Thank so much for all the tips. As i said above, it is going to be a few more summers before I get any chance to do this but I am thinking about it now. Longer times to plan is better then shorter times.
I highly recommend Isle Royale, the lower 48’s least visited National Park, accessible from Grand Portage MN.
Also this area east of Thunder Bay meets your wants, certain beautiful from the road: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xoqa3L0J-4Q&t=2826s
Only time crossing the US/Canada border took more than a minute of Custom’s time when right after Covid dealing with ArriveCan. The lines OTOH…
I’ll send you a PM in case you’d like to spend time in this area. I’m not a good source for best wilderness areas on the Great Lakes. My gut says the north shore of Huron and Ontario must be dreamy. Superior is worth seeing. The east coast of Lake Michigan (also called the sunset coast) has some pretty amazing beaches and dunes since the prevailing winds come from the west. Sleeping Bear dunes is special. We did the circle tour of Lake Michigan once (driving) and I bet that would be an extremely rewarding experience on any of the Great Lakes. You might also post on myccr.com (my Canadian canoe routes) to get ideas (just say you’re a paddler, avoid the k-word 
).
Thanks Tom.
I’ll take any help I can get because as of now, I am 100% blind to all of it. I have never even touched water in any of the Great lakes, let alone been on the waters there.
A good friend paddled the Michigan coast of Superior a couple of years ago. He has about 25 videos here
Starting with a shakedown trip on Drummond Island.
Oh I really like that guy’s vids. Would you ask him if it would be OK for me to e-mail him and ask him some questions? if he’s ok with that I’d LOVE to have his e-mail address.
Here are his published links. Try those first.
For more follow me at:
Links
My personal instagraminstagram.com/kayaktothesea
My Twitter Feedtwitter.com/kayaktothesea
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I don’t have any of those things and really know nothing at all about what they are or how they work.
I believe most folks today would be shocked if they know how little I know about computers and the cyber world. That’s the real reason I asked for e-mail.
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Um, your friend started the shakedown trip by illegally camping at Harbor Island NWR.
Look up the word “fetch” in a dictionary.
Just had to quit a Lake Superior circumnavigation attempt due to unrelenting wind and an injured tibia (hairline fracture). Here’s some of the stuff that I used to prepare…
Both Canada and the US have apps that you use to cross the border via water - ArriveCAN and CBP ROAM. In both cases, you upload a photo of your passport to the app.
Depending where you cross into Canada, you can apply for a Remote Crossing permit. Crossing info here: Canada Border Services Agency
Coming back into the US you will need to use the app to initiate a video call with an agent. I talked with the Soo Border office before I left and they suggested stopping just off the airport on the Canadian side where cell service would be assured. They handle kayak crossings all the time.
Worse case scenario, you might have to lock through to the office for an in-person, but the uniforms I spoke with were quite jolly guys, not power-trippy at all, and basically said “you aren’t likely to be bringing in any thing of consequence in an 18 foot kayak!”.
As far as camping is concerned, most of the US side is privately owned or state/national park controlled. Stealth camping is possible, but expect long stretches of homes overlooking the shore or cliffs and narrow beaches that might not be the best place to be in a storm.
My approach was to knock on the door, tell them what I was doing and ask permission. No one said no. The law does allow you to get off the water in an emergency if necessary. Apps such as Gaia GPS have a map layer that shows private property and were useful for planning. Also be aware that landing on Reservation Land may be prohibited.
The Canadian side is Crown land, Provincial Park or Parks Canada. All non-residents must pay for permits to camp on Crown land (Recreational activities on Crown land | ontario.ca). You will also have to pay for entry and camping at Provincial and National Parks.
The US side has frequent towns with differing levels of resources but once into Canada, you are in very remote areas and need to be self sufficient for 2 weeks or more at a time.
I sent resupply boxes ahead, just like thru hikers do, USPS General delivery on the US side and to two outfitters in Canada - Such A Nice Day Adventures in Rossport and Naturally Superior in Mitchipicoten. Both are wonderfully helpful folks.
There is a water trail that goes around Lake Superior. Check out the following websites:
Michigan trail - https://www.michiganwatertrails.org/trail.asp?ait=ctv&ctid=51
MN trail - Lake Superior segments and maps | Minnesota DNR
WI trail - https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/parks/watertrails/lakesuperior
The MN maps are pretty good and show paddle in only campsites.
Sorry, that’s a long post. Let me know if you have more questions. I can recommend books and paddle guides for instance.
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WOW! There is a lot more to this then I expected. Thanks so much KB.
It sounds like a great deal of planning is needed. I expected some, but not as much as it looks like there may be. Of course t5here is the option to simply stay on the US side and omit all such hoops to jump through. Even staying in the USA is going to take some degree of planning because there is more then enough bureaucracy in the USA to go around not to mention not wanting to trespass on private land.
Well, I have quite some time to figure it all out and no one can see what tomorrow will bring, let along how things will be in 2 years or so. I expect I’ll just start by gathering information and forming some kind of plan as to where to go and where is good to camp out, as much as where is not.
Many years ago, I paddled around 4 times. Once in June ('89), twice in July ('90,'92), once in August ('91).
I started the June trip on Memorial day (end of May).
I FROZE on the June trip. Did the Canada side first - 40s, drysuit everyday. ‘Summer’ returned when I crossed (Whitefish Bay) to Mich.
July trip was ok - but the flies were bad.
August was probably the best (weather wise).
Quickest time was the 2nd July trip, I had planned to arrive at the kayak symposium in Grand Marais. If I did it in 21 days I would make it in time - I made it.
In '93 I tried to do it in September - the Gales of Nov. came very early that year, I quit after just a few days.
The Ladies of the Lake symposium (now defunct) in Munising is where I fell in love with Superior. Followed that up with 3 of the GL Kayaking Symposium in Grand Marais, last one in 2020.