Frequently Asked Questions
WHAT IF THE WEATHER IS BAD?
Not all days are bright and sunny. We do paddle in light rain and moderate wind/waves, but of course will not go out if it is unsafe. If the forecast is looking bad, we will be in touch about a delay, rescheduling or refund. Typically weather changes will not be made more than 48 hours in advance. Lake Superior is a cold, deep, unpredictable and uncontrollable body of water. Our primary concern is your safety! Be aware the guide has the final call day of and on site, if the weather is not safe we will not head out. We will contact you by email and/or your listed phone number. Please have your phone on hand near the tour in case we need to contact you.
- Our general weather policy is: relocate, reschedule, refund
1. Relocate - Certain trails or paddle tour launching locations may be unusable due to conditions. If it's still safe to be outside, we will relocate the tour to a safe and open departure point.
— North Shore Kayak tours may be relocated to Two Harbors if conditions on Lake Superior are not safe. It’s a fun, protected paddle, with a shipwreck!
2. Reschedule - If relocation is not possible we will be in touch with you to move your tour date.
3. Refund - If there is no option to relocate or reschedule and the guide has deem the conditions unsafe, a refund will be issued.
— Please note: light rain, fog, cold temperatures, and other such weather are not considered unsafe conditions.
- We reserve the right to cancel or reroute tours up until the last minute due to: weather, safety, or other uncontrollable circumstances.
- We reserve the right to assign a tandem kayak based on the paddling conditions.
- If the forecast is looking bad for your tour date, we may inquire about heading out a day before or after your originally planned tour. Please keep this in mind when booking.
- In the event of adverse weather during a tour, the tour will be ended early for your safety. No refund shall be given for any portions of the tour unused by the customer after departure unless deemed appropriate by the guide.
DO I NEED EXPERIENCE?
- No, all of our tours are beginner friendly! We keep our groups small and typically move at a relaxed pace.
— If you are concerned about the pace of the tour (too fast or slow), we offer private tour options on all of our tours. Just your group and our guide(s).
WHAT ARE THE WEIGHT LIMITS FOR KAYAKING?
- Everyone is built differently, some body shapes fit better than others in our boats. We operate under the kayak manufacturer's guidelines (300 lbs per solo paddler or 550 lbs total for a tandem, add 15 lbs in gear per paddler).
— Generally someone who is 300 lbs or less will fit in our boats.
- We reserve the right to assign a tandem kayak based on the paddler's weight/height.
— Tandems are much more stable than solo kayaks
- Please be honest when providing height and weight measurements. We need this information for appropriate gear sizing. This is for your safety.
What are the PHYSICAL requirements for Kayaking
- You MUST be able to stand up from being seated on the ground without assistance to safely paddle.
- You must be able to enter and exit the kayak without assistance before heading out. During the tour preparation, you will be asked to demonstrate this.
— If you are unable to stand without assistance (from a kayak) while preparing for a tour, the guide reserves the right to cancel all or part of the tour for safety concerns. Please be aware this is for your safety. We most definitely want to share the adventure of paddling with you, but our outmost priority is your safety.
— A 25% refund will be provided for paddlers not able to meet these physical requirements.
— If you feel as though you are unable to perform the above tasks, and you are registered for a tour, please contact us.
- Be aware that any of our activities require the ability to balance without assistance
- Kayaks don’t often tip over, but if they do, you will be required to get in the boat while on the water. Being unable to get back into the boat is a major safety concern. It would require you to swim to shore, which may not be close. A guide will accompany you during this process.
- You do not need to be a swimmer to kayak, but be aware that capsizing does happen.
What is the route for my tour?
- We do not have a set route for any tour. We do have highlights we try and get to, but sometimes paddling speed or weather/water conditions will prevent us from exploring certain areas.
- Please keep your expectations realistic while on tour, we will not risk paddlers safety and equipment damage.
