Apostle Islands National Lakeshore

I visited Apostle Islands National Lakeshore in Bayfield, WI on 7÷31÷1993 (it’s printed in my National Park Passport). It was my 1^st time there. It was part of the 1993 R.V. trip with my dad across the USA. Nice visitor’s center. My only regret was that we didn’t have time to set foot on the islands.

The Apostle Islands is a national park at the tippy top of Wisconsin that includes a chain of 23 islands in Lake Superior. Most adventures to this park are launched from Bayfield, WI; which is also where the park headquarters is inside of this beautiful multi-​story sandstone building which began its life as a 19^th century courthouse (the sandstone use to be quarried on one of the islands).
We spent the day here in early September. The weather was perfect for an open boat tour and a walk through Bayfield. Our main interest was with the Grand Cruise boat tour of the islands — a 3 hour tour (yep, a «3 hour tour»…) that takes you through just about all of the islands. I highly recommend you purchase your tickets a day in advance online. We arrived for the morning tour, but it was sold out (yes, the tours sell out during the off-​season) — we were fortunate that they had a second afternoon tour that we could jump on. The tour is well worth the money, a great value, and you can take your own food and drink on board (including alcohol, which some of the tourists were doing — coolers full of beer!). The captain is well scripted to tell you want you want to hear about the history of the islands.
Bayfield is a fine, picture perfect town with several dining options, a dock, and most important, a maritime museum that will brief you on all of the important nautical history of Lake Superior.
Don’t miss out on this if you’re in the region — it’s worth the trip!
When we return, we’ll definitely get some sea kayaks for a more intimate tour of the geology.

It’s complicated, beautiful, and changes its mind a lot. It’s Lake Superior.
When Bryan and I booked our kayak trip, I had little to no idea what we were getting into. Yes, I read the brochures and browsed various websites for testimonials. Yes, I talked to people at the National Lakeshore office in Bayfield. NO, I was not prepared for how gorgeous and memorable these islands are.
We’d never been on a sea kayak before, so we thought ‘Boy howdy, let’s do it for the first time on a 4 day trek from island to island on Lake Superior!’ Not sure if I’d recommend it or not, but we work well together in stressful times. So we thought what the hell! We rented a sea kayak, took a safety course, and hit the water. Crashing waves, little waves, big swells, wind gusts, boat traffic, and calm waters were some of the things we experienced as we traveled from island to island. IT WAS AWESOME. And a little scary at times.
The islands are so secluded but you’ve still got rangers on the bigger ones. They’re all volunteers! Shout out to David on Oak. He let me borrow some of his anti-​itch Benadryl and thanks to him, I slept through the night. No thanks to the chiggers. He was an awesome ranger and a very interesting guy to talk to.
I just couldn’t believe how cool it was to be out on the water observing the elements, navigating the map, listening to my weather radio for adverse conditions, and making decisions based on all of the above. TIP: If you’re kayaking, pick up a waterproof map from the National Lakeshore office — don’t use something printed off the internet. You need the real thing.
In my opinion, the best way to experience the national lakeshore is by kayak. It has to be a sea kayak due to the conditions I talked about. I could go on and on, but please just go here. It’s a must see for all humans.
One more tip: If you’re up here in summer, get your butt to the Raspberry Island lighthouse. Jim works there for part of the summer and he takes the job seriously. You’ll know exactly what life was like when the lighthouse was in operation, plus it’s magnificent to look at.

Took a little drive on a whim to check out the view and was not disappointed at all. This place is a gift from up above and you will feel content just looking out over the blue water and hearing the sound of the wind and birds. It was great to go and just restore my soul. So far it does not cost a thing to make your own adventure just taking in the beauty and breathtaking sights of nature. There is something for everyone here — boaters, swimmers, kayaking, walking, exploring, wild-​life watching.

I did it! First day open of the Apostle Islands Ice Caves this season and my boyfriend and I packed up our dogs, made the drive from the twin cities, and hiked our cold asses to the caves.
We got to the scene at 11am, there were already miles of cars. Crap. We had a good half mile walk to just the entrance, then another half mile to the parking lot, where we had to pay $ 5 per person for our tickets. We forgot the cash… okay, I forgot the cash, this isn’t going well. Luckily the very nice park director there said we could pay when we drove through Bayfield where their headquarter was. He said karma could get us if we decided not to. I’m scared of bad karma. We drove through later and paid up. Thank you, very nice sir for not making us walk back!
Then on to another mile to the first of the caves. It wasn’t a pleasant hike, there was still snow on the ground so you’re trudging through that, and the wind was blowing right into us. You kind of go through that cold and hot at the same time body feeling. You’re on ice too so you had to step carefully. We had our icetrekkers on, which you definitely will need, and some poles.
The ice formations were beautiful, they were coming off of high cliffs, surrounding it, underneath, above, and along the sides. Some of the icicles had sand trapped inside making it pretty pink and brown colors. I don’t know that the formations this year were anything extraordinary. I’m glad I saw them, but sounds like last year was the time to go.
The lake itself was super freaky! You can see the huge boulders at the bottom of the lake in clear spots, and shapes of ice plates that had broken and frozen over again. It was pretty amazing. It was also really fun to watch the dogs out maneuver around on the iced over lake!
When we headed back we thought we’d take the second entrance out, which we thought was a shortcut. NOPE! That was over a mile uphill, then to top it off once we got to the road we realized we were over a mile away from our car. We spent a good 3 hours there, the majority of it walking to and from. Definitely map out where you’re going to save on time.
There were tons of people there. I believe I read afterwards, 7,000 visitors that first day. Since there’s no telling if it’ll be iced over again next year you should try to get out and see the caves. Just maybe go on a weekday, you might be able to avoid the larger crowds.

