The Midwest's Most Dramatic Paddling
The Apostle Islands National Lakeshore sits at the northern tip of Wisconsin's Bayfield Peninsula, where 21 islands scattered across Lake Superior hold sandstone sea caves, old-growth forest, and some of the clearest freshwater anywhere. In summer, sea kayakers paddle the cave corridors. In winter (January-February), ice forms around the caves and thousands of people walk out on the frozen lake to explore them — two completely different ways to experience the same landscape.
Trip Overview
- Duration: 3 days / 2 nights
- Day 1: Mainland sea caves paddle, camp at Little Sand Bay (car camp)
- Day 2: Paddle to Stockton Island, camp at the NPS campsite
- Day 3: Stockton Island to Bayfield return via water taxi or paddle
- Permit: NPS camping permit required — pick up at Bayfield Visitor Center (first-come first-served for same-day) or reserve online. Limited quota on Stockton Island.
- Base town: Bayfield, WI — kayak rentals, guided trips, excellent restaurants
- Best months: July–September (stable weather, warmest water)
- Sea cave ice: January–February most years — walk out from Little Sand Bay when ice is 4+ inches
Day 1 — Mainland Sea Caves
The mainland sea caves at Little Sand Bay are the most accessible destination in the Apostle Islands — a 5-mile round-trip paddle along the sandstone shoreline to caves carved by 10,000 years of wave action. The caves are cathedral-sized in places, with red, orange, and cream sandstone walls striated by bedding layers. Paddle inside when conditions allow (calm days only — Lake Superior can generate 4-foot waves from flat calm in under 2 hours). The cave section runs about 1.5 miles of shoreline.
After the caves, return to Little Sand Bay for camp. The NPS campsite here is a short walk from the water and is one of the few car-accessible spots in the lakeshore.
Day 2 — Paddle to Stockton Island
Stockton Island is the crown of the Apostles — 10,000 acres of old-growth forest, a tombolo connecting two lobes of the island, and the only NPS-designated wilderness campground in the archipelago. The paddle from Little Sand Bay is 3.5 miles across open water — check the NWS forecast (weather.gov/mqt) the night before. Lake Superior is non-negotiable: if the forecast shows whitecaps, wait a day.
On Stockton: hike the Tombolo Loop (2.5 miles around the sand spit connecting the two island sections), swim in the lagoon (comparatively warm due to shallow depth), and watch for black bears — Stockton has one of the highest bear densities in Wisconsin due to the island's blueberry fields.
Day 3 — Return to Bayfield
Either paddle the 5.5 miles back to Bayfield directly (longer crossing, more open water) or call the Apostle Islands Cruise Service water taxi for a pickup from Stockton's dock. Water taxi: ~$30/person, kayak transport ~$25. In Bayfield: lunch at Maggie's (famous for flamingo kitsch and good food) and explore the orchard farms on the hillside above town.
Gear Notes
Lake Superior averages 40°F year-round — drysuit or wetsuit required for any significant open-water crossing. A kayak with a spray skirt is essential. Guided trips with certified instructors are strongly recommended for anyone without sea kayaking experience. Kayak rental with instruction available from Lost Creek Adventures, Trek & Trail, or Apostle Islands Kayak Service in Bayfield.
