In the far north of Wisconsin, you’ll find the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore, which is famous for its red cliffs and dramatic sea caves. Slightly further inland, you’ll find great hiking and loads of waterfalls. Combine these together and you have the recipe for a fun weekend in Wisconsin.
This three day northern Wisconsin and Apostle Islands itinerary aims to help you plan your time so you can see the best of this region. It’s based on my own trips, though it doesn’t follow an exact itinerary that I used.
Northern Wisconsin and Apostle Islands Itinerary
There’s a lot to do in Northern Wisconsin, but this itinerary will be focused specifically on the areas near the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore and the immediate surrounding areas. There’ll be some visits to state parks, but in general, this itinerary will focus on the most northern parts of Wisconsin.
This Apostle Islands itinerary is based loosely on my own itinerary. I’ve visited this area twice: once on a weekend trip and once on a long weekend trip. While I saw a lot, there’s still more to do than what I’ve covered here. But for those looking to get outdoors and spend sometime near Lake Superior and in the forests of northern Wisconsin, this itinerary will be perfect for you.
Lastly, this Apostle Islands itinerary is for three full days. While I usually try to account for travel time in my itineraries, this one is different and the itinerary starts right away on day one. Make sure you plan accordingly.
Day 1 – Apostle Islands National Lakeshore
This is an Apostle Islands itinerary, so it only makes sense to start with the Apostle Islands. There’s a few ways that you could explore but since this itinerary is focused on trying to see the best of the region (and include a lot of variety), we’re going to focus on the easiest way to tour this region. Head to Bayfield and jump on an Apostle Islands Cruise which will take you out into Lake Superior and show you the best sites of 21 of the 22 islands.
Tour times vary throughout the year, but in general, the earliest tour of the day will be around 10:00. For me, this is a late start to the day, but for others it’s just right. If you have time before your tour, you can spend a little time walking around the small town of Bayfield. Or if you’re coming from Ashland, consider a stop at Houghton Falls State Natural Area. This a short 1.4 mile trail that leads you out to a waterfall and eventually to Lake Superior. It’s one of my favorites in the region.
Back to the Apostle Islands tour. You’ll want to book your tour online in advance because they can (and do) sell out.
There are a few options you can take, but the most popular is the Apostle Islands Grand Tour. You won’t get to step foot on the islands, but you’ll see the best scenery and learn all about the history of the islands which can be fascinating. The cruise will last for about 3 hours, depending on weather.
After your cruise, you have a choice of how you want to spend the day. If you didn’t have a lot of time in Bayfield in the morning, consider spending some time after your cruise to wander through the small shops and grab a bite to eat.
If you are looking for something more active, there are some great hikes in the area. My top picks are is the Cave Overlook at Meyers Beach which takes you to a great overlook of some sea caves and the St. Peter’s Dome trail in Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest. The St. Peter’s Dome Trail is a bit further away, so be prepared to drive, but it may be my favorite trail in the region.
Day 2 – Pattison and Amnicon Falls State Parks
Today, we’re visiting some waterfalls and you’ll have the chance to visit two state parks.
Start your day by heading to Pattison State Park where you’ll see the tallest waterfall in Wisconsin. At over 150 feet, Big Manitou Falls has some excellent views. But this is not the only waterfall in the park. You’ll also find the much smaller, but still beautiful, Little Manitou Falls. For those not wanting to hike, you can park and walk near the falls. For those wanting something a bit more active, consider hiking the Beaver Trail and connecting Big Manitou Falls and Little Manitou Falls. You’ll walk through the forest and along Interfalls Lake, which I found to be very nice.
When you’re finished at Pattison State Park and Big Manitou Falls, head a bit east until you reach Amnicon Falls State Park. Like the name suggests, there are even more waterfalls here. Amnicon Falls is home to 7 waterfalls and has a few short trails. Spend an hour visiting the waterfalls and even walking on the Thimbleberry Nature Trail to the Old Quarry.
Start working your way back toward Ashland after you’ve finished. Spend the evening in town. Get a good meal and take a stroll to see all of the murals depicting the history of Ashland.
Day 3 – Traveler’s Choice
While itineraries like this are a great starting point for planning your own trip, every traveler is different. I was trying to keep this to a three day Apostle Islands itinerary and struggled because I just couldn’t decide what I wanted to put for a day 3 activity. So, it’s traveler’s choice, but I have two ideas to get you started.
Option 1 – Madeline Island
Option one for your final day of this itinerary is to head back to the Apostle Islands. Specifically, take the ferry from Bayfield and visit Madeline Island. The island may be the largest in the archipelago, but it’s not exactly large and for most visitors, a day trip to Madeline Island is enough to see the highlights.
So what do you do on Madeline Island? I recommend checking out Big Bay State Park for hiking and some beach opportunities. Spend some time in the main town of La Pointe where you can grab a delicious bite to eat, shop for some local souvenirs, and visit the Madeline Island Museum, which teaches visitors all about the long history of this island.
