News
ENLARGE
There are plenty of ways to learn about the natural history, beauty and wildlife of Summit County. There are almost as many ways to get out and enjoy Dillon Reservoir for the morning. As far as I know, there is only one tour that allows its guests to do both at the same time.
Kyle McKenzie started his business, Kayak Lake Dillon, two years ago offering guided tours of the county by water.
But, unlike most boat rentals, tours and trips on the reservoir, his isn't really about the boat.
“It's more of a nature tour than it is a kayak tour,” he says.
Kayaks sit passengers close to the water and, gliding across the reservoir virtually silent, allow them to experience first hand the “life” part of the wildlife in and around Dillon Reservoir.
On the early morning tour, fish and birds compete for the best bites of an insect feast on the surface of the water, Canadian geese strut along the shoreline glaring at the kayaks gliding past them and mule deer and beaver dams can be spotted on the islands and in the trees surrounding the reservoir. Paddling across the reservoir in a kayak gives passengers the sensation of being more a participant in the thriving cycle of life on the reservoir than an observer of it.
Two-and-a-half hour tours push off from Frisco Marina several times a day, with the first leaving at 8 a.m. Kayak Lake Dillon provides all the logistical necessities including a life jacket, splash skirt, paddle, boat and quick lesson on how to maneuver the kayak. The company can accommodate as many as 12 people on tours, which are always led by a guide.
Kayaking is a surprisingly dry pastime for how close it gets passengers to the water. Other than a few stray drops from a boatmate's paddle occasionally, riders generally don't get wet.
The guide leads the group around the protected Frisco Bay, pointing out favorite fishing spots, answering questions and explaining the habits of the animals and birds that live in and around the reservoir.
On my tour, McKenzie also shared stories about the Ute Native American tribe, for which one of the mountain ranges visible from the water was named, talked about water patterns, the interesting history of the reservoir itself and explained ecological trends of the surrounding environment, including the mountain pine beetle epidemic.
Kayakers generally can't plan on having the reservoir to themselves, though the 8 a.m. tour is exceptionally peaceful and less windy than the other tours. There are power boats, sailboats and pontoons out on the water, some of which send out wakes that are unsettling for kayakers so close to the water. But being small and versatile allows kayaks to squeeze through channels other boats can't access. Passengers can count on Kayak Lake Dillon guides to show off some prime spots during the approximately five-mile tour.
Kyle McKenzie started his business, Kayak Lake Dillon, two years ago offering guided tours of the county by water.
But, unlike most boat rentals, tours and trips on the reservoir, his isn't really about the boat.
“It's more of a nature tour than it is a kayak tour,” he says.
Kayaks sit passengers close to the water and, gliding across the reservoir virtually silent, allow them to experience first hand the “life” part of the wildlife in and around Dillon Reservoir.
On the early morning tour, fish and birds compete for the best bites of an insect feast on the surface of the water, Canadian geese strut along the shoreline glaring at the kayaks gliding past them and mule deer and beaver dams can be spotted on the islands and in the trees surrounding the reservoir. Paddling across the reservoir in a kayak gives passengers the sensation of being more a participant in the thriving cycle of life on the reservoir than an observer of it.
Two-and-a-half hour tours push off from Frisco Marina several times a day, with the first leaving at 8 a.m. Kayak Lake Dillon provides all the logistical necessities including a life jacket, splash skirt, paddle, boat and quick lesson on how to maneuver the kayak. The company can accommodate as many as 12 people on tours, which are always led by a guide.
Kayaking is a surprisingly dry pastime for how close it gets passengers to the water. Other than a few stray drops from a boatmate's paddle occasionally, riders generally don't get wet.
The guide leads the group around the protected Frisco Bay, pointing out favorite fishing spots, answering questions and explaining the habits of the animals and birds that live in and around the reservoir.
On my tour, McKenzie also shared stories about the Ute Native American tribe, for which one of the mountain ranges visible from the water was named, talked about water patterns, the interesting history of the reservoir itself and explained ecological trends of the surrounding environment, including the mountain pine beetle epidemic.
Kayakers generally can't plan on having the reservoir to themselves, though the 8 a.m. tour is exceptionally peaceful and less windy than the other tours. There are power boats, sailboats and pontoons out on the water, some of which send out wakes that are unsettling for kayakers so close to the water. But being small and versatile allows kayaks to squeeze through channels other boats can't access. Passengers can count on Kayak Lake Dillon guides to show off some prime spots during the approximately five-mile tour.