Pros: Captain narrates historic facts through out the 3.5 hour Grand Tour, which is on the long side.
Cons: Majority of the islands are too far away to get a good view. Cold weather inhibits enjoyment of the top deck.

Traveled from Texas to see the ice caves and it was absolutely worth it. You haven’t been able to walk out there since 2009. We went mid day yesterday and the parking lot was full.
They’re ice caves so it was cold, very cold. Sounds obvious but looking at the clothing choices some people made, I thought it bore mentioning. Wear several layers with the outer layer designed to stop wind. You can crawl around under some of the formations and slide down others, so you’ll want something better than jeans. Yaktrax are a must for walking on the ice without slipping.
There was cell service out there do take those camera phones, upload your photos and make all your friends scratch their heads as to why you picked a winter vacation to Wisconsin instead of the Bahamas!

In 2014 the Lake was frozen over, apparently uncommon, and we walked out onto it (with 60,000+ of our closest friends) to see the rock formations. There was no big amphitheater like in the pics online, but it was totally worth it and very cool. I saw some people with little kids out there, and I wouldn’t advise it – there was one kid screaming as the father tied one slep on top of another with the kid inside to try to offer some shelter. It was chilly out there in the wind, and I’d say you’d be on the Lake for 90 minutes minimum walking out then seeing the formations. Dress really warmly. Parking is tough, so get there early, or late after cars have left. Otherwise you park along the road on the north side and a shuttle comes by.

Fantastic no matter what time of year, but if you’re lucky enough to see it frozen, it’s a real treat. Dress in layers and bring your own water and snacks. You’ll be walking about 6 miles in 4 hours in frigid temps to see it. Well worth the effort! Mother nature at it’s best.
If you want to see photos, here’s my flickr set. I would love to go there again!

We covered all of or vacation relaxation requirements on the island. The best was the long chilly walk we took in in the state park. We saw so many deer close up and even encountered a bear. It was spectacularly divine. Like a page out of Walden.

Don’t go there! You will hate its pristine beauty, and the sense of awe from its natural wonders. Go to Europe instead. In the meantime, I will keep going there to let you know when it becomes a place that you will enjoy. Until then, stay away. Go to Mexico, or France– there’s much more to see and they have restaurants. Here, there’s just the Hand of God Almighty and His creatures. Bob

Needs to be on your bucket list! Beautiful.

BEAUTIFUL!
We took the Apostle Island tour while we were here, highly recommend it.
The lakeshore is nice to look at and relaxing too. Even on a hot summer day, it can feel a little chilly due to the winds coming off the lake. So I would recommend you bring a light jacket just in case.
Plenty of photo opportunities and friendly people to recommend local activities.

A quick preview of what to expect:

My most favorite way to experience the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore is visiting the sea caves in the winter. You just cannot even imagine how beautiful they are. No hyperbole here whatsoever.
It’s kind of difficult to plan, as the safety of trips out on the ice are very dependent on the weather, but when everything lines up and the timing is right, it will be one of those trips you will never forget. (For more info on the ice caves:
)

