The park offers a number of incredible wonders to explore including pristine sand beaches, world famous red sandstone sea caves, and the largest collection of lighthouses anywhere in the National Park system (six). Although almost the entire park visitation occurs from June to September, it is during the winter months that unique experiences await hardy park visitors.
A visit to the park should start at the Visitor Center located in the old courthouse building in Bayfield, Wisconsin. From Bayfield visitors can find out about weather and lake conditions, boat rentals, as well as schedule cruises and island shuttle trips. You can also take the only regular auto ferry to Madeline Island, the only island not part of the National Lakeshore and home to Big Bay State Park. A thin sliver of the mainland is also park of the Lakeshore stretching from Point Detour west to Meyers Beach. The remainder of the park can only be explored by boat in the summer and by crossing the ice in the winter.
If you don't care to cross the lake, you can hike the Lakeshore Trail, still under construction at this time. The trail starts at Meyers Beach off of State Highway 13 and just east of Cornucopia, Wisconsin. The rugged trail goes for two miles and traverses steep terrain with a number of stream crossings. The end offers a tremendous reward, especially on days when Superior has been whipped up into a frenzy. About two miles from Meyers Beach the trail reaches the top cliffs of the world famous sea caves. Carved out of the soft sandstone by wind and water, the waves smashing up against the shoreline can fill the air with spray and a thunderous deep roar as the water slaps the back end of the numerous caverns below.
If you're looking for interpretive activity in the summer you can visit the old Hokenson Fishery. Frustrated by the difficulties of farming the rocky and rugged soil of the region, three brothers took to commercial fishing as a part-time, and eventually a fulltime enterprise. They became very successful before retiring in the 1960's and donating the buildings and land to the National Park Service. Today the numerous historic buildings and tools are on display with rangers available in the summer months to provide additional information.
The real adventure at Apostle Islands National Lakeshore is found on the islands themselves. Park visitors can explore the islands by boat, sea kayak, or charter. Small craft and canoes are not recommended for crossing the dangerous waters of Superior and kayakers should know their limitations. Sand, Raspberry, Oak, Basswood, Manitou, and giant Stockton Island are the most popular destinations for day visitors and campers alike.
If you don't have your own boat or kayak to get to the islands the National Park Service concessionary, Apostle Island Cruise Service can get you there. The cruise service offers a number of options for visitors ranging from short excursions to customized water taxi service.
The three hour Grand Tour aboard the Island Princess travels around all 22 islands with information provided on the history, geology and folklore of the region. Continental Breakfast is available and the boat departs at 10:00 AM from Bayfield with tours from May to October.
The Islander is a 3-3/4 hour tour that stops at 10,000 acre Stockton Island and historic Manitou Island. Visitors who depart the boat at Stockton get a two-hour layover to explore the old growth forests and pristine beaches that make this the most popular destination in the park. Backpackers and campers can use this trip as a ferry service for one-way drop off to the island. If you continue on to Manitou Island you can visit the old fish camp and learn first hand with park rangers how the original settlers to this area worked and survived despite the rugged terrain and harsh weather. The boat departs at 1:30 PM from Bayfield and tours run from mid-June to early September.
The Inner Island Shuttle also runs from mid-June to early September and stops at Sand, Oak and Raspberry Islands. Visitors that get off at Raspberry Island can spend their free hour exploring the lighthouse. If you plan to go to Sand Island be sure to take the morning boat. Over three hours of time is available to explore the lighthouse, old growth forest and hiking trails. Backpackers and use the boat as a ferry service to get off at Oak Island and explore over eleven miles of hiking trails. Departures are at 10:30 AM and 2:00 PM from Bayfield.
Apostle Islands National Lakeshore has over fifty miles of improved hiking trails spread out across thirteen islands and the mainland. Basswood, Oak, Outer, and Stockton Islands offer the widest variety of hiking opportunities.
On Sand Island the two-mile long Lighthouse Trail connects the East Bay Campground with the brownstone Sand Island Lighthouse. The trail offers a variety of sites including a sandy beach at Justice Bay, views of the Swallow Point sea caves and a grove of old growth white pine near the lighthouse. Campers can also explore the remnants of the Noring Farm by taking the 3/10 of a mile Noring Farm Trail.
Small Raspberry Island has a single 3/4 of a mile long trail out to the sand spit on the eastern shore. The Sandspit Trail is well worn with many summertime day visitors exploring the island.
Basswood Island has a 5-1/2 mile long loop trail and explores several areas where man has left his mark. From the boat dock the trail heads northeast for almost two miles to the McCloud-Brigham farm site. From the farm an old logging road heads east before turning south for over two miles where you can overlook the old brownstone quarry. Several large blocks of cut brownstone still remain, as does rusting equipment. The trail continues for another 1-1/2 miles through dense forest before returning to the dock.
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