NORTH AND SOUTH MANITOU UPDATES: CURRENTLY YOU CAN CAMP ON SOUTH MANITOU ISLAND. YOU DO NOT NEED A CAMPING RESERVATION. AS LONG AS YOU HAVE A FERRY RESERVATION YOU ARE GUARANTEED A SITE. CURRENTLY FOR NORTH MANITOU ISLAND, WE DO NOT HAVE A SAFE DOCK FOR ACCESS TO LOAD AND UNLOAD PASSENGERS. AT THIS TIME, WE ARE ONLY TAKING PEOPLE TO SOUTH MANITOU. WE DO NOT HAVE A TIMELINE FOR SAFE ACCESS TO NORTH MANITOU.
IF YOU HAVE RESERVATIONS TO NORTH MANITOU LATER IN THE SUMMER, WE ARE CALLING EVERYONE, BUT WE ARE WORKING OUR WAY THROUGH THE DATES. THANK YOU FOR YOUR UNDERSTANDING IN THIS MATTER.
Rates to South and North Manitou Island
DAY TRIPS only go to South Manitou
Tickets (Roundtrip):
$45/adult
$23/kids (12 & under)
Ages 2 & under: FREE
Kayak/Canoe Transport Rate: (We do not rent kayaks/canoes, we just transport them for people)
$35.00 roundtrip (UNDER 13 FEET IN LENGTH)
$65.00 roundtrip (OVER 13 FEET IN LENGTH)
(sea kayaks are considered tandems because of their length/weight)
Kayaks/canoes need to be empty to load the boat. Gear is stowed separately.
GEAR: All baggage needs to be kept to a minimum. YOU CAN BRING WHAT YOU ARE ABLE TO CARRY ON AND OFF THE BOAT. WE DO NOT ALLOW CARTS/WAGONS/SLEDS OR ANYTHING WITH WHEELS. You are allowed to bring coolers, if they have wheels that is okay, but you still have to carry them. You need to be able to carry your own gear on and off the ferry to allow space for everyone.
****MANITOU ISLAND TRANSIT IS NOT LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGE TO YOUR KAYAK OR PADDLE BOARD. IF YOU ARE CONCERNED ABOUT BUMPS, SCRATCHES, OR GENERAL TRANSPORTATION ISSUES, PLEASE REFRAIN FROM BRINGING YOUR KAYAK. THANK YOU. ****
****MANITOU ISLAND TRANSIT DOES NOT RECOMMEND ON ANY DAY, IN ANY CONDITIONS, KAYAKING OR PADDLING TO OR FROM EITHER OF THE ISLANDS.****
SCHEDULE for DAY TRIPS to South Manitou Island:
10:00 am — DEPART Leland for South Manitou Island (check-in by 9:15 am)
11:30 am — ARRIVE at South Manitou Island
11:30 am — 4:00PM LAYOVER on South Manitou Island, hiking and/our guided tour
4:00PM: DEPART South Manitou Island for Leland
5:30PM: ARRIVE at Leland
SCHEDULE for CAMPING TRIPS to North or South Manitou:
10:00 am OR 1:45 pm — DEPART Leland for South or North Manitou (check-in by 9:15 am / 1:00 pm)
Return Trip: DEPART island between 11am and 4pm (your scheduled time will be on your paperwork at check-in. The latest you would arrive back in Leland is around 5:30 pm.
DETAILED SCHEDULES:
SOUTH MANITOU ISLAND : Day Visitors/Day Hikers
May: Daytrips on May 25, 26, 29, 31
June 1-14: Daytrips on June 1, 5, 7, 8, 12, 14
beginning June 15-Labor day: Days trips Monday through Saturday through Labor day weekend. *we do not have a daytrip on Labor Day, September 2.
We do have day trips on Sunday May 26 and September 1.
September 3-September 15: Daytrips on Wednesdays and saturdays.
September 15-first weekend of October: Saturdays only
SOUTH MANITOU ISLAND: CAMPERS:
May 24
10am departure
1pm for campers
May 25, 26
10am departure and 1:50pm departure
11:30am. return and 4:00pm return
May 27:
10am. departure and 11:30am. return
May 29, May 31 and
June 1, 5, 7, 8, 12, 14
10 am. departure 4 pm return
June 2
10 am. departure, 11:30 am. return
June 15-June 30
10 am. departure, 4pm return every day…
sunday campers off south is always 11:30am.
fridays,
We have an additional departure and return:
1:50pm departure and 11:30 am. return.