WHAT IS YOUR RESCHEDULING AND CANCELLATION POLICY?
- We do our best to make sure you get out on your Day Tripper of Duluth adventure tour, but we need have a cancellation policy. It's the nature of the business. Click here to view our policy for both rescheduling and canceling day and multi-day tours.
- Day Tripper of Duluth reserves the right to cancel any tour at any time. We do our absolute best to get you out, but sometimes Murphy’s Law applies. You will be refunded or rescheduled if this happens.
What kind of kayaks do you use
- We use a variety of kayaks from various manufacturers. They are all day touring/sea kayaks with a minimum length of 14.5 feet. All of our boats have a full deck and smaller cockpit. Due to the unpredictable nature of Lake Superior we only use boats that are able to paddle safely in waves and wind.
- Most tours use tandem kayaks. This is an industry standard on large, unpredictable bodies of water across the globe. This is for your safety. As a bonus, tandems are faster, so we get to see more neat stuff!
- Our guides have complete authority to assign boats as they deem fit. Just remember you are paddling in water that averages 42 F, that is cold.
What are the PHYSICAL requirements for Other tours
- Canoeing requires the same physical abilities as kayaking. Some body shapes fit more comfortably in canoes due to the open structure of the boat.
- Hiking, snowshoeing, and cross country skiing have no restrictions. Please let us know you abilities so we can plan an appropriate route!
- Biking and fat biking require decent balance. The Duluth area is not flat, so you will be required to ride or walk up hills. It can be a strenuous workout, so expect to sweat and work hard! The manufacturer guidelines recommend riders be less than 300 lbs.
WHAT ABOUT KIDS?
- Most of our tours are kid friendly.
- We've had kids as young as two on our kayak tours and have kid safety gear (wetsuits, paddling jackets, PFDs)!
— Kids under 15 are typically tandem with an adult.
- There is a small discount for children under 10 for certain kayak tours.
- For young canoers, there is a "duffer" option for up to two kids per boat if they are with two able paddlers.
— Other kid friendly options are canoeing, hiking, xc skiing, and snowshoeing.
- We currently do not have kid size bikes. If you have your own bikes and need a guide/instructor, we can set up custom ride!
— Fat biking is generally not recommended for kids under 13. The combination of bike size and snow make riding difficult for their growing legs.
WHAT ABOUT Seniors?
- We don't have an upper age limit for our tours. As long as you feel you are able and strong enough for your chosen duration, we are happy to have you!
— Our current oldest paddler was 87 at the tour time.
WHERE ARE YOU LOCATED?
- We do not have a storefront. We have found it to be far more convenient for our guests to meet us at our launch points.
- Please check out our "locations" page for our most common meeting places.
Do you rent kayaks, canoes, bikes, or paddle boards?
- No
HOW DO I REGISTER FOR A TOUR?
- Navigate to your selected activity webpage.
- Click the blue "Book Now" button under your chosen duration.
- Select your desired departure date and time (based on availability).
- Select the number of "tickets."
- Continue through the booking flow. Please answer the questions during signup or via email after. If successful, you will receive a confirmation email.
- For online booking, tours must be scheduled at least 24 hours before departure; for last minute tours, please call or email us.
- Please call if you have any problems registering for a tour.
DO YOU OFFER ANY GROUP DISCOUNTS?
- We offer varying group discounts based on activity and group size.
- Please contact us for specific pricing information.
I'M FLYING SOLO, WHAT TOUR CAN I DO?
- We most definitely allow solo adventurers to book tours! We do have a minimum of 2 people per tour, so you may be rescheduled (if it works for you) if no one else books.
- If you're not flexible on the tour and time, you can pay for 2 tickets.
- Please contact us if you have further questions.
HOW DO YOU KNOW WHAT SIZE GEAR I NEED?
- Please enter an accurate height and weight during booking, or respond to the confirmation email.
- Please be truthful. Having the wrong size gear is uncomfortable and unsafe!
