Lake Superior cruising is truly superior
By Bill Rohde, retired GLCC Director
Our primary cruising area for the past 40 years has been Lake Superior, although during that period my wife, Judy, and I have also cruised through all five Great Lakes, out the St. Lawrence, around the Canadian Maritimes, south along the east coast to Georgia and Florida, and on to extensively cruise the Bahamas and eastern Caribbean. Most of that cruising has been aboard a series of sailboats ranging from 29 to 42 feet, although these past several years we’ve been exploring aboard our current 40-foot Downeast-style Legacy powerboat.
During all those cruising years we’ve been blessed to call the Bayfield, Wis. (S-192), area of western Lake Superior and its adjacent Apostle Islands (S-191), our “home waters.”
A special region
So, what makes our Lake Superior home waters so special for us? Our cruising style is perhaps a little different than that of many Great Lakes boaters in that we strongly prefer wilderness destinations to marinas, anchorages to docks, and open water to rivers or canals. Lake Superior ticks all the right “check marks” for us, and the nearby Apostle Islands place those attractions right at our fingertips.
The Bayfield and Madeline Island, Wis. (S-193), area is home to at least a thousand cruising boats, and for good reason. The area is within easy driving reach of the Minneapolis-St. Paul metro area plus numerous other Wisconsin and Minnesota population centers.
There are several full-service marinas in the area to serve as cruising bases, each either adjacent to or within at most 10 miles of the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore. No other cruising area on the Great Lakes offers the combination of boating services, including extensive chartering opportunities, in such proximity to wilderness cruising possibilities.
A cruising dream
The Apostle Islands National Lakeshore is an area of roughly 25 miles by 25 miles encompassing 21 islands, all but one administered by the US National Park Service. The park areas have no roads and no private property, just forested public land with hiking trails and roughly 155 miles of shoreline. From any of the marinas in the area one can be under way and anchored off one of the islands in as little as one to two hours. The waters are remarkably clear; you can see your anchor and chain in 20 feet of water with a sand bottom.
There are few hazards to navigation, with cruising depths typically 100 feet or more. Fishing is a favorite pastime for many, with abundant lake trout and salmon to challenge your angling skills. Portions of shoreline on several islands and some of the mainland offer enticing opportunities to anchor and explore sea caves from dinghy or kayak.
Plus, there are six lighthouses one can visit, some of which are staffed in the summer with VIPs (Volunteer Information Persons) who give lighthouse tours. Some islands have National Park Service staff assigned.
City fixes
If in need of a shore-side fix, the towns of Bayfield and Washburn on the mainland, and La Pointe on Madeline Island, provide lodging and several outstanding restaurants plus great shopping, museums and entertainment.
Not to be missed is the Big Top Chautauqua, about two miles southwest of Bayfield (transportation available from local marinas). The Big Top features a wide variety of regional and national acts under its tent each season. For example, Bonnie Raitt will be playing the venue this fall.
At the western extreme of the Apostles, the town of Cornucopia provides a more laid-back atmosphere, while the Legendary Waters resort and casino in the nearby town of Red Cliff with its adjacent marina offers a total change of pace from the wilderness anchorages of the Apostles.
Farther afield
One can easily spend weeks cruising the Apostles, but for those looking for more variety, the Apostles provide an easy jumping off point for exploring the cities of Duluth and Superior to the west, or the 45-mile long, 10-mile wide wilderness US national park island of Isle Royale approximately 90 miles to the northeast.
Isle Royale is a true wilderness park, accessible only by boat or float plane. Its miles of wilderness hiking trails prove to be a strong attraction to many cruisers, us included.
Come and visit
To experience this pristine cruising area yourselves I highly recommend you pay the area a visit, whether on your own boat or on one of the numerous sailboats and powerboats available for charter. Bayfield and the Apostle Islands area will no doubt quickly become one of your own favorite cruising destinations once you’ve visited.
If you decide to cruise this way, please make sure to give us a call (our contact information is in the GLCC directory). We’d love to show you around our home waters.