Ma-Ka-Ja-Wan High Adventure Base has been offering Northwoods adventures since 1976.

Take in stunning vistas on foot on one of four backpacking destinations, paddle cool waters via kayak or canoe, or relax on sailboats in Lake Superior. No matter how you like to adventure, we have a trek for you, and we typically announce new treks each summer. If you don’t see a trek that you like, contact our High Adventure Team about a custom itinerary. Use the map to see where our treks can take you, and use the links below to jump to more information about each trek.

Are you looking for an introduction to the High Adventure program that still includes the traditional resident camp experience? Coureur des Bois is our in-camp High Adventure program that gives the Scouts the choice of which High Adventure activities they do for the week!

We also offer day trips for units staying in camp, including whitewater rafting on the Wolf River and mountain biking at nearby state trails. Plus, there’s plenty of high adventure fun to be had at our climbing wall, cycling base, and the Triangle M Ranch. Click here for more information on day treks and in-camp high adventure.

trek Destinations

Already know which trek you want? Contact the High Adventure staff to see if it is available during your preferred week.

For more information on each trek, use the links below.

About the Trek

Apostle Islands Kayaking is rapidly turning into one of our most popular treks. Rich in sea caves, lighthouses, and spectacular shores, the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore (near Bayfield, Wisconsin) is a sea kayaker’s dream. You’ll be led by an experienced guide into a pristine collection of islands and shorelines, featuring stunning geological formations—caverns, arches, and pillars—all uniquely accessible to kayakers alone. Carry your gear in your kayaks while you explore the deep blue waters of Lake Superior, then bed down under the night sky on the sandy beaches of Gitche Gumee—Ojibwe for Lake Superior.

Curious about what you’ll be exploring? Learn all about the Lake Superior region in this video

DETAILS

Fees: $750 per participant.

Trek Length/Dates: 5 days on the trek, plus 2 days of travel to and from MSR. Treks can depart on any Sunday that camp is in session, or the Sunday before camp begins.

Minimum Age: Our outfitter requires participants to be at least 14 years old at the time of the trek.

Group Size: You must have a minimum of 8 people and no more than 16 people, including at least two registered adult leaders. Our High Adventure Staff must approve your group size before taking the next step.

Ready to explore the Apostle Islands? Contact the High Adventure staff today!

About the Trek

Travel through the pristine wetland areas on a 3, 4, or 5-day trip into the Turtle-Flambeau Scenic Waters Area. Most treks begin on the Bear River just north of the Flowage. While paddling downstream, look for the wide variety of wildlife native to the area including nesting eagles, osprey, beavers, and sand hill cranes. You’ll camp in the primitive sites throughout the Flambeau Flowage. Created in 1926 by the damming of the Flambeau River, the Flowage is filled with islands and coves. The Flambeau is most famous for its walleye fishing, but Northern pike, muskellunge, bass, sturgeon, catfish, bluegill, and other game fish also abound. If you want an additional challenge, the last day of your trip can be filled with an exciting paddle down the North Fork of the Flambeau River, which features almost a dozen sets of Class I & II rapids.  

NOTE: This can be a strenuous trip with at least 5 to 6 hours of paddling per day.

DETAILS

Fees: $450 per participant.

Trek Length/Dates: 5 days on the trek, plus 2 days of travel to and from MSR. Treks can arrive any Sunday that camp is in session, or the Sunday before camp begins.

Group Size: up to 11 participants, including at least 2 registered adult leaders.

Ready for a Northwoods canoe adventure? Contact the High Adventure staff today!

ABOUT THE TREK

Explore the historic Wisconsin River from the headwaters, traveling downstream 50 miles to the Rainbow Flowage. Some of the first voyageurs in the 17th century traversed south into the unexplored “Ouisconsin Territory” by this route. Paddle through country where wolf, black bear, and deer, as well as herons, hawks, and eagles still roam freely. You may even spot a moose! Fishing is excellent, from native trout at the headwaters to a full range of pan and game fish downstream. If a 50-mile trek seems a bit too challenging, we can modify the length of your trek to suit your group’s needs.

details

Fees: $475 per participant.

Trek Length/Dates: 5 days on the trek, plus 2 days of travel to and from MSR. Treks can arrive any Sunday camp is in session, or the Sunday before camp begins.

Group Size: up to 12 participants, including at least two registered adult leaders.

Ready to paddle away? Contact the High Adventure staff today!

about the trek

Take advantage of an outstanding hiking trail right in Ma-Ka-Ja-Wan’s backyard. In Langlade and Lincoln Counties, long segments of the Ice Age Trail wind through a region full of lakes and bogs formed by the melting of the last glacier. Amid the northern forest of spruce, fir, maple, and birch, the trail follows the glacier’s terminal moraine as it winds through the woods just a few miles from camp. This trek is an excellent introduction to backpacking and backcountry camping and is a great way to prepare for an upcoming Philmont trek. Leave No Trace skills are an integral part of this trek. 

DETAILS

Fees: $375 per participant.

Trek Length/Dates: 5 days on the trek, plus 2 days of travel to and from MSR. Groups can arrive any Sunday that camp is in session, or the Sunday before camp begins.

Group Size: 12 participants, including at least two registered adults.

Ready to hit the Ice Age Trail? Contact the High Adventure staff today!

ABOUT THE TREK

Isle Royale National Park connects visitors to the wilderness through adventure, discovery, and exploration. Only accessible by boat, Isle Royale is the nation’s least-visited national park, but is more than worth the trip. Your journey begins by crossing a substantial portion of Lake Superior’s northwest section. Once there, you will find a living laboratory, a rugged Northwoods wilderness, and a roadless back country of wild creatures, second growth forests, refreshing lakes, and scenic shores. This island gem offers privacy to groups across thousands of acres of backcountry camping.

Curious about what you’ll be exploring? Learn all about the Lake Superior region in this video

DETAILS

Fees: $650 per participant.

Trek Length/Dates: 6 days on the trek, plus 2 days of travel to and from MSR. Trek groups may arrive at MSR on any Saturday camp is in session, or the Saturday before camp begins.

Group Size: 9 participants, including at least two registered adult leaders.

Ready for an unforgettable trip? Contact the High Adventure staff today!

ABOUT THE TREK

Enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime backpacking trip to one of the few remaining expansive wilderness areas in the Midwest, the famous Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park. Towering pines, firs, and birches along the shores of Lake Superior provide the setting for trails that lead to secluded lakes, wild rivers, hills, and waterfalls. The “Porkies” offer a mixture of terrain, including barren top of the escarpment, wetlands created by beaver dams, lowland hemlock groves, and the expansive shores of Lake Superior. Perennial favorites include hiking along the top of the Escarpment, eating dinner on the shore of Lake Superior, climbing the Copper Peak observation tower for views of the entire preserve, and camping at the picturesque Lake of the Clouds. The Porcupine mountains offer a wide array of trail options and can provide challenges for first-time backpackers and experienced crews alike. Treks range in length from 20 to 50 miles depending on your crew’s preference.

DETAILS

Fees: $450 per participant.

Trek Length/Dates: 5 days on the trek, plus 2 days of travel to and from MSR. Treks can depart on any Sunday that camp is in session.

Group Size: 11 participants from your unit, including at least two registered adults. The number of adults required on the trek may be higher depending on the available campsites to ensure compliance with the BSA’s Youth Protection policy.

Ready to see untamed wilderness? Contact the High Adventure staff today!