El and Bill
New member
Anyone cruise the Apostle Islands? Looking for ideas about best ramp to launch and leave t&t, special places on or along the islands, favorite anchorages, ... Hazards?
You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.
You should upgrade or use an alternative browser.
You should upgrade or use an alternative browser.
Apostle Islands
- Thread starter El and Bill
- Start date
First of all, let me tell you that I was inspired by you to buy my 22 cruiser. Thank you! I love my boat. :smile
We just got back from our second trip to the Apostle Islands. Since we first cruised them last summer we told ourselves that this would be an annual destination. So far we have kept our promise and plan to be back annually. We have made Bayfield our base and done daytrips from there, with the exception of a two-night stay in Stockton Island. We have not stayed anchored overnight; however, there are several islands where anchoring would be possible. You only have to make sure you stay on the leeward side of the island since the weather in Lake Superior changes constantly.
There are several marinas on the mainland and a marina on Madeleine Island, just a short crossing from Bayfield. This year we stayed one night in the Madeline Island Yacht Club. The marina we used in Bayfield is Apostle Islands Marina 715-779-5661, which is right downtown Bayfield, within walking distance of restaurants and the ice cream parlor located on Rittenhouse Ave, just two doors up the street from the IGA. The slip is $1.25 per foot with a minimum of 25 feet. They have a place to store the trailer ($5 per day) and you can park the car on the marina’s parking lot at no extra charge. I have left car and trailer for a week. The bathroom facilities are good. Randy is great. There are other marinas in the area that offer other amenities like swimming pool and other children activities, but you need the car to go downtown. My wife and I do not need any of those other attractions. Being downtown within walking distance to everything is important to us. There is a restaurant that we discovered this time that is worth the 15 minute drive “Good Thyme”, located on Hwy 13 between Bayfield and Washburn.
In Stockton Island there is a fairly new dock on the SE side of the island where you can stay overnight for $10 per night on a first come first serve basis. There are two docks. We found the one on the SE side of the island (Presque Isle Bay) much nicer and well protected. This year the lake was lower than last year. As you enter the bay stay on your starboard side as the water on your port is shallow, even for a C-Dory. There is no electricity. There are no toilets but the outhouse is clean (pretty much like camping). There is nothing there but peace and quiet. My wife loves it. It is excellent for hiking—make sure to hike to Julian Bay. Make sure the house battery is charged and have enough food for cooking while you are there. We did not see any, but there are supposed to be black bears on the island.
I hope this gives you an idea of what to expect. Let me know if you need more info. Check out our photo album of the Apostle Islands.
Happy boating,
We just got back from our second trip to the Apostle Islands. Since we first cruised them last summer we told ourselves that this would be an annual destination. So far we have kept our promise and plan to be back annually. We have made Bayfield our base and done daytrips from there, with the exception of a two-night stay in Stockton Island. We have not stayed anchored overnight; however, there are several islands where anchoring would be possible. You only have to make sure you stay on the leeward side of the island since the weather in Lake Superior changes constantly.
There are several marinas on the mainland and a marina on Madeleine Island, just a short crossing from Bayfield. This year we stayed one night in the Madeline Island Yacht Club. The marina we used in Bayfield is Apostle Islands Marina 715-779-5661, which is right downtown Bayfield, within walking distance of restaurants and the ice cream parlor located on Rittenhouse Ave, just two doors up the street from the IGA. The slip is $1.25 per foot with a minimum of 25 feet. They have a place to store the trailer ($5 per day) and you can park the car on the marina’s parking lot at no extra charge. I have left car and trailer for a week. The bathroom facilities are good. Randy is great. There are other marinas in the area that offer other amenities like swimming pool and other children activities, but you need the car to go downtown. My wife and I do not need any of those other attractions. Being downtown within walking distance to everything is important to us. There is a restaurant that we discovered this time that is worth the 15 minute drive “Good Thyme”, located on Hwy 13 between Bayfield and Washburn.
