Lake Superior Water Trail
Water Trail Map
The Inland Sea Society and regional and state agency representatives unveiled the Lake Superior Water Trail map Thursday, June 18, 2009, as part of the kick-off to the Inland Sea Kayak Symposium. The Wisconsin Lake Superior Water Trail stretches 400 miles from the City of Superior to the Montreal River at the Michigan border.
The full-color, detailed map guides travelers to safe and legal access and camping sites along Wisconsin's wild and scenic north coast.
Inland Sea Kayak Symposium
During the 2009 symposium, Thursday evening's program highlighted the Lake Superior Water Trail map, as well as a panel of kayakers who have circumnavigated Lake Superior. Rick Hoffman of Illinois, who happened upon the Lake Superior Water Trail map, planned his trip via water to the symposium using the Water Trail Map. Leaving from Superior, Wisconsin, Rick got off the water at the symposium, and talked about his experiences using the Water Trail Map.
The Inland Sea Kayak Symposium combines food, art, and kayaking - all with a commitment to community and sustainability. Organized by the Inland Sea Society, the symposium offers kayak instruction, guided Apostle Island tours, seminars, presentations, and loads of fun and food. The four-day event is held at Thompson's West End Park in Washburn.
Completion of the Map
The National Park Service's Rivers and Trails Program partnered with the Inland Sea Society, a conservation organization, to organize a local advisory committee to lead the completion of this unique map. Funding was provided by the Wisconsin Coastal Management Program and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management under the Coastal Zone Management Act, and the National Park Service Challenge Cost Share Program. Local, county, state, and tribal advisors contributed to the final product. Larry MacDonald, Wisconsin Coastal Management Council (WCMC) chairperson and mayor of the City of Bayfield, recently commented that "The Wisconsin Coastal Management Council (WCMC) is pleased to have assisted the funding for the new Wisconsin Lake Superior Water Trail map. The map provides valuable information on area resources and safety tips for paddlers."
Online Resources
The Northwest Regional Planning Commission (NRPC) supported the project and completed a detailed survey of the public access points identified in the Water Trail Map. The map and report is online on the NRPC website in a user friendly book format. The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources also supported the project and will be posting the map to their website in mid-June.