From the pictures it doesn't look too bad. Why not put a storage area near the dock that way you don't have to lug kayaks down the hill more than one time - to get them to the storage area.

Also, a pathway doesn't have to be a straight shot down the hill, but could switchback across the slope to minimize the slope; think a downhill series of s-curve ski tracks to help visualize the pathway. It doesn't look all that steep from the photos, what is the rise compared to run?

Thanks for your replies! I was definitely considering switchbacks. itt is about 90 mins away so I have only been out to see it once. If I had to guess I'd say it is maybe an average of 30 percent. But more like 40 or 50 percent near the bottom.

This post was edited by robotropolis on Tue, Aug 27, 13 at 7:44

It would be great if you could get out on the lake in a boat to see how properties with similar slopes have been handled.

How about a kayak "slide" ... some sort of a chute you could slide the boat straight down and pull it back up with a winch or just pullies.

Or, make a small place next to the dock for summer storage and make a nice zig-zag path down to the dock