Apostle Islands and Madeline Island Trip
A few years ago, my husband and I took a trip to the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore and Madeline Island in northern Wisconsin. We boarded the first ferry of the day from Bayfield and crossed Lake Superior to Madeline Island.
After arriving, we spent part of the morning exploring the island before renting a boat for the afternoon. From there, we followed the shoreline of the Apostle Islands and passed lighthouses, waterfalls, sandstone cliffs, and sea caves.
Lake Superior was calm that day, which made the trip even more memorable. Because conditions were so good, we were able to safely reach areas that are not always easy to see by private boat.
Trip Overview
- Start in Bayfield, Wisconsin
- Take the Madeline Island Car Ferry to La Pointe
- Spend time exploring Madeline Island
- Rent a boat and head into the Apostle Islands
- See lighthouses, sandstone shoreline, waterfalls, and sea caves
- Return to Madeline Island for dinner
This kind of day works well for visitors who enjoy sightseeing, photography, and time on the water. However, it is best planned with plenty of flexibility, especially when Lake Superior weather is involved.
Best Time To Visit the Apostle Islands
The Apostle Islands National Lakeshore can be visited year-round, but the experience changes with each season. Summer is one of the best times for ferry rides, boat tours, kayaking, and island-hopping on Lake Superior.
Fall brings color to the forests and shoreline, while winter is known for the famous ice cave season when conditions allow. Spring can be quieter, but lake conditions are often less predictable.
If your goal is to see several islands in one day by boat, summer usually offers the best chance for calmer water and easier travel.
Madeline Island Car Ferry
Our first step of the trip was boarding the Madeline Island Ferry from Bayfield, Wisconsin. The ferry carries passengers, bicycles, and vehicles across Lake Superior to La Pointe on Madeline Island.
The ride takes about 25 minutes and offers beautiful views of the Apostle Islands and open water. During calm weather, the crossing is smooth and scenic.
If you are driving, there is parking near the ferry area. It is smart to arrive early during busy summer and fall travel periods, especially on weekends.
Helpful links:
Madeline Island Ferry Schedule
Ferry Rates
Google Map Ferry Location
Tip: Check the ferry schedule before your trip and allow extra time during peak season.
Madeline Island
Once we arrived on Madeline Island, we spent some time sightseeing before our boat rental. Even a short drive around the island is worthwhile. Madeline Island has a slower pace and offers woods, shoreline views, beaches, and small-town stops around La Pointe.
One of our favorite stops was Big Bay County Park. If you are visiting for the day, it is a nice place to stretch your legs and enjoy another side of the island before heading back toward town.
Big Bay County Park
Big Bay Lagoon inside Big Bay County Park is free to visit and includes a sandy beach, hiking trails, and a scenic boardwalk. There is also a private rental company with kayaks and canoes, which makes it a good stop for visitors who want some outdoor time without planning a full boating excursion.
Ways To Explore The Apostle Islands
There are several ways to experience the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore. The best choice depends on your comfort level, your schedule, and lake conditions on the day of your visit.
- Take a guided boat tour from Bayfield
- Kayak the shoreline and sea caves with an outfitter
- Rent or bring your own boat
We chose to rent our own boat from Madeline Island. That gave us the freedom to move at our own pace, stop for photos, and see several islands in one day. Because the weather was calm and warm, the conditions could not have been much better.
Planning tip: If you are not comfortable navigating big water or watching changing conditions, a guided boat tour is often the easier choice.
Before heading out, we watched a safety and regulation video, reviewed the paperwork, and had a short information session. After that, we were on our way. Lake Superior was almost glass calm, and the temperatures were in the low 80s.
On The Way To Stockton Island
Our first stop out on the water was Stockton Island. Along the way, the ride itself became part of the experience. We passed rocky shoreline, open water, and wildlife, and we were reminded just how large and wild this part of Lake Superior feels once you leave the harbor behind.
Stockton Island sits in the midsection of the Apostle Islands and is known for campsites, trails, lagoons, and remote shoreline. Even approaching the island by boat felt memorable.
