Chris Izworski / Lake Superior Circle Tour / Apostle Islands

THE WISCONSIN SHORE OF LAKE SUPERIOR

Apostle Islands Explorer

Here, the lake has spent centuries carving rooms into red sandstone. Lighthouses stand watch above the water. But the most important choice comes before the first island: how will you get there?

First visit? Start with a narrated cruise from Bayfield, the mainland at Meyers Beach, or the Madeline Island ferry. Sea kayaking and remote island trips demand extra planning.

Find your adventure ↓

21 islands in Apostle Islands National Lakeshore. Madeline Island is a separate, ferry-served island outside the National Lakeshore.

Devils Island reddish sandstone sea cave and lake water
Photo: DataThread · CC BY 4.0

Devils Island sandstone sea cave · archival photograph, not current conditions

PICK YOUR KIND OF DAY

Where do you want the lake to take you?

Choose the experience and time that fit. The cards and map narrow together, while every official source link remains available.

Experience

Showing all 9 experiences. These are planning options, not real-time availability.

Before a paddle

The UW Sea Caves Watch buoy may be offline seasonally. See NWS marine forecasts and NPS safety guidance, and talk to your outfitter. No online reading is launch clearance.

Before a boat trip

A cruise past an island is not an island landing. NPS-authorized services list available operators, but dates and stops require separate confirmation.

2026 access notice

Little Sand Bay construction restricts parking and may reroute launch access. Devils Island's marina remains closed during work. Recheck before travel.

THE FIELD GUIDE

Nine ways to meet the islands

The best choice depends on your appetite for water, weather and logistics.

Guided kayaking group with sea kayaks at Meyers Beach
Photo: National Park Service · Public domain
On foot · Explore from dry land

Meyers Beach & the Lakeshore Trail

The sandstone coast has a quieter side above the waves. The rugged Lakeshore Trail reaches overlooks of the mainland caves about 2.5 miles one way from Meyers Beach. Expect roots, stream crossings, steep terrain and a return hike.

Make the most of it: Follow the trail rather than approaching cliff edges. Budget half a day or longer for the sea-cave overlooks.

Access notes: Park at 90500 Meyers Beach Road. NPS lists $5 day parking under 20 feet, $8 for longer vehicles, and a 45-foot maximum vehicle length. Check construction access.
Meyers Beach · NPS ↗Find on map ↓
Sea kayaking · Go with expertise

Mainland sea caves by kayak

Water moves through the red-rock chambers, rebounds from the cliffs and can build confused waves. This can be a remarkable guided trip, but it is not a casual paddle on an inland lake.

Make the most of it: For first-time visitors, book an NPS-authorized guided sea-kayak trip. A regional forecast does not prove that the caves are safe.

Access notes: NPS recommends a decked sea kayak at least 16 feet long with sealed bulkheads, PFD, spray skirt, cold-water protection and rescue skills. It discourages sit-on-top and open kayaks, canoes and paddleboards.
Kayaking safety · NPS ↗Find on map ↓
Cruises · An easy introduction

Narrated Grand Tour

A narrated sightseeing boat follows the island landscape from Bayfield. A cruise is ideal for those who want to see offshore cliffs, lighthouses and distant caves without planning their own boat passage.

Make the most of it: Choose this for a first visit or a mixed-age group; plan an island landing separately if you want to explore on foot.

Access notes: Operator describes a typical 2.5–3.25 hour cruise. Its published daily 2026 tour schedule ended October 18. Route, landing and future availability are not guaranteed.
Cruise schedules · operator ↗Find on map ↓
Island visit · Old stone, wild shore

Sand Island & lighthouse

Forest paths, beaches and the 1881 sandstone lighthouse give Sand Island its own character. Public docking at East Bay exists, but that is not a promise of a vacant dock or landing conditions.

Make the most of it: Choose your authorized excursion or safe private-boating plan before choosing a trail. Verify tour/lighthouse schedules.

