- Estimated Cost: $20
- Deposit: $20
- Max Trip Size: 16 people
Let’s visit Big Bay State Park on Madeline Island in Wisconsin, from Sunday, Sept. 1 until Friday Sept. 6, 2024. On the eastern side of Madeline Island, the largest of the Apostle Islands archipelago, Big Bay State Park features picturesque sandstone bluffs along 4 miles of Lake Superior shoreline. The park also has a 1-mile boardwalk, sandy swimming beach, hiking trails, large family campground and two group camps. A short ferry ride from Bayfield to Madeline Island is needed to reach the park.
Big Bay State Park has one outdoor group camp. The group site is about a half-mile from the regular campground and has a modest view of Lake Superior. The site has its own hand pump and vault toilet. Showers are available in the family campground a short distance away.
Important: The trip cost does not include the cost of the Madeline Island Ferry ($31 for a car plus $18/person) from Bayfield to LaPointe or a WI state park sticker ($28 annual WI resident, $38 annual non-resident). Carpooling is highly encouraged, since it will help with ferry cost and parking.
Here’s a list of possible activities:
- Hiking – Seven miles of hiking trails at Big Bay State Park wind through varied habitat, some of which are detailed through interpretive signage. Bikes are not allowed on any of the trails or boardwalks. Bird watchers are intrigued with the island park. A list of 240 species of birds seen in the park is available at the office. There’s a wildlife observation deck along the east shore of the lagoon. We can also hike at the Madeline Island Wilderness Preserve
- Paddling – We can take a guided kayak tour on Lake Superior. See https://www.madelineisland.com/eat-drink-stay-awhile/on-the-water/ The park does not have a boat launch. Many visitors bring canoes and kayaks to the park and carry them to the beach. From the beach, visitors can paddle around the bay and the lagoon or explore the sea caves around the point. Big Bay State Park is part of the Lake Superior Water Trail. A private vendor offers guided kayak tours in the park in season.
- Biking – We should be able to rent bikes from https://www.motion-to-go.com/
- Swimming – The 1.5-mile beach is a great place to bask in the sun. The Lake Superior reputation for cold water is challenged every summer by the delighted waders and swimmers using the beautiful mile-and-a-half long sand beach at Big Bay. Pets and fires are prohibited on the Big Bay State Park beach.
- Cruising around the Apostle Islands by tour boat: https://www.apostleisland.com/
- Visiting a museum: https://madelineislandmuseum.wisconsinhistory.org/
- Visiting a local establishment. Options include:
Copper Falls Option: I also have the group camp at Copper Falls State Park reserved for the Fri-Sun (Aug. 30-Sept. 1) before the Big Bay reservation. Copper Falls is just over 1 hour from Bayfield. If folks are interested in visiting Copper Falls for a few days before heading to Madeline Island, I will retain this reservation as well. If there is not enough interest, I will cancel the Copper Falls reservation.
You must be a member of Minnesota Rovers to go on this trip.