The Apostle Islands

Lake Superior has cut the red sandstone of these shores into arches, chambers and honeycombed cliffs, and the mainland sea caves near Meyers Beach are the best known, paddled by kayak all summer on calm days. Twenty-two islands lie offshore, twenty-one of them in the national lakeshore, most of them wooded and empty, some with old brownstone quarries and fishing camps, and several hold the historic light stations the lakeshore is known for. Madeline Island, the largest and the only one with a town, is reached by car ferry. In a severe winter the lake ice sets hard enough for people to walk out to the same caves and see them hung with icicles, but such winters are rare.

Highlights

• The mainland sea caves - red sandstone chambers and arches by kayak.
• The lighthouses - historic light stations on several of the islands.
• Madeline Island - the one inhabited island, reached by car ferry.
• Island camping - remote sites on wooded islands reached by water taxi.

When to go

June to September is the season for kayaking, boat cruises and island camping, with the water at its least cold in August. Autumn colour on the islands is good in early October. The ice caves require a hard freeze and are announced only when the ice is judged safe, which is rare.

Before you go

Lake Superior is cold enough year-round to cause problems quickly if you capsize, and the sea caves must not be paddled without checking the marine forecast; conditions turn fast and rescues here are difficult. The ice caves are heavily publicised but have been declared safe only a few times in two decades, so do not plan a winter trip around them.

Nearby

Bayfield is the mainland base; Duluth is an hour and a half west.

Key facts