Apostle Islands | Visitor Information - Lake Superior Circle Tour

Apostle Islands National Park & Madeline Island

The ferry trip from Bayfield to Madeline Island provides a nice view of some of the Apostle Islands and the surrounding sea, a favorite sailing area.

Apostle Islands Travel Directory

- Apostle Islands Travel - Apostle Islands Cruise - Raspberry Island Lighthouse - Apostle Islands Sea Caves Cruise - Sea Caves Hiking Trail - - Winter Bayfield Ice Caves - Apostle Islands Links - Madeline Island Travel - Madeline Island-winter ice road - Madeline Island Historical Museum - Big Bay State Park on Madeline Island - Cornucopia, Wisconsin - Bayfield Wisonsin Travel Directory Page - Bayfield Wisconsin Camping

The Apostle Islands National Lakeshore is a scenic archipelago of 22 islands surrounding the northern tip of Wisconsin's Bayfield Peninsula. The islands were long home to native peoples; the Objiwe trace their history back to the 1400s. The islands also occupy an important place in the early European settlement and exploration of the upper midwest by French voyageurs, fur traders, and missionaries.

The Sea Caves of the Apostle Islands National Park are a major attraction.

Apostle Islands Video to see the Devil's Island Sea Caves

Visiting Madeline Island

Madeline Island, the most southern and largest island of the Apostles, is the only year-round inhabited island. Yet several of the other islands have docks, rustic campgrounds, hiking trails and seasonal visitor attractions, including lighthouses. Cruise services in Bayfield and in Cornucopia offered regular tours of the Islands, custom tours, and shuttle services for people who want to camp on any of the islands.

View of Madeline Island from Bayfield, Wisconsin

Visiting the Apostle Islands National Park

One of the easiest ways to see the Apostles is through one of the many cruises offered by the Apostle Islands Cruise Service.

Apostle Islands Cruises we've taken:

• Grand Tour Apostle Islands Cruise,
• Raspberry Island Lighthouse Cruise and Tour
• Mainland Sea Caves Boat Tour.

Apostle Islands Visitor Center - Bayfield

The old county courthouse in Bayfield houses the main Apostle Island National Lakeshore Visitor Center. Here one can view audiovisual programs, exhibits, and obtain information on touring and recreational opportunities.

There's also a smaller visitor center at Little Sand Bay (see pictures and information below)

Links to more information on visiting the Apostle Islands

See a VIDEO of Devil's Island Sea Caves

Little Sand Bay - Apostle Island National Lakeshore

Northeast of Bayfield via Hwy 13 and Cty K is an Apostle Island Visitor Facility with a Ranger Station/Visitor Center, a public boat launch, an "Industrial Strength" dock and breakwater, a swimming beach and picnic area, a campground, and a fishery exhibit.

The Ranger Station/Visitor Center looks out over Little Sand Bay.

Inside is a bookstore, a small museum and an mini-theatre showing tapes on the Islands. > > >

For mainland camping information: see our Bayfield Area Campground Page

The Little Sand Bay Recreation Area's grounds, parking areas, washrooms, and waterfront facilities are well maintained - kudos to the Park Service.

There's a nice sand beach and a waterfront picnic area. Good for swimming and a favorite with kayakers. > > >

The "industrial strength" dock and seawall protects boats and ships from the occasional rages of Gitchee Gummi.

Museum Tour

Just west of the visitor center is the Hokenson Brothers Fishery Museum. The Park Service has preserved the buildings, tools, and craft used by the brothers in their fishery operation. Tours are conducted by the Park Service staff.

Their fishing tug, the "Twilite" remains in dry dock for viewing.

Winter Activities

Apostle Islands Dog Sled Race has competitors of all ages and is a fun wintertime family event both for participants and their families and spectators.

Once the Ice Road freezes up it makes it easy to visit Madeline Island in the winter

Hiking, skiing, or snowshoeing out to see the Bayfield Apostle Islands Park Ice Caves is the most popular winter event in the area.

Visiting Madeline Island

As soon as the ice is out, the Madeline Island Ferry begins running 4 times a day from Bayfield to the village of La Pointe. After May 7th, its schedule increases to 11 daily trips, in June and July even more frequent.

Visiting Madeline Island - see our photos and visitor articles on things to see and do on Madeline Island.

Visiting Bayfield Wisconsin

Popular Bayfield Events & Visitor Attractions.

Campground Listings - Bayfield Area.

Bayfield Apple Festival.

Bayfield Pictures & Scenes.

Bayfield & Ashland Fall Color Scenic Drives.

The Bayfield Chamber & Visitors Bureau office is conveniently located downtown on Manypenny Avenue. They are the prime sponsor of AppleFest and are an essential stop for the Bayfield visitor to get useful advice, maps, brochures, and information on enjoying the Bayfield area.