WHAT IS YOUR PET POLICY?
- We allow well-behaved pets on our land based tours and have had dogs come along for canoe tours. Leash laws must be followed.
- Pets are not allowed on kayak tours.
- Please let us know in advance if you wish to bring your pet along.
DO YOU HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS?
- If so, please call or email us. We are happy to answer any questions you may have about Day Tripper of Duluth tours, trips, and special events.
RESERVATION POLICIES
Please note that we need to have a cancellation policy, it's the nature of the business. However, we do our best to get make sure you get to enjoy a Day Tripper of Duluth tour!
RESERVING YOUR TOUR
Planning for tours requires us to reserve equipment, guides, and transportation. To reserve your tour, the full payment must be paid online via PayPal or credit card (see FAQs page for more information on booking a tour). For booking tours within 24 hours of departure time, please call or email Day Tripper of Duluth directly.
Your purchase will initiate the reservation process. You will receive an confirmation email shortly after booking the tour. The cancellation policy will take into effect once you submit your reservation. We recommend each customer to fully evaluate the cancellation policy.
The customer may notify Day Tripper of Duluth of a cancellation via email or phone. All cancellations will be finalized via email or text message . Please note that cancellation fees are calculated based on the date we receive your cancellation request and tour departure date. In most cases, reservations will be refunded via methods such as PayPal or check. We will process your cancellation/refund request within 1-3 business days. Refunds may take up to a week to appear on your bank statement.
A WORD ON THE WEATHER
Not all days are bright and sunny. We will still head out on the the tour despite rain, fog, cold weather, wind, snow (etc.) unless deemed unsafe by the guide. Although this rarely happens, we reserve the right to cancel or reroute tours up until the last minute due to severe weather, safety, or other uncontrollable circumstances. In this case all parties involved will agree on another departure location or activity, reschedule, or if necessary give a full refund. If your tour includes a meal and the food has already been made/picked-up, you will still be able to enjoy your meal (refund less food costs).
NO SHOWS
We will make every attempt to contact you. The guide will wait 30 minutes after the tour start time. If we have not seen or heard from you after 30 minutes from the scheduled departure time, it's considered a no show. A no show is a completed tour & no refund will be given.
Early ending
No refund shall be given for any portions of the tour unused by the customer after departure unless deemed appropriate by the guide.
DAY TOUR CANCELLATIONS
Once your tour is booked, the following policy applies:
CANCELLATION MADE WITHIN - CANCELLATION FEE
- 14+ Days Prior to Tour Date - Full refund
- 10-13 Days Prior to Tour Date - 90% of Tour cost refunded
- 7-9 Days Prior to Tour Date - 75% of Tour cost refunded
- 3-6 Days Prior to Tour Date - 25% of Tour cost refunded
- 0-48 Hours Prior to Tour Date - No refund.
* NOTE: Day tours can be rescheduled in advance given availability. Please contact us for the possibility of rescheduling. If no availability, the cancellation policy applies.
MULTI-DAY TOUR CANCELLATIONS
Once your tour is booked, the following policy applies:
CANCELLATION MADE WITHIN - CANCELLATION FEE
- 30+ Day Prior to Tour Date - Full Refund - minus campsite/lodging deposits
- 21-29 Days Prior to Tour Date - 10% of Reservation Cost
- 15-20 Days Prior to Tour Date - 20% of Reservation Cost
- 8-14 Days Prior to Tour Date - 50% of Reservation Cost
- 3-7 Days Prior to Tour Date - 80% of Reservation Cost
- Within 48 Hours Prior to Tour Date - 100% of Reservation Cost
* NOTE: Multi-day trips can be rescheduled up to 14 days prior to trip departure given availability. If no availability, the cancellation policy applies. In most cases, we cannot accept rescheduling within 14 days of trip departure. However, we will do everything we possibly can to make things work. Please contact us for the possibility of rescheduling.