Kayaking Mackinac Island with Glen at Great Turtle Kayak Tours

Nestled between Michigan’s upper and lower peninsula’s lies Mackinac Island. Small and idyllic, Mackinac bustles with visitors during the summer, but offers plenty of beauty year-round. I caught up with Glen, who works seasonally kayaking Mackinac Island (and don’t you dare call it “Mack-in-ACK” – it’s “Mack-in-awe!”). Glen, a longtime seasonal resident, has been working for Great Turtle Kayak Tours for five years and is clearly passionate about taking visitors to explore this beautiful paradise tucked in the corner of Lake Huron. Scroll below to see what drives him and why you too should try kayaking Mackinac Island.

(Want more kayaking? Check out some other Great Lakes kayaking, or maybe try something a little warmer)

How did you get into guidework?

Glen: I’ve been kayaking in the Straits of Mackinac for 35 years and watched Great Turtle Kayak Tours (GTKT) guides take groups out in the harbor, to watch the sunset, and elsewhere on the nearby water so I decided I should do it too. I contacted the guys at GTKT and they welcomed me without hesitation.

Run me through a typical day. What can your guests expect?

Typical day for me might start at 4:30 a.m. getting ready for the sunrise tour that lasts until mid afternoon. Or it might start in late morning and last through sunset. Guests can expect to get instruction on equipment, an overview of where we’ll paddle, and then guidance on which boat is best for their paddling and their fit. My guests also hear about the history of the places we paddle through, including details about what they’re seeing and what they might not be able to see.

Why should I take a trip with you?

Taking a trip with us means expert instruction as well as a history lesson, as well as help navigating through a particularly busy harbor filled with both commercial ferry boats and pleasure boats. Taking a trip with us also means getting intel about what’s safe and what’s not.

What’s the best part of kayaking Mackinac Island? The part that keeps you coming back?

The best part of the job is the people I get to meet; I’ve paddled with so many great folks over the years. I get to teach them a bit about paddling and a bit about Mackinac Island history. I’ve been returning to Mackinac Island for 40 years so I have my own history I can share and folks like that. I also like the work as I get to see the sunrise, the sunset, and everything in between. We watch ocean going freighters passing through our narrow waters; we get to watch the lake otters visit our little cove, and we get to see the water at times that others don’t.

What’s the worst part? The part that feels like work?

The part that feels like work is how it can be physically demanding sometimes; or some visitors can overestimate their prior experience or ability. Some folks are in a rush and don’t appreciate how part of the experience ought to be simply relaxing.

What would you tell somebody wanting to get into guide work?

Don’t wait. Do it now. If you like working with people and you like the activity, it’s a great gig and the sooner you start the sooner you’ll realize the upsides.

You can find Glen kayaking Mackinac Island this summer at Great Turtle Kayak Tours.

Do you know a guide who should be featured? Whether they raft, dive, hike, bike, boat, float, walk or talk – if they lead guided trips – they deserve to be featured. Send me an email to thelivelost@gmail.com or message me on Instagram here.