NO BOUNDARIES TO ADVENTURE. Whether you're a seasoned or new-to-the-outdoors adventurer, Eau Claire Outdoors is leading single-day and overnight trips for folks to enjoy the great outdoors, right here in the Midwest. (Photo via Facebook)

Serene and still water surrounded by vast wilderness, roaring waterfalls, and thousands of miles of forest and scenic hiking routes. For many Wisconsin natives, this kind of natural experience seems a plane ride away, however, local business Eau Claire Outdoors is determined to show locals that all of this can be found right here, in the upper Midwest. 

Kate Felton, owner of Eau Claire Outdoors, is bringing adventure to the Midwest with the newly-launched 2025 Guided Adventures. She is looking forward to building off of the momentum and positive feedback from their inaugural guided trips and tours in 2024. 

“It has definitely been a great opportunity for people to find new joys in the outdoors and find new friends and people to connect to,” Felton said. “After COVID our community is really hungry for opportunities to connect with each other.” 

The trips will be a mix of paddling excursions and backpacking adventures in places like the Porcupine Mountains, the Boundary Waters, the Namekagon River, and more. They will be offering one-day paddling trips all the way up to four-day overnights. This structure will allow people of all experience levels a chance to step into the outdoors confidently.

"These are the kind of skills that are sort of just beyond what somebody would want to do on their own for the first time. I want to make sure there are opportunities for people who aren't already connected (to others who know) how to do them."

KATE FELTON

EAU CLAIRE OUTDOORS, OWNER

All major gear will be provided for trip participants and will be accompanied by expertly trained outdoors guides.

Felton has built this program around the type of person who just wants to show up and get on the trail. She understands the expense of backpacking and paddling equipment isn't affordable for the average person and is passionate about offering everyone the opportunity to experience the joys and challenges of nature.

Another new addition to this year’s Guided Adventures program is the ladies-only trips. 

“(The ladies trips) were a request from folks that were on trips last year … and it was something the guides had a lot of interest in,” Felton said. “I think as women we often find that these spaces can be really overwhelmed with masculine energy sometimes and while that works for a lot of people, there are some women who want to be around more feminine energy and not have to feel like they are not living up to some sort of male expectation.”

Felton hopes these trips give people avenues to try out new skills so they feel more comfortable in nature and realize how much they are capable of. 

“These are the kind of skills that are sort of just beyond what somebody would want to do on their own for the first time,” Felton said. “I want to make sure there are opportunities for people who aren’t already connected (to others who know) how to do them.”

Book your next guided outdoors adventure online, pricing dependent on the type and length of trip (there are single-day and overnight options available).

Learn more about the 2025 Guided Adventures from Eau Claire Outdoors online at eauclaireoutdoors.com.