a friend? Can I come solo?

Typical age range on these trips is truly 15-80, with the highest concentration of ages in the mid-twenties to late-thirties range. All in all, it’s always made for a really fun crew!

Most people come solo, but bringing a friend/daughter is totally fine too, and there’s always one or two groups that come with a friend. Generally, that doesn’t change the vibe at all and we still operate as one cohesive fun group!

Q: Can you accommodate my dietary restrictions?

Yes, pretty much always (unless you have something really specific and know that we can’t). Gluten free, vegetarian, vegan is pretty much no problem BUT I always recommend bringing your own extra snacks to have with you. We have snacks, but you’re going to want your own snack that you want when you’re paddling all day and hungry. For example, I always pack a cool mint cliff bar and sour patch kids for myself every day of a kayak camping trip, because I just don’t want beefy jerky and trail mix. I want to rot my teeth out.

Q: What will the trips be for 2026?

TBD! I’ve got a lot of big life events impending in 2026 + more writing projects, which means I’ll be rejingling how and how many group trips I’m running and guiding! I’ll definietly still be offering some sort of overnight sea kayaking in the Apostle Islands, but what that will look like in practice is still in the works.