July 1-Labor day:
10 am. departure, 11:30am return
*fridays we do allow campers to go on either trip. . Other days multiple night campers are required to go on the 1:50pm.
September 6-September 15:
Wednesdays, fridays, saturdays, and sundays:
10 am departure only. Pick up is 11:30 AM. with the exception of wednesdays and saturdays where departure is scheduled for 4pm.
September 16-October 1:
Fridays, saturdays and sundays only.
10 am. departure. Return on Saturdays 4pm. Return on sundays 11:30am.
NORTH MANITOU ISLAND: CAMPERS:June 1-June 30
Sundays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.
June 2, 5, 7, 9,12, 14
10 am. departure only
All Fridays starting June 10:
10 am departure and 1:50pm departure
12:40pm return off North
July 1-labor day:
we run seven days a week:
10am. departure
12:40 pm return
*on Fridays we do allow campers to take the 1:50pm departure over.
Beginning the third week of august, we only run to north at 10 am on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. (not including Labor Day weekend Saturday)
Boat Schedule July 1-Labor Day
****ALL Day visitors to south will be departing Leland at 10 am and leaving the island at 4 pm.
***ON LABOR DAY MONDAY, the return schedule is as follows:
Returning North manitou campers should be on the dock by 1pm for a 2pm pickup.
Returning South manitou campers should be on the dock by 11am for an 11:30am. pickup
After Labor Day, we will run Sundays, Wednesdays and Fridays until September 15.
all 10 am. departures, 11 am. returns with the exception of Wednesdays where north manitou campers will then travel on to south manitou for the day trip returning to Leland by 5:30pm.
After September 15, we will run to north manitou on Fridays and Sundays only.
10 am. departure, 11am. return
Spring/Fall
Please call operator. Off-season, we do need a minimum to make a SCHEDULED trip. Trips will be cancelled if minimum is not reached. For days that we do not run, we do offer special charters as well.
Hunt Schedule MIT IS NOT DOING THE NORTH MANITOU HUNT THIS YEAR
Our rifle and muzzleloader hunt will now depart the last Friday of October, with the pickup being the next saturday.
Buck tote information: The wheeled cart that you are allowed to bring on the hunt needs to be a size that is manageable by one person and that can be lifted and carried by one person as they are lifted onto the upper deck of our boat.
*in the past we have had a third boat, we will again if needed.
*The National Park Service will be on hand to also check you in and go over everything before departure.
Cost for the hunt is $150.00 roundtrip per person.
For hunt reservations, we do need a credit card to HOLD your ticket. A permit from the National Park Service in Empire is needed. 231-326-4741. Specifically for the hunt, we have a four week cancellation policy. If you need to cancel, it needs to be done 4 weeks out. We do have a 20% cancellation fee regardless.
Please call 231-256-9061 for details.
Cancellation Policy for regular season:
- Individuals or groups of 9 or less require a 48 hour notice for a refund. Tickets purchased within 48 hours of your departure time are NONREFUNDABLE.
- Groups of 10 or more require a 2 week notice for a refund for ANY cancellations. (this includes even 1)
- There is a 20% cancellation charge for all reservations.
- All schedules are dependent on the wind
- if you are wanting to change your tickets because of weather forecast, you need to do that at least 48 hours in advance.
- We do go in the rain, be prepared.
SPECIAL CHARTER TRIPS ARE AVAILABLE FOR LARGER GROUPS.PLEASE CALL 231-256-9061 OR E-MAIL MANITOUTRANSIT@GMAIL.COM FOR MORE INFORMATION.
(sea kayaks are considered tandems because of their length/weight)
Kayaks/canoes need to be empty to load the boat. Gear is stowed separately.
GEAR: All baggage needs to be kept to a minimum. YOU CAN BRING WHAT YOU ARE ABLE TO CARRY ON AND OFF THE BOAT. WE DO NOT ALLOW CARTS/WAGONS/SLEDS OR ANYTHING WITH WHEELS. You need to be able to carry your own gear on and off the ferry to allow space for everyone.
****MANITOU ISLAND TRANSIT IS NOT LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGE TO YOUR KAYAK OR PADDLE BOARD. IF YOU ARE CONCERNED ABOUT BUMPS, SCRATCHES, OR GENERAL TRANSPORTATION ISSUES, PLEASE REFRAIN FROM BRINGING YOUR KAYAK. THANK YOU. ****
****MANITOU ISLAND TRANSIT DOES NOT RECOMMEND ON ANY DAY, IN ANY CONDITIONS, KAYAKING OR PADDLING TO OR FROM EITHER OF THE ISLANDS.****
Please call 231-256-9061 for details.