Apostle Island National Lakeshore, Bayfield, Wisconsin.
Named by mathematically challenged French Fur Traders, the Apostle Islands include 22 islands instead of the 12 alleged to be by its name. These islands are all located in Lake Superior and are all part of the state of Wisconsin.
The Apostle Islands National Lakeshore includes 21 of the 22 islands in the chain (all but Madeline Island). Established in 1970, the National Lakeshore allowed for the protection of the remaining islands for all future generations.
Getting to the Apostle Islands can only be achieved by boat, so if you do not own your craft, you can take a ferry (Madeline Island only), charter a boat, or take a tour offered by the Apostle Islands Cruises. We opted for the Grand Tour during our visit, as it was feasibly the only way to see most of the islands in one afternoon.
On the day we toured, our departure point, Bayfield, was experiencing a squall, so we waited a while before embarking on our journey. The tour lasted almost three hours, and the captain showed us many of the islands’ features, including the lake caves of Devil’s Island, the Lighthouses of Devil’s Island and Raspberry Island, a restored fishing camp, and a Bald Eagle’s nest. The tour serves as a reminder that while these islands have had many different human activities, the National Lakeshore designation allows the use of the park for all people.
Dress appropriately for the cruise. Although we visited in the summer, it can get quite cool on Lake Superior when you are in open water. Rain and overcast skies also contributed to the lower temperature on the lake.
Overall, the trip was enjoyable, and I would like to go back to explore the islands more closely. Northern Wisconsin might be out of the way for many travelers, but a trip to the Apostle Islands is a satisfying way to experience the beauty of Lake Superior.