Access notes: Water access only. Little Sand Bay has 2026 marina construction with reduced parking and possible access changes.
Sand Island · NPS ↗Find on map ↓
Raspberry Island Lighthouse overlooking Lake Superior
Photo: National Park Service · Public domain
Lighthouses · Life on the light station

Raspberry Island Lighthouse

The white lighthouse and red roof stand above the lake, preserving the history of the people who kept vessels safe through long Lake Superior nights.

Make the most of it: Look for an authorized lighthouse excursion, and verify whether the outing actually includes a landing and tour.

Access notes: Boat access only; lighthouse openings and island stops vary with schedule and weather.
Authorized services · NPS ↗
Island visit · Beaches that ask you to linger

Stockton Island & Julian Bay

Stockton's forests and Julian Bay shoreline make it a strong choice for a longer island day. On these beaches the landscape becomes the destination, not a viewpoint to tick off.

Make the most of it: Arrange a full island outing with time for its trails, or build it into a permitted camping itinerary.

Access notes: No car access. Shuttle schedules, camping permits and marine landing conditions must be verified.
Island hiking · NPS ↗
Ferry island · The island with a road

Madeline Island & Big Bay

The car-and-passenger ferry from Bayfield crosses to La Pointe. Big Bay State Park offers a long beach, boardwalks and woodland trails, with more independence than a boat-tour stop.

Make the most of it: A useful full-day option if you want an island experience and the flexibility of road access.

Access notes: Madeline is outside the National Lakeshore. Ferry boarding is generally first come, first served, subject to season and weather; state park fees are separate.
Madeline ferry FAQ ↗Find on map ↓
Remote islands · The wild outer edge

Devils Island's sea caves

The northernmost sea caves reveal what the lake can do to sandstone over centuries. They're photogenic, remote and exposed.

Make the most of it: Look for an authorized offshore viewing trip; don't treat it as a novice paddling destination.

Access notes: Devils Island marina is closed during the NPS 2026 rehabilitation project. Water views do not imply permission or safe ability to land.
Marina projects · NPS ↗
Backcountry · Stay after the boats depart

Island overnight camping

At night the harbor lights become distant points across the water. Camping brings new rewards, but the logistics of campsite, transport, weather and permits are inseparable.

Make the most of it: Secure campsite reservations and a safe water-transport plan together, with weather flexibility.

Access notes: NPS campsites are tent-only and are not drive-up. Camping permits and fees are required; some mainland sites require hiking or kayaking.
Camping permits · NPS ↗

A DIFFERENT SEASON

Winter caves are extraordinary. Access is rare.

Some winters build curtains of ice against the mainland cliffs. The NPS closes the cave zone unless the superintendent formally declares it open. A frozen shoreline or ice map never establishes safe passage.

Official ice-cave rules ↗ · Park ice line: 715-779-3398, option 3

Frozen sandstone sea caves at Meyers Beach in a prior winter
Photo: Jeff the quiet · CC0 1.0

THE LAND BEHIND THE JOURNEY

What carved this place?

The arches and caves come from ancient sandstone worked by waves, wind and winter ice. Rare plants live in moist rock crevices. Wisconsin DNR documents these fragile maritime cliffs; stay on established visitor routes.

The islands also contain unusual forests, lagoons and freshwater systems. The USGS water-resources study and Wisconsin maritime forests inventory explain the ecology beyond the caves.

PART OF YOUR LAKE SUPERIOR CIRCLE TOUR

Give Bayfield more than a quick stop.

A cruise and a night in town may be the perfect introduction. If the mainland caves or an offshore island are your goal, give yourself a weather-flexible day and arrange transport first.

Return to the Circle Tour ↗

Sources, imagery and limitations

Verified October 27, 2026. Sources: NPS visitor planning, NPS kayak safety, NPS fees, NPS construction, UW Sea Caves Watch, cruise operator, ferry operator. Historical images do not depict current conditions. Map markers are geographic reference points only.