Fort Sunsets · Douglas Lake
Paddle Your Own Adventure
Kayaks & Stand Up Paddle Boards
- Adult Kayaks
- Two
- Child-Sized Kayaks
- Two
- Paddle Boards
- Two SUPs
- Availability
- Year-round
Some of the best ways to experience a lake have nothing to do with horsepower. They have everything to do with a quiet paddle, an unhurried morning, and the kind of simple freedom that only comes when you push off from shore and let the water take you somewhere new. With two stand up paddle boards, two adult kayaks, and two child-sized kayaks ready and waiting on the hardscape just steps from the water, your next great adventure is always within arm’s reach.
Morning Glass
Set your alarm a little earlier than usual. Just once — you’ll thank yourself. In the early morning hours before the wind picks up and the boats come out, the lake goes completely still. The water turns to glass, the mist hangs low over the coves, and the only sounds are birdsong and the quiet dip of your paddle. It is one of those experiences that is genuinely hard to describe to someone who hasn’t felt it, and absolutely impossible to forget once you have. Load up a kayak with a thermos of coffee, slip away from the dock while the rest of the house is still sleeping, and have the whole cove to yourself for a little while. You will come back a different kind of rested.
This is also the hour when the lake reveals itself — herons standing motionless in the shallows, turtles sunning on half-submerged logs, fish breaking the surface in lazy rings. Bring the kids and teach them to move quietly and watch carefully. It is a nature lesson, a meditation, and a memory all rolled into one slow, perfect morning.
Explore the Cove
There is always something worth exploring just around the next bend, and a kayak is the very best way to find it. The cove right off the property is a world unto itself — sheltered, calm, and full of the kind of quiet beauty that gets overlooked when you’re moving too fast to notice. Paddle the shoreline, poke into the shallow edges where the wildlife congregates, and let curiosity be your guide. With six watercraft between the kayaks and paddle boards, the whole family can explore together, or split up and meet back at the dock with stories to trade.
The child-sized kayaks mean even your youngest paddlers get their own vessel and their own sense of adventure — no riding along, no waiting their turn. There is something genuinely powerful about watching a kid navigate their own kayak into a cove for the first time, figuring out the paddle strokes, making their own decisions about where to go. It builds confidence in ways that are hard to manufacture anywhere else.
The Sunset Paddle
If you do one thing from the water during your stay, make it this. An hour before sunset, grab a paddle board or a kayak and head out onto the open lake. Watch the sky change from blue to gold to pink to something that doesn’t have a name. See the colors reflected on the water below you, doubling everything. Feel the day slow all the way down until it stops completely. The sunset paddle is, without question, one of the most memorable experiences this property has to offer — and guests who do it once almost always do it every single evening for the rest of their stay.
It is equally spectacular from a kayak or a stand up paddle board, though standing up on a SUP as the sun goes down over the water feels like something out of a movie. Bring a friend, bring your partner, or go alone and keep the whole sky to yourself. Any way you do it, you will not regret it.
A Few Good Things to Know
The kayaks and paddle boards are available year-round, sitting ready on the hardscape with easy water access during the warm season. In the winter months when lake levels are lower, the walk to the water is a bit longer — but don’t let that stop you. A cold weather paddle on a quiet winter lake is its own kind of magic, and you will almost certainly have the entire cove to yourself. Dress in layers, bring a warm drink, and go anyway.
Life jackets are provided and required for all paddlers. Children must wear theirs at all times on the water.
Posted Rules
Watercraft Rules
Before You Go Out
Children under 13 must be accompanied by an adult on the water at all times
Never paddle alone — always go out with at least one other person
Check weather and wind conditions before launching; do not go out in storms or high winds
Inform someone on shore of your planned route and expected return time
Required Safety Equipment
A Coast Guard-approved personal flotation device (PFD/life jacket) must be worn by all users at all times — no exceptions
Children under 13 must wear a properly fitted PFD (not just have one in the kayak)
A whistle or signaling device must be taken on every outing
After sunset, a waterproof light is legally required on the water in most states
On the Water
Stay within sight of the property — do not venture into the main channel beyond the land points
Yield to motorized boats; stay close to shore and out of boat traffic lanes
No standing on kayaks
SUP users: always attach the ankle leash before launching
Do not tie kayaks or SUPs together while on open water
No alcohol or substances before or during use
If you capsize, stay with your vessel and signal for help
Equipment Use & Care
Inspect equipment before each use and report any damage immediately — do not use damaged equipment
Return watercraft to their designated storage area after each use
Store paddles with the blades up and secured
Do not drag equipment across rocks, gravel, or rough surfaces — carry boats to the water
Do not overload — observe the weight limit posted on each vessel
No modifications to equipment
Returning & Storage
Store everything exactly as you found it
Report any lost or damaged items immediately — replacement costs may be deducted from the security deposit
Liability & Conditions
Use of all watercraft is entirely at your own risk
The host is not responsible for injuries, accidents, or loss of personal belongings on the water
Equipment found improperly stored or damaged due to negligence may result in additional charges