This Quiet Great Lakes City Is An Underrated Gem For Nature Lovers

Perched atop Wisconsin's northernmost point, deep within Lake Superior's western wing, the quaint community of Bayfield is a hidden gem for outdoor enthusiasts. Known as the "Gateway to the Apostle Islands," Bayfield is not only a launching point for island-hopping tours (whether self-propelled or aboard a cruise), but a stone's throw from six historic lighthouses, enormous sea caves, cascading waterfalls, seasonal orchards, large swaths of protected forests, and neighboring national and state parks. As a cherry on top (so to speak), the state's smallest city is also the "Berry Capital of Wisconsin." Eat your heart out, nature lovers!

Why Bayfield is an Underrated Gem

As beautiful and recreative as Bayfield may be, its limiting factor (or best asset, depending on your perspective) is its raw geography. It isn't as if it's hard to get to - in fact, I discovered Bayfield by accident while driving across North America last Spring - but there aren't many major cities within reach. Minneapolis is the closest hub, and that's 230 miles away. Bayfield's sheer latitude also tends to act as a buffer for less resolute nature seekers. The Bayfield Peninsula juts into Lake Superior - the largest and cleanest, but also coldest of the Great Lakes. Warm, sunny days are not uncommon in the summer, but at the same time, cooler mornings and evenings combined with stubborn shoulder seasons tend to separate the wheat from the chaff in terms of tourists.

The result of these incorrigible forces is a harbor town (technically a city) with exceptional range across its four distinct seasons. There are only about 600 permanent residents, but as many as 10,000 people can flood the cozy streets during summer's peak. As for Apostle Islands National Lakeshore, it registered just over a quarter of a million visitors in 2024. That might sound like a lot (and feel like a lot, at times, for the tour operators), but if we were to slot that figure into the national park annual visitation database, it would rank as #51 out of 63 - right between South Carolina's Congaree National Park and California's Channel Islands National Park.

Ultimately, even when Bayfield is busy, it has a charming and spread out feel to it. But if you'd prefer to see vacant parks and smaller crowds aboard your scenic cruise (or sail boat!), pack your best all-weather gear and make for these parts in the second half of May (as I did), or first half of October. Or, if you are a cold-weather adventurer and want to capitalize on Bayfield's lesser-known winter activities, then go introduce yourself to the bountiful and long-lived Lake Effect snows.

Natural Attractions and Activities

Parks and Green Spaces

Bayfield's primary natural draw is the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore. Consisting of 21 islands (22 if you include the largest of them all, Madeline Island), 12 miles of striated sandstone shoreline that is punctuated by dramatic caves and topped with coniferous trees, wild beaches, and the largest collection of lighthouses in the National Park System, it is easy to see why this is the banner attraction. At the same time, visitors can diversify their adventure with a trip to Madeline Islands's Big Bay State Park, Red Cliff's Frog Bay Tribal National Park, the Nourse Sugarbush State Natural Area, or simply enjoy the trifecta of immaculate community parks fanned out across the shoreline (i.e. Halvor Reiten Park and Public Beach, Marina Park & Playground, and the Bayfield Civic League Memorial Park).

Hiking Trails

The Bayfield Peninsula and Apostle Islands constitute hundreds of miles of scenic trails, many of which can be enjoyed throughout the winter (with the help of snowshoes, skis, and fat bikes). Some of the most popular paths include Lakeshore Trail (Mainland Unit), which showcases the mainland sea caves around Meyers Beach, the Big Ravine Trail, which starts right in town and delves into the bounty of cedars, hemlocks, and pines, the seven miles of shoreline trails in Big Bay State Park, and the refreshing treks to Lost Creek Falls and Houghton Falls on opposite sides of the peninsula.

Water Activities

Bayfield offers some of the best paddling on the continent (or rather, in the waters adjacent to the continent). Whether you're into kayaking, canoeing, or standup paddleboarding, strap your vessel to your car (or rent one down at Big Bay Town Park over on Madeline Island) and then set to work exploring the expansive shoreline. Expert paddlers, or those accompanied by a guide (such as through Apostle Islands Sea Cave Tours), can delve into the arches and chambers of the surrounding sandstone cliffs of this part of Lake Superior, while others might prefer a relaxed approach in the sheltered Madeline Island (aka Big Bay) Lagoon. Or if you'd like to be chauffeured around to scenic spots, simply enjoying the Superior breeze and snapping pictures along the way, sign up with Apostle Island Cruises, or set sail with Dream Catcher Sailing.

