Bayfield Bound: Hikes, Sea Caves, Ferries and Flavors

Bayfield is the sort of place where a long weekend feels like a full-length adventure movie—complete with cliff-top hikes, island ferries, hidden tree-houses, and plenty of post-trail treats.

From the North Shore suburbs, it’s roughly 330 miles by car—about 5 ½ to 6 hours of drive time if you head north on I-43 and follow US-2/WI-13 along Lake Superior. It’s a long trek, but worth it!

Here’s a round-up of the stops our family loved most on (and around) Wisconsin’s South Shore of Lake Superior.

Hit the trails

Bayfield and the surrounding area is a hiker’s paradise! You can’t go wrong with any of the local trails, but here are a few of our favorites.

Big Ravine Trail Network – Beginning right in downtown Bayfield, this short but vigorous climb winds through hemlock and maple and rewards you with ravine overlooks in under an hour. New headwaters loops make it easy to tailor distance for younger hikers.

Brownstone Trail – A 3-mile stroll on an old railroad grade that hugs Superior’s shoreline. Even little legs can manage portions, and the lake views are nonstop.

Houghton Falls – Just north of Washburn, an easy 1.3-mile out-and-back through a sandstone gorge leads to dramatic Lake Superior bluffs—perfect for a quick family photo-op.

Apostle Islands and Sea Caves

The sea caves hikes in Bayfield look like another world

Meyers Beach Lakeshore Trail – A moderate 4½-mile (round-trip) route that traces the cliff-top above the famous Apostle Islands sea caves. Go early; the parking lot fills fast on summer mornings.

Kayak or Cruise Options – If the kids would rather paddle than hike, outfitters launch right from Meyers Beach for guided cave tours when the lake is calm.

Hop the ferry to Madeline Island

The 25-minute ride on the Madeline Island Ferry Line is half the fun—keep an eye out for sea-kayakers and the Bayfield harbor as you pull away from shore. Once on the island, Big Bay State & Town Parks offer seven miles of forested trails, a mile-long boardwalk, and wide beaches perfect for skipping stones.

Unique places to stay

Chez Del Main – A two-bedroom, first-floor suite in a 100-year-old home just a few blocks from Rittenhouse Avenue. Park once and walk to shops, the marina, and evening ice-cream runs.

Boulder Bay Tree House – Twelve feet up in the pines with lake glimpses, a wrap-around deck, gas fireplace, and full bath. It’s a storybook sleepover whether you’re six or 46.

Good eats by the water

Wonderstate Coffee, Bayfield – Smoothies, waffles, locally baked pastries, and ethically sourced espresso in a bright café on Rittenhouse. Early-bird fuel before the ferry.

The Pickled Herring / Pier Plaza – Lake-view deck for whitefish tacos or a classic burger; locals swear by Grandpa Jack’s namesake appetizer.

South Shore Brewery Taphouse, Washburn – Post-hike root beers for the kids and award-winning Nut Brown for the grown-ups, brewed right on site.

Bayfield Wine & Spirits (Apostle 22) – Curated bottles, local ciders, and picnic supplies a block off the harbor—handy if you’re catching a sunset cruise.

Bayfield Apple Company – Forty varieties of apples (plus jams and hard cider) make this a must-stop in September and October. Kids can sample while parents stock up for the drive home.

Bayfield Wine & Spirits tasting events and South Shore’s small-batch release nights are fun add-ons if you have older teens to watch younger siblings.

Whether you book the tree-house, an in-town suite, or simply make a day-trip for apple-picking and brewery fries, Bayfield delivers big memories in a compact footprint. Build your itinerary around one high-energy outing (sea caves, ferry, or cliff hike) and balance it with relaxed meals and shoreline strolls. The mix of wilderness and walkability is exactly why our crew keeps talking about “next time” the moment we hit the highway south.

See you on Superior’s shore!