Your Guides - Hiawatha Hiking Company

ABOUT YOUR GUIDES

Hiawatha Hiking Company was founded in 2018 and is owned and operated by Carolyn and Domonick Zanarini. Combined, we have over 12,000 miles of backpacking wilderness experience spanning over 10 years, including thru-hikes of the Appalachian Trail, Pacific Crest Trail, Continental Divide Trail, Camino de Santiago, Long Trail and Superior Hiking Trail.

Carolyn is a certified Wilderness First Responder and is excited to share her enthusiasm for the outdoors with you. She visited the UP every summer as a child and couldn’t be happier to now call it her home! She spent her first summer in the area leading kayak tours along Pictured Rocks and decided to start Hiawatha Hiking Company to guide tours by land. She is also a registered yoga teacher, leading her students through meditation and vinyasa flows since 2013. She loves movement, nature, meeting new people, learning local history, and encouraging others to explore their surroundings.

Domonick’s love of the outdoors began nearly 20 years ago on his first backpacking trip on the Appalachian Trail in Massachusettes. During that seminal trip, he met a person who was hiking the entire 2,180 mile distance over the course of one season, and it quickly became a dream of his to attempt to do that himself one day. He got his chance after finishing graduate school in 2011, and began his southbound Thru-hike in early July in Maine, finishing the trail in early November in Georgia four months later. That trip was a catalyst for the next chapter in his life, in which he hiked the 3,000 mile Continental Divide Trail in 2013, and the 2,700 mile Pacific Crest Trail with Carolyn in 2016, awarding him the distinguished Triple Crown title.

In total, Domonick has traversed nearly 15,000 miles of the United States using non-motorized means, including a Florida to California bicycle tour, a trip down the entire length of the Mississippi River in a canoe, and many shorter trips. Domonick’s long-distance pursuits have provided him many learnings about traveling and spending time in the outdoors. Through guiding, he loves to share his knowledge on topics including light-weight backpacking, mapping and navigation, backcountry food planning, and wilderness ethics and safety.

Our love of spending time outside in beautiful places led us to create this hiking company. We want to show off our amazing backdoor in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, and help teach others how to safely and respectfully spend time exploring the great outdoors.

Please browse our 2022 overnight Backpacking Trips to see what adventures await you on one of our guided tours.

Please Contact Us if you have any questions!

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   Hiawatha Hiking Company
   28 Google reviews 
  Write a review 
  
 
        
   Jeremy Hunt 
 2022-01-31
 
 
   Had the pleasure to join the Intermediate Backpacking Trip in Sept. 2021. Months before the trip Domonick and Carolyn met with us individually to go over the trip and preparations. They took the time to meet again with the entire group ahead of the trip to go over last minute items to ensure we are all set. From the beginning, their preparation and professionalism was top notch and it carried through the whole trip. They made sure everyone was comfortable throughout out the trip and everyone in the group had a great time. Domonick and Carolyn are extremely knowledgeable, prepared and all around great people. We had such a great experience and would love to join them again some day. If you are heading toward Pictured Rocks and want a great experience they should be the only ones you call!
  
 
 
       
   Jamie Davies O'Leary 
 2021-10-27
 
 
   This was my first backpacking tour and Carolyn and Domonick were excellent guides! They emphasized safety and planning - from months before the trip through the last day's details - and renting their equipment made things much easier as a newbie. They were responsive to my questions beforehand and helped me and my group have such an amazing time. Dinners were excellent! I also loved hearing about their travels and what they've learned being on various trails.
  
 
 
       
   paul rusch 
 2021-10-07
 
 
   Went on a 2 night backpack trip the first weekend of October. The trip was wonderful, the colors were about 90%. The only complaint was that my 66 year old body had a hard time sleeping in a tent. Dominique and Carolyn were great. They tended to our safety, training was good, kept up an appropriate pace, provided help when needed, had a good menu and stops at great views. It was great and I am very glad that I did it.
  
 
 
       
   Christine Artes 
 2021-09-13
 
 
   Did the beginner hike over Labor Day and OMG, this was amazing! From the moment you arrive you're well taken care of with food, gear, instructions and safety from the dynamic duo that is Domonick and Carolyn. They both know this area and this trail like the back of their hands!  Every detail was spot on and never once did we feel unsafe. You can rent all of the necessary gear and it is top notch! All food...REAL food is provided and the water that we drank and cooked with was filtered straight outta Lake Superior!!! So cool!
If you're thinking about doing a guided hike to see PR's, this really is the only company that you should book with.  No one else compares!
  
 
 
       
   KAREN WHITAKER 
 2021-09-08
 
 
   The beginning backpacking trip was amazing from start to finish.  Hiawatha is very organized,, they provided training advice to prepare,  the food was good, and guides Carolyn and Domonick are not only extremely experienced hikers and campers, they are wonderful people.  I would definitely recommend them to anyone looking for a guided hiking experience.
  
 
 
       
   Richard Clark 
 2021-08-26
 
 
   Carolyn and Domonick were awesome! I could not have asked for a better first-time backpacking experience. All I had to do was show up with my list of everyday items, they provided the rest. Carolyn and Domonick helped with tent setup/takedown, filtered water, prepped meals and snacks, and provide moral support. The views are breathtaking.  The hike is challenging but very doable. You are not rushed. The camaraderie between fellow hikers, Carolyn, and Domonick is something I will cherish forever. If you ever were apprehensive about backpacking, Hiawatha Hiking Company is the company to use and their Intro to Backpacking tour along Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore is the tour to take.
  
 
 
       
   Catherine Toms 
 2021-08-25
 
 
   We had an absolutely wonderful experience! Carolyn and Domonick are incredibly kind, professional, and thoughtful guides. They thought of everything for our trip, and we were safe and well-fed. Every aspect of the hike was planned perfectly. They know the trails well, and led us to some of the most beautiful places in our country. Thank you Hiawatha Hiking Company!
  
 
 
       
   Jeri Rodriguez 
 2021-08-25
 
 
   I thoroughly enjoyed this experience. The hospitality provided from the minute I arrived until the minute I drove away was incredible.
  
 
 
       
   Sarah Shields 
 2021-07-17
 
 
   We had a great time on a sunset hike with Carolyn and Dominick on our last night in the UP! It was a terrific way to end our vacation. They were organized, well-prepared and very knowledgeable. They shared a lot of information about the Pictured Rocks and Lake Superior, as well as the surrounding area. Their pleasant demeanor made for easy conversation on the hike. It was not quite 3 miles and except for one short stretch at the beginning, mostly flat, so very manageable for inexperienced hikers. We stopped several times for beautiful photos, and then sat and watched the sunset together complete with hot chocolate and sweet treats they provided! We loved getting to see the cliffs from above - a perfect complement to the boat tour we took earlier. We highly recommend the sunset hike!
  
 
 
       
   Maria Thomas 
 2021-07-02
 
 
   Carolyn and Domonick are terrific, and the personalized sunset hike they organized for us was stunning.  The hike was punctuated with quick stops and informative commentary about geology and area history.  Every minute seemed ideal for a pause or a photo, from the first vista to last rays of sunlight,  The adventure was made more precious because they agreed to guide us on the sunset walk on a day they don't normally lead hikes. They are personable and knowledgeable nature enthusiasts who clearly love the magnificent beauty of Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore and the surrounding area.  Don't miss this opportunity.
  
 
 
  
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