Wildlife

The diverse habitats throughout Bayfield's backyard allow a wide range of animals to flourish. So no matter how you choose to explore the Apostle Islands and mainland parks, keep watch for black bears, whitetail deer, red foxes, coyotes, beavers, otters, snowshoe hares, and all sorts of smaller mammals. Bird watchers might spot any number of migratory species (the nearshore islands serve to break up long flights), waterfowl, breeding shorebirds, songbirds, etc. Along with the usual show-stopping hawks, eagles, ospreys, and sandhill cranes, you might identify a black-throated green warbler, ovenbird, red-eyed vireo, nashville warbler, common yellowthroat, or any of the 300 unique species thus far identified in this part of northern Wisconsin.

A Unique Community

Access to incredible nature is something that backcountry backpackers and off-road adventurers can relate to nationwide, but a trip to Bayfield marries protected wilderness spaces with an accommodating community. Some of the aforementioned tour operators facilitate memorable itineraries, but the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore Headquarters (located in the Old Bayfield County Courthouse, circa 1884) educates visitors on the historic region and empowers them to plan their own excursions.

The rest of Bayfield's Historic District (which, thanks to its rich supply of Queen Anne-style architecture is listed on the National Register of Historic Places) offers a quaint small-town respite in between tours of the great outdoors. All around Main Street (i.e. Rittenhouse Avenue), there are coffee shops, boutique hotels, galleries, and novelty shops. For a bit of historical perspective, I recommend branching out to the Bayfield Heritage Association and the Bayfield Maritime Museum. Wherever your wanderings take you, the core of Bayfield (despite spanning from State Highway 13) is perfectly pedestrian friendly.

If your trip to northern Wisconsin happens to coincide with late Spring, then you will be treated to Bayfield in Bloom (May 30th to June 7th, 2025) - an annual celebration of the region's floral phenomenon. The sea of yellow from roughly 50,000 daffodils is accented by bundles of purple lupines and orchards full of apple blossoms. Speaking of apple orchards, those same rosy flowers morph into the tasty household fruit on the other side of peak season, so consider planning your arrival for the 63rd Annual Bayfield Apple Festival (October 3-5, 2025). Bayfield is also blessed with 13 berry farms spread throughout what has become known as the "Fruit Loop." Visitors can go pick their own strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, cherries, and more, at overlapping intervals between late June through late August.

Even when there isn't a major festival or harvest in the works, Bayfield is always cooking up something fun for residents and visitors alike. Case in point, every Tuesday and Thursday hundreds of people flock to the outdoor concerts held by the waterfront in Memorial Park.

A Love Letter to Bayfield

Picture this: your kayak paddle dips rhythmically into the deep blue waters of Lake Superior, occasionally complemented by the early morning calls of waterfowl. You look up to watch one of the eager birds plunge beneath the surface in search of a freshwater fish. Suddenly, your attention is captured by the expressive sandstone cliffs towering above the scene. At once, their irregular striations, cavities, and towers demonstrate the formative power of natural forces across millennia. Atop these vulnerable platforms, the blanket of mixed hardwood and coniferous trees reveal Gia's adaptive beauty. And just beyond their vibrant green canopy, a white lighthouse punches through, hinting at man's centuries-long attempt to tame this capricious place.

With heavy arms but a buoyant soul, you step onto Bayfield's manicured shore and wander down Rittenhouse Ave, greeted along the way by a smattering of smiling faces the likes of which only a nature-soaked small town can produce. You cozy up to a hot cup of joe at Wonderstate Coffee, flipping through the first chapters of a Jon Krakauer novel you purchased next door at Apostle Islands Booksellers. Staring periodically out the window at the tree-lined street, you already begin to ponder whether you want to hike to one of the local waterfalls that afternoon, or catch the next Madeline Island Ferry so that you can dig your toes into the sand at Big Bay State Park. I could go on…

Parting Thoughts

Bayfield, Wisconsin has a healthy summer tourist scene, but if averaged across the year, is clearly an underrated gem. Given its welcoming, easy-going downtown, and four-season outdoor recreation available in all directions - from the water (or ice), to the Apostle Islands, and throughout the mainland - this refreshing, colorful, and wild part of the Great Lakes region is truly a haven for nature lovers.