Option 2 – Chasing Waterfalls
The second option for the day is to head slightly east and visit some more waterfalls and do some hiking. My top pick is to head to Copper Falls State Park where you’ll find several trails. The Doughboy Trail is my favorite and takes you past three waterfalls, though the views of Red Granite Falls from the trail of the same name was also nice.
In addition, there’s plenty of other waterfalls you can visit. The closest will be Potato River Falls and Foster Falls. Both are great. If you keep heading east toward the Wisconsin-Michigan state line, you’ll find Superior Falls, Saxon Falls, and Interstate Falls.
So Which Trip Should You Do?
Ultimately I think is up to the traveler. But I’ve done both options and if I had to pick, I’d personally pick option two and visit some of the other waterfalls in the area. Madeline Island was nice, but I have to admit that the weather on my visit made me have a less than ideal trip.
Fundamentally I think it’s a matter of if you want culture or nature. For those firmly on the side of nature and hiking, do option two. If you want some hiking, but also some shopping and history, choose option one and visit Madeline Island.
With More Time
With more time, you get to have more fun in northern Wisconsin. If you have one extra day, I’d suggest doing both options listed on day 3. On day 3, day trip to Madeline Island. On day 4, head slightly westward and visit more of the great waterfalls of northern Wisconsin.
With Less Time
If you have less than three days, you have to make a cut somewhere. In my opinion, it’s day 3. Do not cut the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore (day 1). For day 2, I would still recommend using that day to explore Pattison and Amnicon Falls State Parks as I believe those to be some of the best in the area.
Modifications to This Itinerary
In general, I don’t think there aren’t many modifications to make. However, one thing that I do want to address is the possibility that your Apostle Islands cruise could be cancelled. If the weather is too rough, your cruise will be cancelled (and yes, your nonrefundable ticket will be refunded). In general, they want the cruises to run, but Lake Superior (and all of the Great Lakes) can get vicious and safety needs to come first.
I don’t know the statistics of how often tours are cancelled, but I can say that on my first trip to the Apostle Islands, my cruise was cancelled. Since it was on the second day of my trip, I never got a chance to reschedule and had to skip it altogether. Therefore, I put the Apostle Islands cruise on day one of this itinerary. This way, if there is bad weather on day 1 and your cruise gets cancelled, you still have time to rearrange the rest of your itinerary to try to squeeze it in before you leave.
Where to Stay
Northern Wisconsin is pretty rural, but you’ll still find options in this region. The largest city is Ashland and this is where you’ll find the larger hotels and the most options. This is where I’ve stayed on both of my trips to northern Wisconsin and the Apostle Islands.
Bayfield is closer to the Apostle Islands so it can be a good option if you want a to be closer to Madeline Island and the Apostle Islands Cruise lines. There’s a handful of small, independent hotels in this town, but Bayfield is small and those hotels can book up quickly during popular times.
Personally, I’d recommend staying in Ashland. You’ll have a bit more driving to reach the Apostle Islands Cruise line and the ferry port for Madeline Island, but you’ll be closer to many of the other great sites in this region. Plus it’s a larger area, so you’ll have more options.
When to Visit Northern Wisconsin
When people think of Wisconsin weather, they likely think of snow and cold. That’s not an unreasonable assumption as winters here can be cold, snowy, and brutal. While you’ll find some winter activities here like cross country skiing, snowshoeing, and a few others, for most visitors, you’ll want to look to warmer weather.
There is one exception. If the conditions are right, the sea caves at the Apostle Islands freeze and people can walk through the Ice Caves. The conditions haven’t been right for several years, but it’s something to be aware of.
By far the most popular time to visit northern Wisconsin is during the summer months. This is when you’ll have the warmest weather (a definite plus while spending time near Lake Superior) but also the highest prices. Summers in Wisconsin can also get humid, so keep that in mind.
During the fall months, the changing leaves make everything in Wisconsin a gorgeous color. Temperatures are cooler which can be both good and bad. Summer crowds have also diminished but that may mean limited availability for activities near the Apostle Islands.
Final Thoughts
The Apostle Islands National Lakeshore and the area surrounding it are full of some incredible beauty and I feel like it often gets overlooked. It’s so easy to plan a trip to Colorado or California, but don’t overlook what you might find in the midwest.
Continue Your Adventure
More in Wisconsin: In Door County, don’t miss the gorgeous parks and endless hiking opportunities. Further south on the shores of Lake Michigan is Kohler Andrae State Park, which is one of my favorites. About an hour north of Madison, you’ll find Wisconsin Dells and Devil’s Lake State Park.
More in the Midwest: South of Wisconsin is Illinois and the city of Chicago. Slightly east of Chicago is Indiana Dunes National Park. To the southwest of Wisconsin is Iowa with its fun Maquoketa Caves State Park.