DITCH THE GPS, USE ROUTE 2
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First, I would have to recommend to just ignore GPS and take Route 2 all the way to Bayfield, WI. The GPS will try to find shortest route but it’s through gravel roads which is a bit annoying. Take the highway and you’ll get there faster.
BOOK YOUR TICKETS IN ADVANCED
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Second, book your cruise in advance since I didn’t know that they put you in upper deck seats. Otherwise, you risk the chance of no seat or lower deck. Call the Apostle Island Cruise which the National Park Service has listed on their website. Then, call their reservation line to make sure you have your spots when you arrive.
Morning complete island cruise at 10AM
Evening complete island cruise at 4PM
HIGHLIGHTS
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Devil’s Island is the best with its sea caves. However, the boat staff will make a call whether or not conditions are safe to navigate to the island. The morning cruise was shorted due to rough waters which made navigating difficult. Our evening cruise was lucky to venture further since waves calmed down. They will give you a full refund if they are uncertain about visiting Devil’s Island and you decide to bail from the cruise entirely on the dock.
Next best island would have to be Raspberry Island which has a cool lighthouse. There is a ranger’s station as well which is nice. We didn’t get to dock there but there are other tours that let you visit the lighthouse on Raspberry Island. Check boating schedules with the cruise lines.
The only island for the most recreation would have to be Madeline Island (largest island) — not a national lakeshore island but a state park island. Check with Madeline Cruise for their car and passenger ferry which is a 30 min ride. Plenty of trails and campgrounds as well. You probably have to book ahead since the ferry can only accommodate maybe 10 – 15 cars at the most.
PARKING EARLY TO AVOID ARRIVING LATE
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Third, parking can be a pain so get a map from the Apostle Islands Visitors Center and ask a ranger. Here is an idea of travel time.
Duluth, MN to Bayfield, WI
approximately 2 hour drive
So, plan accordingly since you don’t have much time to lolly-​gaggling in between. We thought to try the coast hiking trail but no time at all. We made it 30 minutes beforehand to get the tickets.
There are some no-​time-​restriction municipal lots which are either near the pier or a couple of blocks away. These get filled up and open up throughout the day. If you are lucky, you will get one by the pier. Do not park illegally or risk getting fined big time and/​or towed.
VISITOR’S CENTER HAS MAPS AND USEFUL INFO
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That’s pretty much it. The visitors center is nice and has an auditorium with a gift shop. Rangers are helpful and it’s a shame no real hiking routes except the really far one– west of Bayfield. If you have time, look through the exhibit of their Fresnel lens which is used in the lighthouse on Raspberry Island.

Beautiful
Pristine
Historic
& Hard to get to!
I’ve been up here twice now and still haven’t planted a foot on an island, but I did cruise around in the tour boat to see the lighthouses and see what it’s all about. Next time I’ll be in a kayak headed for an island.
Bayfield is great, but be sure to head north and west a bit and you can see several of the islands from the northern boat launch.
This past summer, I watched from the beach as an isolated t-​storm went over Sand Island… you really have to respect the weather out there or you’ll find yourself in deep do do.
Can’t wait to go back!

I’ve seen some beautiful places (mostly in the pages of magazines haha.) and this place is sublime! In the landlocked Midwest, this is the best thing here! In fact, I don’t need to see the ocean if I can come here.
There is no wrong way to experience this place, whether it’s by cruise, kayak, or by foot.
Make sure to come to the Meyer’s Beach lakeshore entrance. There you can walk a 1.8 mile trail. Don’t be daunted by the .7 mile section. It was very muddy this summer and infested with mosquitos but the payoff was magnificent when I reached the 1.1 mile section. On this part of the trail, you get to trek through a quiet forest and glimpse the mighty sea caves from atop cliffs.
As for wildlife, I just heard a bunch of squirrels. However, when I reached one area of the cliffs, I heard a loud howl, followed by a bunch of squawks. I saw huge black birds circling above the trees (I thought great. vultures). Then the birds flew down and turned out to be bald eagles. They were two parents and a baby. All the mosquito bites I itched were a very minor price to pay for such a sight.
And if you kayak, it is a whole different experience. The sea caves can be a bit scary to venture into but the experience itself is other worldly. Plus, you get a great vantage point of said eagles. I spoke to some kayakers below and if I hadn’t spoken to them, I would have never known one of the eagles was perched on a tree just 20 feet from me.
And if you cruise, you can see all the Apostle Islands and they are a pristine looking bunch of islands.
This place is really a national treasure.

The weather was perfect when we arrived at Meyer’s Beach Road. A friendly park ranger gave us all the info we needed. We lugged our kayaks down the 50+ steps from the parking lot to the beach and launched in clear, cold, flat water.
The ranger said there were only a few days of flat water this year and they were all this week! The bottom was clearly visible in 40 feet of water and overcast skies. There were only two other yaks and no one on the beach as we paddled about 1.25 miles over to the caves. We were awestruck. They are truly amazing. With the flat-​water conditions were were able to paddle in and around the caves and walls. We spent about 1.5 hours and then headed back to the beach.
Anyone who considers themselves a fan of national parks or a Wisconsinite should experience this.

I agree with Jeff 100%. This place is awesome :) I love National Parks, and my fiancé and I take cross country trips at least yearly (usually more often) and stop at National Parks along the way. On one trip (June 2007), we stopped at Apostle Islands National Lakeshore. I am so glad we did. We took a boat tour by the Apostle Island Cruise Service (we took the Evening Grand Tour from 5:45 to 9pm) to get a good idea of the area, and planned the rest of our trip from there.
Kayaking is by far the best way to see this place. Just be careful of other boats! There are 21 islands and though we didn’t get to see them all :(it just gives us an excuse to come back. Definitely a great spot for camping, hiking, kayaking, and just enjoying the beauty of Lake Superior.