Apostle Islands, Wisconsin

Apostle Islands National Lakeshore encompasses 21 islands and 12 miles of mainland shoreline in Lake Superior off the Bayfield Peninsula in northern Wisconsin. The National Park Service unit protects a remarkable combination of lake ecology and human history: sandstone sea caves sculpted by wave action over thousands of years, six historic lighthouses dating from the 1850s through the 1890s, sandy beaches, old-growth forest, and black bear habitat. The Apostle Islands are accessible only by water — the Bayfield Ferry Line runs to Madeline Island (the only inhabited island in the group) and the National Park Service operates cruise boats and water taxis to other islands during the summer season. Kayaking is the primary means of independent island exploration; sea caves along the mainland shoreline near Meyers Beach and on the north shore of Sand Island are the most celebrated kayaking destinations, their cathedral-like sandstone chambers accessible only from the water. In winter, when Lake Superior freezes sufficiently — typically from mid-January through February — the sea caves become accessible on foot across the ice, creating ice formations of extraordinary beauty: frozen waterfalls, ice curtains, and blue-tinted cave interiors attract thousands of visitors in cold snap years when ice is thick enough to walk. Ice access is not guaranteed each year and depends on Lake Superior's freeze timing. Lighthouse tours on Raspberry Island and Michigan Island operate in summer. The small city of Bayfield on the mainland serves as the primary base for visitors, offering lodging, kayak rentals, outfitters, and boat tours.