ELLISON BAY KAYAK FIELD GUIDE
Paddling Past Time: Kayaking to the Fleetwing and the Pictographs of Door Bluff
A three-hour guided kayak along the Door Bluff County Park shore that visits the Schooner Fleetwing shipwreck and Native American pictographs—useful for planning logistics, what you’ll see, and who this trip suits.
Paddling Past Time: Kayaking to the Fleetwing and the Pictographs of Door Bluff.
This guided kayak tour threads the shoreline of Door Bluff County Park out of Ellison Bay, pairing raw Great Lakes cliffs with maritime wreckage and ancient rock art. It’s one of Door County Kayak’s most picturesque outings—approachable for newcomers yet varied enough to satisfy paddlers who want a concentrated stretch of shoreline, shipwreck, and pictograph viewing in a single outing.
Highlights
Outing Highlights
Schooner Fleetwing Shipwreck
A central visual and narrative anchor of the tour is the Schooner Fleetwing wreck, visited from the water and framed by the steep shoreline of Door Bluff County Park.
Native American Pictographs on the Cliffs
Guides search the cliffs for Native American pictographs and share a narrative about the drawings while the group views them from sea level.
Washington Island, Gills Rock, and Door Bluff Vistas
The route offers repeated vantage points of Washington Island, views into Gills Rock fishing village and a water-level look at Door County’s highest bluff—photo stops are built into the itinerary.
What the day feels like
What the Half-Day Feels Like
You meet at Garrett Bay, receive a brief instructional setup, and launch into a shore-hugging route that first visits the Schooner Fleetwing. From there the group works along the cliffs to locate pictographs, hears a guide’s account of the drawings, then continues to photo vantage points—ending with a paddle back to the launch. The program mixes instruction, interpretive stops, and open-water paddling into a compact three-hour outing.
THE HISTORY
Schooner Fleetwing Shipwreck
A central visual and narrative anchor of the tour is the Schooner Fleetwing wreck, visited from the water and framed by the steep shoreline of Door Bluff County Park.
THE CULTURE
Native American Pictographs on the Cliffs
Guides search the cliffs for Native American pictographs and share a narrative about the drawings while the group views them from sea level.
THE VIEW
Washington Island, Gills Rock, and Door Bluff Vistas
The route offers repeated vantage points of Washington Island, views into Gills Rock fishing village and a water-level look at Door County’s highest bluff—photo stops are built into the itinerary.
Suitability
Who it's for
Who this trip best suits—grounded in the operator’s stated participation requirements.
Practical planner
Details to review before reserving
The trip summary does not list specific personal gear in detail; confirm recommended clothing, footwear, and any personal equipment with Door County Kayak when you book.
Review cancellation policies before reserving.
Frequently asked questions
Planning Your Outing
How long is the Door Bluff Shipwreck Tour?
The tour runs about three hours total, with approximately two hours on the water and roughly 30 minutes allocated for setup and instruction (group-size dependent).
Where do we meet for the trip?
Meet at the Garrett Bay Boat Ramp, 1310 Garrett Bay Rd, Ellison Bay, WI 54210.
Do I need prior kayaking experience?
No prior experience is necessary; Red Cross–trained instruction is provided as part of the outing.
What will we see on the tour?
The itinerary includes the Schooner Fleetwing shipwreck, views of Washington Island and Gills Rock, Native American pictographs on the cliffs, and a water-level perspective of Door County’s highest bluff.
How much does the tour cost?
Standard per-person rate is $69; private tours start at $250.
How soon should I book?
The operator notes this tour fills up quickly, so signing up early is recommended.