Woods & Waters

We had an amazing, overnight adventure! My partner, daughter, granddaughter, and I spent Saturday and Sunday kayaking with Sue, the owner of Woods & Water. Our guide was excellent and so incredibly well-versed on the history of the area. Kayaking around the islands was beautiful as always. We kayaked a Government Island that is part of Hiawatha National Forest and would be our home for the evening. The outfitter had already set up the tents, and everything was just perfect. We were served a gourmet salmon Poké bowl for dinner that was followed up by to die for brownies with homemade whip cream! ALL the camping materials were provided and the equipment was top notch. In the morning we were treated to a quiche with the best buttery crust! Then back in the kayaks where we paddled back to Hessel. I highly recommend this overnight adventure with Woods & Water!

The sunset/full moon paddle was amazing this past Thursday evening. I drove up from downstate just for this kayak experience and it was all I hoped it would be. Sue and Tim were excellent hosts. Watching the sunset, then waiting for the moon to rise while paddling around the islands was a great combination of exercise with plenty of quiet time to enjoy the incredible natural beauty of the area. I will be back!

Our experience with Woods & Waters was amazing. It was my first time paddling and I was a bit nervous about being too slow or not getting the hang of it. Tim was a great guide, we all cracked jokes in between his informative tour. Everyone was really laid back, I HIGHLY recommend stopping by if you’re in the area (also even if you’re not). It was a highlight of our summer. Thanks again!

An amazing experience from registration to our final goodbyes, I felt cared for, inspired and connected to nature and my fellow travelers and guides. One of a kind experience. This whole trip made my heart sing!

The BEST experience! Was nervous about kayaking on Lake Superior, but Sue and Tim made the entire adventure amazing. They handled all the logistics, provided top notch gear and guidance and made sure we felt comfortable throughout the entire 5 day trip. We saw sooo much more with their guidance than we would have seen on our own. If you want the full Isle Royale experience, I highly recommend Woods & Waters. Sue and Tim are amazing, knowledgeable and FUN!

Great business, great business owners, great retail space, great range of products and services. We went on an excellent 2 hour tandem kayak ride. Sue was super knowledgeable and very helpful getting us in the water. If you’re in the area, you need to make time and stop in and see what they have to offer!

Absolutely incredible trip with the family kayaking Lake Huron. We got to see so much wildlife and beauty after many days of rain and cold weather. We really appreciated Tim's patience and chill attitude while leading us and pointing out different things on our trip out.

The Little Dipper trip took about 2 hours and was the perfect amount of time. Sue was also very accommodating for our group since some tandem kayaked and others soloed and needed wet suits.

The coolest thing of all was seeing a wild Bald Eagle out and about!! Such a chill trip while being immersed in beauty. Totally worth it thanks to Sue and Tim.

My boyfriend, shih-tzu and I loved this place! Friendly and helpful staff with a wealth of knowledge to share for the Huron River and State of Michigan. We will definitely be back and look forward to another adventure with Sue and her exceptional staff. Thank you for an amazing memory! -Britt, Jeno and PJ (Shih-tzu)

Four of us shared a wonderful adventure as part of the Women on Water workshop offered by Woods and Waters in Hessel MI. Our guides, Sue and Mary, were outstanding. They were extremely competent and helpful. The setting, meals, accomodations, and kayaking were first rate. I highly recommend this outfitter and plan to return in the future.

I highly recommend it. I love both Tim and shu, very professional and friendly. We had a very large group doing kayak for very first time they made us so comfortable and we were able to ride it like a pro 😊

Our Little Dipper tour in Les Cheneaux was a wonderful experience. My sister and I were on a birding weekend in the area, and Sue guided us to a variety of habitats to view from the water. Excellent sights and great kayaking tips!

Had an amazing time at the 8:30Am 2 hour tour. My boyfriend and i are beginners and didn't want to be on the water for 4 hours just in case we couldn't handle it. We accidentally scheduled for the wrong day, so when we got there owner was confused. She was nice enough to allow us to stay for that date 2 hour morning tour. And even gave us the option for later or the next day.

Had an amazing time and really enjoyed the experience and would definitely do again.

We had a great time with Sue in our 2 hour tour. She gave us great instructions and we really enjoyed our time with her. Thank you again!

Wow, where to begin? Sue took incredible care of us, from the first time I called. She patiently answered my many questions, and gave a lot of helpful info regarding the area in general, since we were visiting from out of town. Sue made sure we got our tour reserved, even though I was dealing with issues related to spotty cell service. She was not only willing, but excited to accommodate our varied group with folks of all shapes, sizes, skill levels, and comfort levels on the water. The equipment they rent is TOP NOTCH, all newer (some brand new!) and VERY clean. Best rental life jacket I’ve ever used. Tim, our guide, was very patient and kind. He made sure everyone was comfortable with our equipment setup, and that our pace was good for the group. His calm presence was welcoming, and he checked in frequently to see how everyone was doing. These folks have a wealth of knowledge regarding the nature in this area. You will NOT be disappointed if you book a tour with them. Sue and the team love what they do—it really shows. Don’t hesitate to book a tour or rental with them! Thanks again Sue and Tim!

The short review is: This business is the only one you should consider if you are looking to rent/tour in the UP :)

Sue, Tim and Tj are the friendliest and most accommodating people you could find. The services and gear Woods & Waters has to offer is top tier. They also have a quality selection of new camping/backpacking equipment for sale. Truly a one stop shop for anyone traveling to the UP for outdoor activities.

I arrived to their shop with a rental car. The rental company gave me a less than ideal vehicle to transport one of the largest boats in Woods & Waters' fleet. (over 18' tandem sea kayak). I expected the worse, that i would not be kayaking for my trip. But both Sue and Tim helped load and secure the boat. The staff at Woods & Waters made sure I had safe, relaxing, and overall, unforgettable trip. I can't say enough good things about this business!!!

Outstanding WOW Workshop! We loved our personable and knowledgeable guides lead the way on the scenic kayak tours and nature hikes. The chef-curated meals were delicious, and the cozy accommodations on McKay Bay were perfect!

Our Scout Troop did a High Adventure kayak trip here this year with 10 Scouts and 6 adults. Sue, Tim, and Tim were fantastic. I’ve been to the.Boundary Waters, white water rafting, canoeing etc and these folks are the best outfitter I’ve seen. We had a blast on our 2 day paddle: we are all better kayakers, the boys had a blast, and the adults all agree this is worth doing again. Thanks for a top-notch experience!

Great time! Our guide Tim was so nice and you could tell he loves his job. He tailored our trip to our group and never made us feel rushed. Everything was personalized, relaxed, and fun. Will definitely go again!

I’d highly recommend Woods and Waters. I had a great experience on a kayak trip with the owner as our guide taking us around several islands and pointing out interesting sites- an eagle’s nest, baby ducks and deer peeking out at us. Such a beautiful, peaceful place. I felt safe with her help and quality equipment. Thanks for the great trip!

What an awesome place! Owner was fantastic, helpful and welcoming. Tour guide was knowledgeable, fun and easy-going. We had a great kayaking tour and bike rental. 💯 going back next summer. If you want to enjoy the outdoors in Hessel, you’ve gotta go here. Also, cute shop with lots of handy items! What a gem.