Bayfield is one of Wisconsin’s top destinations, and for good reason! The town sits on Lake Superior and provides breathtaking views and immaculate waters and serves as the doorway to the spectacular Apostle Islands National Shoreline and Madeline Island. There are so many amazing things to do in Bayfield WI and Madeline Island from hiking, kayaking, shopping and more!
Exploring the surrounding Apostle Islands National Lakeshore and Madeline Island, Wisconsin is a unique experience! This Bayfield, WI and Madeline Island travel guide will help you plan your trip. Here we include the best things to do in Bayfield, WI and the best things to do on Madeline Island. Plus where to eat and where to stay on your trip.
Things to do in Bayfield WI
Hike
The mainland has some nice hiking trails that are a must do while visiting Bayfield, WI. All the hikes are very well maintained, well marked and rather easy to complete.
Hike through the wooded forest and along the Lake Superior shoreline in one trip for two very different views.
For shoreline views hike the Brownstone Trail. This would also be an awesome trail to bike if you brought your own or are willing to rent bikes in town.
Head to the Big Ravine for lots of trails through the forest, many of which offer great views of Lake Superior in the distance. The West Rim Trail takes you along the Big Ravine which is a very unique site to see. The Iron Bridge Trail is very scenic and gives you a remarkable view of town and Lake Superior.
If you have a car and are willing to hop in it for a 20 minute ride, we highly recommend heading to Meyer’s Beach for a day and hiking the Lakeshore Trail. This trail was our absolute favorite and took us up close to some incredible sea caves! A very cool and unique hiking experience that is absolutely one of the best things to do in Bayfield WI.
Explore the surrounding Apostle Islands
A must do while visiting Bayfield is exploring the 22 Apostle Islands that lie off the Bayfield Peninsula. The Apostle Islands National Lakeshore has so much to offer and the best way to see it is from the water.
Book an Apostle Island cruise or kayak tour to explore the incredibly unique sea caves, historic lighthouses, sandy beaches, nature carved rock formations and more! You can even use this opportunity to explore and hike on one of the quiet islands.
There is no question that one of the best things to do in Bayfield WI is seeing the Apostle Islands from the water.
Complete the Fruit Loop – Orchards and Wineries
Bayfield, WI is home to a bunch of fruit orchards and wineries, each providing their own unique experience. Some stops along the fruit loop are a small stand selling just apples, while others are huge farms with a big store full of goodies.
Visiting the orchards and wineries is one of the best things to do in Bayfield WI. While you can find almost every berry you can think of if it’s in season, Bayfield is known for its apples. WOW, are they delicious!!
Some of the orchards we really enjoyed were Bayfield Apple Co and Hauser’s Superior View Farm but we recommend driving the loop and stopping at every one you can!
Visit a Distillery
The Copper Crow Distillery is a fantastic distillery between Bayfield and Red Cliff. They offer an incredible menu full of tasty cocktails that will make your mouth water. We wish we could have tried them all, but that probably wouldn’t have ended well.
Unfortunately, tours are temporarily suspended at the moment, but you can watch them at work from the windows while you sip your cocktail.
Shop Downtown Bayfield
Shopping is one of the best things to do in Bayfield WI. The downtown area is very small and all the shops are located within a few square block radius. Spend a half a day meandering the streets and popping into every store you pass.
Each store is incredibly unique and one of a kind. From jewelry, hand knitted clothes, decor, candy and more, everyone is sure to find something they love. Support the local small business owners and pick something (or a few things) to take home with you.
Ferry to Madeline Island
A visit to Bayfield, WI is not complete without checking out Madeline Island. It is a smooth 3 mile ferry that takes you from the picturesque town of Bayfield to La Pointe.
The ferry schedule changes throughout the year so check the schedule ahead of time to plan your visit. Bikes, cars and even pets are allowed on the ferry.
You are free to get out of your car and I recommend you do to see the views from the observation deck during the ride. The 25 minute ride provides incredible views of Madeline Island and the other Apostle Islands
Things to do on Madeline Island
Big Bay State Park
The main reason to head to Madeline Island, in our opinion, is Big Bay State Park. Once off the ferry, make your way to this 2,350 acre state park for fantastic beaches, trails, hiking, cliffs and dramatic views of Lake Superior. With 4 miles of Lake Superior shoreline, 1.5 miles of sandy beach, mile long boardwalk and viewing platform there is plenty to do!
Eagle’s Nest is a great place to go to for incredible cliff views. The shoreline is lined with layers of rock to explore and it’s quite a unique site to see. Some people even cliff jump into Lake Superior here, if you are brave enough! The average water temperature of Lake Superior is 54 degrees!
Hike the Lagoon Ridge trail for views over the beautiful Lake Superior lagoon, or the Boardwalk trail for views along the lagoon and to explore the Lake Superior shoreline and sandy beaches. These trails can even be done together to make a 4 mile long loop trail!
La Pointe
Check out the small town of La Pointe, WI which is the only “city” on Madeline Island.
It is worth a short visit to do some souvenir shopping, grab some lunch at one of the local restaurants or visit the Heritage Center to learn more about the history of Madeline Island.
Joni’s Beach
Joni’s beach is a small but nice beach near the ferry on the edge of town. If you are looking for a little more beach time before you head back to the mainland, Joni’s beach is a nice place to spend the afternoon!
It has a small playground for kids, a picnic area and a dock. It’s a great place to lay down in the sand, relax and take in the view.
Where to Eat
Downtown Bayfield, WI has a handful of restaurants to choose from. Some offer fantastic lakeshore views, others offer tasty fresh fish or fun drinks! It’s hard to know where to go! Here are our recommendations on where to eat in Bayfield Wisconsin.
Many Penny Bistro – A great relaxed atmosphere with delicious food. My favorite was the gyro and Zach’s favorite was the Mediterranean salad with falafel. We ended up here a few nights because I couldn’t stop thinking about that gyro.
Sargent Pepperoni’s – A great place for takeout! The pizza is huge and ended up giving us 3 tasty meals.
The Copper Trout – Try a delicious Italian dinner with some fresh fish!
Wonder State Coffee – A very cute coffee shop with yummy breakfast sandwiches to fill your belly before a day of adventure.
Other places we ate that I wouldn’t exactly recommend were Pier Plaza Restaurant and Greunke’s First Street Inn & Dining.
Where to Stay
There are many wonderful places to stay in Bayfield, WI. We stayed in an awesome 1 bedroom Airbnb that was a quick 4 minute drive to town yet felt like we were in the middle of the country! There was a ton of land to explore and the view from the windows overlooking Lake Superior was breathtaking. We loved watching the sunrise over the lake every morning with our coffee and witnessing the wildlife and nature all around us.
We hope you have a wonderful trip to Bayfield WI and Madeline Island. If you loved this guide, please use the below images to Pin It to Pinterest and save it for later!
