Even Experienced Paddlers Don’t Dare Visit This Near-Shore Lake Superior Island

Many who enjoy the Great Lakes do so on simple paddleboats and canoes. However there is one spot on the lakes were visiting a near-shore island is not advised even by those who are experienced and expert paddlers.

The location is in Lake Superior and the Huron Islands National Wildlife Refuge. While the islads are just 3 miles offshore, it's not advised to take a boat venturing there under your own power.

The question came up recently on the Yooper subreddit of Reddit dedicated to Michigan's Upper Peninsula. The poster asked if anyone had ever paddled out to the Huron Islands. (And yes, the Huron Islands are in Lake Superior - we're confused, too.)

It's Likely Not Safe to Paddle to the Huron Islands of Lake Superior

The answer was a resounding and emphatic "don't do it."

Here's why: the Great Lakes, and perhaps Superior most of all, are vast inland seas with always changing conditions and often high surf and waves making paddling and canoeing dangerous.

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Commenters say:

A buddy and I camped on the beach to the east of the Huron's mouth and took a canoe out on the lake just for a joyride and got swamped almost immediately. It's a very shallow sandbar near the mouth and the waves can get pretty nasty with the south wind.

Regardless of the location, I would never ever recommend a 4+ mile paddle out into Lake Superior. Do not do it.

Don’t do it. We canoed to an island a mile out on L Superior (Apostle Islands). Weather turned; barely made it back. Ranks as one of the stupidest things I have done

Do not do it. I went out to the islands in a small fishing boat. Nice ride out, calm, scenic, but then the wind shifted and we had big waves coming back in. It was a very fast change. If you can get out there in a safer way, it is a very cool place to explore!

What It's Like to Visit the Huron Islands

But getting to the Huron Islands safely, likely on a motorized boat and helmed by an experienced captain? What awaits may be like little else in the Great Lakes.

The Huron Islands are a chain offshore from the mouth of the Huron River between Skanee and Big Bay - one of the most vastly unpopulated sections of the UP. The largest of the islands include Lighthouse Island, Macintyre Island and Gull Island with a smaller half-dozen or so other islands making up the Hurons.

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The refuge is overseen by the US Fish and Wildlife Service and describe the sanctuary:

The refuge was established in 1905 as a refuge and breeding ground for migratory birds and other wildlife, especially the herring gull, which had large nesting colonies on the islands. These early bird sanctuaries were vital for several species of birds, including the herring gull, whose populations had been drastically reduced by plume hunters and egg collectors in the 1800s and early 1900s. All islands are closed to the public except for Lighthouse Island.

As for getting to Lighthouse Island, there are no standard commercial tours and the refuge website offers precautions about sailing from docks in L'Anse and Big Bay.