In Stockton Island there is a fairly new dock on the SE side of the island where you can stay overnight for $10 per night on a first come first serve basis. There are two docks. We found the one on the SE side of the island (Presque Isle Bay) much nicer and well protected. This year the lake was lower than last year. As you enter the bay stay on your starboard side as the water on your port is shallow, even for a C-Dory. There is no electricity. There are no toilets but the outhouse is clean (pretty much like camping). There is nothing there but peace and quiet. My wife loves it. It is excellent for hiking—make sure to hike to Julian Bay. Make sure the house battery is charged and have enough food for cooking while you are there. We did not see any, but there are supposed to be black bears on the island.
I hope this gives you an idea of what to expect. Let me know if you need more info. Check out our photo album of the Apostle Islands.
Happy boating,
Apostle Islands
Bayfield has a good launch ramp. Parking for t@t is limited to a few days. Bayfield is a touristy town and is busy in summer. Still nice to spend a few hours there.
Red Cliff ( Indian reservation ) has a good launch. Not sure about how parking works there.
The Park Service has a nice launch ramp at Little Sand Bay and has open parking there.
There is also a marina with ramp at Port Superior just a few miles south of Bayfield.
I think your best bet would be Little Sand Bay launch.
Get map and boating info at Little Sand Bay or the park headquarters located in downtown Bayfield. Permit maybe needed. Last time it was 4 dollars a day per person. I have camped on the Islands using an inflatable boat in the past.
Never anchored out. so I can not hely you much there.
Some of the islands have small docks for a short stop. Some you can over night at.
Sand island and Devils Is have pretty neat sea caves.
Rasberry Is has a light house to visit. Has dock.
Devils Is has buildings and lighthouse to visit. Dock on south end and a half mile walk to the north end where the light house is.
South Twin Is has a little museum with dock. Protection here for anchoring. Sandy bottom. Caution: Shouls on north end of Rocky Is.
Neat Sand spits on the south ends of Cat Is. and Outer Is. I have seen boats anchored off of Cat Is.
Stockton Is. is the buisiest with people. It has a good dock. Passanger ferrys stop here. It has some very good trails on it and a great beach in Julian Bay. Seen many boats anchored in Julian bay.
Hazards: Summer weather is usually good. The lake is huge and can get rough, but in the islands you get some protection. Water is cold.
Have Fun,
Mike
Manito Is has a small fishing museum. With dock.
Oak Is. has hiking trails. Sandy beach on south end.
Bayfield has a good launch ramp. Parking for t@t is limited to a few days. Bayfield is a touristy town and is busy in summer. Still nice to spend a few hours there.
Red Cliff ( Indian reservation ) has a good launch. Not sure about how parking works there.
The Park Service has a nice launch ramp at Little Sand Bay and has open parking there.
There is also a marina with ramp at Port Superior just a few miles south of Bayfield.
I think your best bet would be Little Sand Bay launch.
Get map and boating info at Little Sand Bay or the park headquarters located in downtown Bayfield. Permit maybe needed. Last time it was 4 dollars a day per person. I have camped on the Islands using an inflatable boat in the past.
Never anchored out. so I can not hely you much there.
Some of the islands have small docks for a short stop. Some you can over night at.
Sand island and Devils Is have pretty neat sea caves.
Rasberry Is has a light house to visit. Has dock.
Devils Is has buildings and lighthouse to visit. Dock on south end and a half mile walk to the north end where the light house is.
South Twin Is has a little museum with dock. Protection here for anchoring. Sandy bottom. Caution: Shouls on north end of Rocky Is.
Neat Sand spits on the south ends of Cat Is. and Outer Is. I have seen boats anchored off of Cat Is.
Stockton Is. is the buisiest with people. It has a good dock. Passanger ferrys stop here. It has some very good trails on it and a great beach in Julian Bay. Seen many boats anchored in Julian bay.
Hazards: Summer weather is usually good. The lake is huge and can get rough, but in the islands you get some protection. Water is cold.
Have Fun,
Mike
Manito Is has a small fishing museum. With dock.
Oak Is. has hiking trails. Sandy beach on south end.
El and Bill
New member
Thanks guys for the suggestions. The islands look great. Sorry to have just missed you Ramon - we are staying at Washburn's West End park as we sort out our things after camping with the kids and grandkids up at Voyageurs NP. Weather looks like a front tomorrow so may wait another day before launching for the islands. We'll be using your ideas and suggestions on the cruise, guys - thanks.