Stockton Island
Stockton Island sits in the middle of the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore and is the largest island within the park system. Because of its size, it contains a wide variety of habitats and hiking trails.
The island is known for quiet forests, remote campsites, Julian Bay, singing sand, lowbush blueberries, and wetland areas that support unusual plants, including carnivorous species. It also has a reputation for black bears, which is worth keeping in mind if you camp or hike there.
During our visit, we underestimated both the distance and the size of the island. Because of that, we did not make it to Julian Bay or the singing sand beach. Still, it is one of those places that makes you want to return with more time and a better plan.
Good to know: If Stockton Island is one of your main goals, it helps to study the map ahead of time and decide which landing or shoreline area you want to prioritize.
Sand Island Lighthouse
Sand Island Lighthouse was one of the most photogenic stops of the day. Even from the water, the brownstone structure stands out against the shoreline. If you enjoy historic architecture, lighthouses, or Lake Superior scenery, this is a memorable sight.
The lighthouse is located on the western side of the Apostle Islands. It was built in 1880 and first lit in 1881. Like many historic buildings in this part of northern Wisconsin, it was constructed from Apostle Islands brownstone.
The structure reflects a Norman Gothic style, which gives it a distinctive look compared with more common white lighthouses. For visitors who enjoy history as much as scenery, Sand Island adds another interesting layer to an Apostle Islands trip.
If brownstone buildings interest you, this part of northern Wisconsin has several worth noticing in nearby communities as well.
Devils Island
Devils Island was the most dramatic part of the trip. It is the farthest north of the Apostle Islands and one of the best-known places in the national lakeshore for sea caves and rugged sandstone shoreline.
Devils Island lies about 20 miles from Bayfield and can take more than two hours to reach by pleasure craft, depending on lake conditions. Fortunately, Lake Superior was calm during our visit.
Before we left the rental company, we were reminded that many visitors never make it this far because weather, wind, and currents can change quickly. That warning stayed with us all day and was a good reminder to respect the lake.
Thankfully, the calm water allowed us to make the run out to Devils Island and take in the lighthouse, cliffs, and sea caves from the boat.
The island is home to a lighthouse completed in 1891. It is often considered one of the signature views of the Apostle Islands because the lighthouse sits above the shoreline cliffs and caves.
Of all the islands we saw that day, Devils Island had the most impressive sea cave scenery. The sandstone formations were massive and wrapped around the shoreline in a way that made the island feel both wild and remote.
Video Of The Shoreline
After reaching Devils Island, we took some time to enjoy lunch on the boat in front of the lighthouse. It felt like the perfect pause before turning back.
Soon after, the wind and current started to pick up enough to remind us it was time to head back toward Madeline Island. That balance between beauty and unpredictability is part of what makes Lake Superior so memorable.
Things To Know Before Visiting
- Check ferry times before heading to Bayfield.
- Lake Superior conditions can change quickly, so build flexibility into your plans.
- If you want to see multiple islands in one day, start early.
- Study maps ahead of time if you plan to rent a boat.
- Bring layers, even in summer, because temperatures on the lake can feel cooler.
- If you prefer a simpler experience, consider a guided tour instead of self-navigation.
Dinner On Madeline Island
After returning the boat, we ended the day with dinner at The Pub Restaurant and Wine Bar on Madeline Island. It was a welcome stop after hours on the water, and it gave the day a relaxed finish.
If you are visiting Madeline Island for the day, planning a meal stop can help break up the schedule and make the trip feel less rushed.
Final Thoughts
The Apostle Islands National Lakeshore and Madeline Island offer more than one kind of experience, which is part of what makes the area so appealing. You can keep things simple with a ferry ride and a few shoreline stops, or you can go deeper with boating, kayaking, camping, and lighthouse viewing.
For us, the best parts of the day were the calm water, the rugged sandstone shoreline, the lighthouses, and finally reaching Devils Island. Even now, it feels like the kind of place that deserves another visit with more time built in.
Important: Always check current ferry schedules, weather, and lake conditions before your visit. Conditions on Lake Superior can change quickly, especially if you plan to explore beyond Bayfield and Madeline Island.
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The post was last updated in December 2022.