Apostle Islands Weekend Itinerary
Sometimes life is busy, especially in the summer. Suddenly it’s August, and every weekend is booked. It may seem challenging to have a quick getaway, but it’s actually quite easy!
Last week we set out on a 1-night trip to Madeleine Island to experience the dramatic Apostle Islands and Sea Caves of Lake Superior. This is one of the most stunning landscapes in the Midwest.
August is an ideal time to visit the Apostle Islands when Lake Superior’s water is at its warmest.
Less than 4 hours north of the Twin Cities, the Apostle Islands are off the coast of Bayfield, WI on Lake Superior. The red sandstone rock formations are 1 billion - 660 million years old. There is no vehicle access to the islands, except Madelene Island by ferry. The area is considered a kayaker’s paradise, as this is the best way to explore. Experienced outfitters can help you navigate the islands or guide you along the shore of the mainland, which is what we did. There are also great hiking trails that allow you to explore the dramatic shoreline. One of the best trails is the Lakeshore Trail which starts at Meyers Beach, near Cornucopia. This trail takes you to the area’s most famous sea caves.
We camped on Madeline Island, walked the soft sand beaches that stretch on for miles, swam in the crystal clear water of Lake Superior, and hiked miles of trails through Big Bay State Park.
GOLDEN GUIDES ITINERARY
DAY ONE: Saturday
From our starting point in Stillwater, MN we only had a 3.5-hour drive to our final destination, so we planned some stops along the way.
1. Jay Cooke State Park in Carlton, MN
Distance: 2 hours (from Stillwater, MN)
This gorgeous park has a suspension bridge, just past the parking lot that offers incredible views of the falls and rapids.
The winding roads in and out of the park made for some fun driving as well!
2. Ehlers Store in Cornucopia, WI
Distance: 1.5 hours
We head all the way up the top of Wisconsin to Cornucopia, a tiny town on Lake Superior.
Here we stop in Ehlers Store and pick up some sandwiches and salads. We are delighted to see healthy, fresh options! We grab a wrap with black beans, sweet potato, and chimichurri and a beet salad with feta and almonds for a picnic.
This darling general store has all of the basics, homemade bakery treats, gifts, and fresh-picked wild blueberries!
3. Cornucopia Beach in Cornucopia, WI
In Cornucopia, just past the gallery shops, you’ll find a quiet, sandy beach to picnic. There is plenty of parking and shade.
We plop down on the sand to eat our lunch, side by side looking out over the lake. With no land on the horizon, it’s like the ocean but more familiar to us. This is our common pose, side by side looking at the water. We are at peace, in our happy place. After lunch, without words, we intuitively get ready for a swim. The crystal clear water is warm for Lake Superior and the ripples in the sand below our feet soften as we wade into the water.
4. Bodin Fisheries in Bayfield, WI
Distance: 30 mins.
Right on the dock in Bayfield, Bodin Fishers is 5th generation owned and operated. Here, wild-caught fish from Lake Superior is brought in fresh daily and processed immediately.
We pick up some smoked whitefish, a local favorite, to bring to camp. Delicious!
5. Madeline Island Ferry Line in Bayfield, WI
In Bayfield, it’s time to get on the Ferry! In the summer the ferry runs every half hour from 10-6 and select times otherwise.
It’s a 25-minute ride over to Madeline Island. We get out of our car during the crossing to enjoy the view.
6. Big Bay State Park in La Pointe, WI
Distance: 25 min.
Pro Tips: Firewood is cash only at the park. Wifi is very limited.
Big Bay State Park is 9 miles from the ferry landing.
Madeline Island is the largest of the Apostle Islands and the only one with roads. The shoreline is trimmed with sea caves, pristine beaches, and forests.
We elect to camp, but there are many lodging options and restaurants on the island. Our campground in Big Bay State Park has dramatic red cliffs, miles of sandy beach, and trails through hardwood forest and old-growth Hemlock.
As we hike the brawny shoreline of red rock and green water the peace of the island settles in. We cool off in the crystal clear water before heading to our campsite.
We like the privacy of the walk-in sites. Karts are available to haul our gear to the site. We get the fire started for our dinner. Tonight we are making Grilled Halloumi and Veggie Kabobs with pistachio pesto and Tzatziki.
By the time we set up our campsite, we were starving. Since we don’t want hangry campers, we always prepare a quick snack to enjoy as we make dinner. Our snack tonight is Creamy White Bean Hummus with grilled pitas and veggies.
We munch on our dip as we prep the Grilled Halloumi and Vegetable Kabobs and wait for the coals to form. It’s best to cook over a fire once you have coals because it is the hottest and most consistent heat.
One of our favorite foods is cheese (yes, we are cheeseheads), so we had the brilliant idea of grilling halloumi. We found these handy little baskets to put our cheese and veggies in, so we don’t have to worry about losing them in the fire. This has become our favorite campfire meal, plus no pans to clean!
We enjoy our grilled cheese and veggies with fresh Tzatki, grilled lemon, and pitas with za’atar. Meals like this are why cooking is one of our favorite things about camping.
DAY TWO: Sunday
We get up early and hike the 1-mile boardwalk along the lake. This is a beautiful easy walk with the forest on one side and the majestic lake on the other. The smell of pine heavy in the warm air and the stillness of the water set the tone for a balanced day. We can’t resist another swim before heading back to camp to make a hearty breakfast, today we will be kayaking!
For breakfast, we make Chilaquiles Verdes. Corn chips, salsa verde, eggs, and avo? …say no more.
7. Lost Creek Adventures, Cornucopia, WI
Distance: 30 mins
We get on the ferry and head back to Cornucopia to meet our guides for the Apostle Island, Sea Cave kayak trip. This outfitter was very pro and fun. Like your favorite camp counselor, they prepped us for the outing with playful confidence.
We paddled our tandem sea kayak into the caves, ducking to fit and guiding ourselves through narrow channels with our hands against the cold rock. The water is a brilliant green and thunders deeply as it enters the caves. Majestic and humbling, this was an experience of a lifetime.
Back on the road towards home. We could have explored for days, but it’s comforting to know we can have such a rejuvenating experience even when we don’t have much time.