We're sure glad you enjoy your boat, Ramon. You have some great water here to enjoy.
We're sure glad you enjoy your boat, Ramon. You have some great water here to enjoy.
Kent Richmond
New member
Bill and El, just saw your post. We live in Bayfield, just up the road from where you are camped in Washburn. Don't know if you are still there, but if you are, we would be happy to tell you anything you want to know about the Apostles. You can launch in Washburn or Bayfield. Don't try Little Sand Bay because the road construction in Red Cliff, with the Hwy. 13 detour will put you well past that launch. Stockton is one of the most popular of the cruising destinations in the Apostles. You can look for a space in their little marina, but most folks drop the hook in either Julian or Cache Bay, depending on the wind direction. And yes, there are a ton of bears on Stockton. If we aren't lucky enough "bump" into you, have a great trip. In the event that you want to try to contact us, you can do that at 715-779-9700.
Kent and Dot Richmond
Kent and Dot Richmond
El and Bill
New member
This site is marvelous. We returned to the "boater home" in the campground, after visiting Washburn's bookshop and museum, and a car pulled up beside us - yep, Kent who posted just above. We hadn't read his post, so what a surprise when he called El by name.
We shared the afternoon with Kent and Dot talking about the Apostles and cruising - delightful. - and Kent gave Halcyon a vessel safety check (yep, he's in the CG auxiliary). And he loaned us a chart of the local waters.
Now watching weather for a possible launch with them for some shared cruising.
We shared the afternoon with Kent and Dot talking about the Apostles and cruising - delightful. - and Kent gave Halcyon a vessel safety check (yep, he's in the CG auxiliary). And he loaned us a chart of the local waters.
Now watching weather for a possible launch with them for some shared cruising.
Chris Bulovsky
New member
West End park? That's less than a mile from my house. Did you have anything to do with that big bang @ midnight? I'll be riding in that mountain bike race Sat. that starts in West End End park. You picked a busy week here.
As for Islands
I like Julian Bay on Stockton the most.
If its blowing hard from the south a trailer ride to little sand bay is a nice trip. Go to
the north side of York its nice for a picnic. If you looking for hikes on an Island consider Sand Island. Mind the bears. The Island Blue berries may be ready.
Oak is huge and pretty buggy in the woods mostly just bears on that island. Lots of hiking trails.
Sea caves near Cornie are pretty neat.
A Cruise to Black river Harbor in the U.P. could be a nice overnight trip.
Submerged pilings near Ashland can be ugly. Just last week a guy smacked one that required rescue from my colleges.
I hope to bump into you.
Chris
As for Islands
I like Julian Bay on Stockton the most.
If its blowing hard from the south a trailer ride to little sand bay is a nice trip. Go to
the north side of York its nice for a picnic. If you looking for hikes on an Island consider Sand Island. Mind the bears. The Island Blue berries may be ready.
Oak is huge and pretty buggy in the woods mostly just bears on that island. Lots of hiking trails.
Sea caves near Cornie are pretty neat.
A Cruise to Black river Harbor in the U.P. could be a nice overnight trip.
Submerged pilings near Ashland can be ugly. Just last week a guy smacked one that required rescue from my colleges.
I hope to bump into you.
Chris
El and Bill
New member
Met Chris and had a great visit - good cruising ideas to put along side those we have heard from Kent. So armed, we headed up to Little Sand Bay and launched for a perfect weather cruise in the islands. Beautiful lighthouses, interesting geology and clean, clear water. We'll write it up on Halcyon Days when we get some time off.
We left the lake yesterday ahead of a wicked weather forecast "70 mph winds, big hail, and tornado warnings." The storm came, as promised, and put on quite a show of lightning, toppled trees, and wind-torn rain. Nice tone ashore. Now pondering the next area to explore.
We left the lake yesterday ahead of a wicked weather forecast "70 mph winds, big hail, and tornado warnings." The storm came, as promised, and put on quite a show of lightning, toppled trees, and wind-torn rain. Nice tone ashore. Now pondering the next area to explore.