SuperiorTrails.com - Reinhold Development - 2023

• Lake Superior Circle Tour
  • Home Page
  • Superior Circle Tour Travel Directory
  • Travel & Event Updates
  • Lake Superior Road Travel Maps
  • About Us
• Wisconsin Travel
  • Wisconsin Travel Guide
  • Bayfield WI
    • Bayfield Wi Travel
    • Bayfield Wi Events
    • Bayfield Apple Festival
    • Bayfield Area Camping
    • Bayfield Orchards
    • Bayfield Ice Caves
    • Lake Superior Ice Caves
    • Bayfield Street Scenes
    • Bayfield Sled Dog Race
    • Mount Ashwabay Ski Area
  • Big Top Chautauqua
  • Cornucopia WI
  • Apostle Islands
    • Apostle Islands Travel
    • Apostle Islands Cruise
    • Apostle Islands Sea Caves
    • Sea Caves Hiking Trail
    • Apostle Islands Links
    • Raspberry Island Lighthouse
  • Madeline Island
  • Big Bay State Park
  • Amnicon Falls Park
  • Ashland, WI
    • Ashland Wi Travel
    • Ashland Mural Walk
    • Ashland Car Show MuralFest
    • Great Lakes Visitor Center
    • Kreher RV Campground
    • Ashland Golf Course
    • Ashland Restaurants
  • Copper Falls State Park
  • Fall Color Scenic Drives
  • Lake Superior Ice Caves
  • Superior, WI
  • Superior Burgers & Pizza
  • Best Superior Wi Pubs
  • Superior Wi Dragonboat Race
  • Washburn, WI
  • Wisconsin Golf
  • Wisconsin Travel Map
  • Wisconsin Water Falls
  • Wisconsin Winter Events
  • Wisconsin Fall Color
    • Ashland-Bayfield Fall Color
    • Fall Color Drive Map
• Minnesota North Shore
  • Minnesota Travel Guide
  • Duluth, MN
    • Duluth Canal Park
    • Duluth Enger Park
    • Duluth Lakewalk
    • Bentleyville Holiday Light Village
  • Grand Marais, MN
  • North Shore Winter Events
• Ontario Travel
  • Ontario Travel Guide
  • Thunder Bay, ON
  • Sault Ste. Marie, ON
  • Soo Winter Events
• Michigan Upper Peninsula
  • Michigan Upper Peninsula Travel
  • Pictured Rocks National Park
  • Porcupine Mountains State Park
  • Upper Peninsula Winter Events
  • UP 200 Dog Sled Race
• Travel Resources
  • Circle Tour Travel Directory
  • Lake Superior Travel Planner
  • Guide to Superior Travel Maps
  • Fall Color Scenic Drives
  • Lake Superior Campground Directory
  • Lake Superior Golf Course Directory
  • Superior Travel Bookstore
  • Superior Trails Lodging Guide
  • SEARCH this site
  • Snow Weather Reports
• Agates & Beach Rocks
  • Lake Superior Agates & Rocks
  • Guide to Agate Rock Picking
  • Identifying Lake Superior Agates
  • Tumbling & Polishing Beach Rocks
  • Tumbling and Polishing Agates
  • Lake Superior Agate Beaches
• About Us

Lake Superior Camping & Campground Directory Best Camping around Lake Superior.

Things to see and do in Bayfield & the Apostle Islands.

See our guide to interesting and fun things to see and do on Madeline Island.

See photos from our recent Apostle Islands Sea Caves cruise. Apostle Islands Sea Caves Hiking Trail is about a 3.5 mile round trip from Meyers Beach to the Bayfield Sea Caves

Lake Superior Travel Directories

Minnesota Travel Wisconsin Travel Upper Peninsula Ontario Travel

Visiting Madeline Island in Winter

Things to see and do on Madeline Island

Apostle Islands National Park Cruises.

Apostle Islands Raspberry Island Lighthouse Cruise & Tour.

Orchard Touring Take a scenic drive of farms and orchards in the Bayfield area.

Wisconsin Waterfalls

Hotel, Motel Lodging Ashland, Superior, Ironwood, Wisconsin South Shore

Lake Superior Circle Tour Road Map & Guide to Travel Attractions around Lake Superior.

Enjoying the great swimming Beach Big Bay State Park on Madeline Island.

How to recognize Lake Superior Agates and Beach Rocks.

Best Wisconsin Lake Superior Agate Beaches

See the lighthouses on an Apostle Islands Cruise.

Copper Falls State Park is near Mellen, Wisconsin.

Enjoying the great swimming Beach Big Bay State Park on Madeline Island.

Travel Directory & Site Map

Ashland Mural Walk is an interesting attraction in nearby Ashland, Wisconsin

See our Reviews of Best Wisconsin golf courses on Lake Superior.

WEATHER REPORTS