Wisconsin's Underrated Outdoor Circuit
Wisconsin is consistently overlooked in outdoor travel writing — overshadowed by Minnesota's Boundary Waters to the west and Michigan's Upper Peninsula to the east. But the state has a remarkable concentration of wilderness, water, and wildlife packed into its northern tier. This 10-day circuit connects the best of all of it, from Lake Superior sea caves to the waterfalls of the Wisconsin-Michigan border country.
Trip Overview
- Duration: 10 days
- Base towns: Bayfield, WI (Days 1-3); Boulder Junction, WI (Days 4-6); Ontonagon, MI (Days 7-9); Marinette, WI (Day 10)
- Activities: Sea kayaking, canoe camping, backpacking
Days 1-3 — Apostle Islands Sea Kayaking
Arrive in Bayfield, Wisconsin and spend three days paddling the Apostle Islands archipelago. Day 1: mainland sea caves at Little Sand Bay (5-mile round trip along sandstone cliff coast). Day 2: open-water crossing to Stockton Island (3.5 miles, check forecast) — camp at NPS wilderness campsite, hike the Tombolo Loop, look for black bears in the blueberry fields. Day 3: return to Bayfield by water taxi or paddle, afternoon in town at the waterfront restaurants. Kayak rental and instruction available from Trek and Trail or Apostle Islands Kayak Service.
Days 4-6 — Northern Highland-American Legion State Forest Canoe Routes
Drive south to Boulder Junction, Wisconsin — the gateway to the Northern Highland-American Legion State Forest, which contains over 700 lakes connected by rivers and portages. Unlike the BWCAW, most routes here require no permit and the entry-level routes are shorter and calmer. The Trout Lake canoe route is the most popular: Trout Lake → Allequash Lake → Big Muskellunge Lake → Crystal Lake (4 lakes, 3 portages, 20 miles over 3 days). Portages are paved or gravel-surfaced at launch points. Fish for muskie, northern pike, and walleye. Rent canoes from Headwaters Canoe in Boulder Junction.
Days 7-9 — Porcupine Mountains Wilderness Backpacking (Michigan UP)
Drive east across the Upper Peninsula to Ontonagon, Michigan. The Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park — 'the Porkies' — is the largest state park in Michigan and one of the most significant remaining old-growth forests in the upper Midwest. Hike the Lake of the Clouds Escarpment Trail (4-mile rim trail above the most photographed scene in Michigan), camp at the remote Mirror Lake backcountry cabin (reserve at DNR), and hike the Presque Isle River loop past a series of five waterfalls cascading into Lake Superior gorges. Pack permit required ($15/person/night). Best in late September: dramatic fall color over the old-growth canopy.
Day 10 — Marinette County Waterfall Circuit
Return to Wisconsin via Marinette County, which has over 14 named waterfalls within a 20-mile radius — the highest concentration in the Midwest. Marinette is called 'The Waterfall Capital of Wisconsin.' Must-see: Dave's Falls (unique double waterfall), Twelve Foot Falls (widest falls in the state), Horseshoe Falls (accessible via short trail from County Road F). Finish in Marinette city for dinner before heading south.
