Hiking & Trails

The Bayfield Peninsula and the Apostle Islands offer hundreds of miles of hiking trails with scenic overlooks of Lake Superior and sandstone formations. Many of the trails can be accessed in any season. 

Lakeshore Trail on the Mainland Unit - This trail extends six miles above the mainland sea caves from Meyers Beach. The trail has three sections, the first goes from Meyers Beach to the Crevasses, a 100-yard long fracture in the bedrock. The second section travels above the mainland sea caves and their section passes through a wooded area, finally ending at the campsite. 

Big Ravine Trail - Including both ravine and upland areas, the forests consist of mixed hardwood and conifer trees, including big cedars, hemlocks and pines. It’s located in the heart of the city of Bayfield, just steps from downtown. Follow 4th Street uphill to the Bayfield School, Turn left on Sweeny and park at the baseball field. The trail begins behind the outfield fence. The trail can also be accessed off of Meyers-Olson Road. 

Frog Bay Tribal National Park - Visit the first tribal National Park in the United States. Hike 1.7 miles of rustic trail through boreal forest, coastal wetlands and undeveloped sand beach. This Award Winning Hike is located four miles north of Bayfield on lands owned and managed by the Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa.

 

Bayfield and the Apostle Islands offer miles of pristine sand beaches both within the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore and on the Mainland.  

The Capser Trail - A 2-mile, multi-use trail designed for recreation and education, owned and managed by the Madeline Island Wilderness Preserve. The entrance to the Capser Trail is on the south side of County H (Big Bay Road), across from the Fire Hall. Use the parking area in Forest Park. There is no usage fee.

Houghton Falls Nature Preserve - Enjoy boreal forest habitats, sandstone cliffs, seasonal waterfalls, and Lake Superior’s rocky shoreline. The trailhead is located on Houghton Falls Road off of Highway 13 about 9 miles south of Bayfield. the Trail is open 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily. 

Jerry Jay Jolly- Pikes Creek Trail System - This trailhead is the jumping-off point for access to 8 miles of hiking, snowshoeing, and ungroomed cross-country ski trails. Located off of Star Route Road, the trails meander over 1,000 acres of Bayfield County Forest. 

Apostle Islands Trails- Hikers can enjoy more than 50 miles of maintained trails on the islands of the National Lakeshore. See lighthouses, abandoned quarries, old farm sites and scenic overlooks. You can hike on 14 of the Apostle Islands including Madeline, Basswood, Devils, Long, Manitou, Michigan, Oak, Otter, Outer, Raspberry, Rocky, Sand, South Twin, and Stockton Islands.

Beaver Hollow: It's one of the few fully accessible nature trails in the area. Enjoy a looped parking area that accommodates full-sized school buses. The trail is equipped with a 1,116-foot fully accessible boardwalk that travels above an abandoned narrow gauge railroad grade that beavers have used as a dam site. Benches are located every 100 feet. The trail also has three wildlife viewing platforms and an outdoor pavilion perfect for an outdoor lunch or large group. 

Big Bay State Park - Explore seven miles of hiking trails hugging the Lake Superior shoreline on Madeline Island. Views of sandstone sea caves, mature hemlock forests, and bogs. The trails are open year-round and adaptive equipment is available for people with mobility impairment.

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