It’s hard not to gush with enthusiasm when describing this beautiful area in Wisconsin. I recently came back from a kayaking and hiking trip in the Bayfield area. My kayaking was guided. Unless you are an expert Kayaker, it’s best to go out on Lake Superior with a guide. There are plenty of them in the area.
We launched from Meyers Beach and paddled to the breathtaking sea caves. If kayaking isn’t your thing you can hike the Lakeshore Trail, from Meyers Beach. The trail is just over 2 miles, nearly a mile of it is boardwalk. At one point you can look down and see the caves.
Bark Bay Slough
My next kayak adventure was Bark Bay Slough. This is a calm lagoon behind a spit of land on Lake Superior. It’s much less daunting than kayaking Superior. It’s home to Great Blue Herons, Loons and many other birds. At one point you can dock your kayak and walk out to Superior. The slough is very shallow in parts, the maximum depth is 8 feet and you won’t suffer from hypothermia if you take a spill!
Hike Lost Creek Falls Trail
This trail is located close to the little town of Cornucopia. Make sure you take a walk around the town as well, it’s very quaint. The trail is 1 1/2 miles to the waterfall, it’s not an easy trail, nor is it difficult but you will work up a sweat. While we hiked this trail we ran into some people foraging for mushrooms. It was a sweet sight with children carrying woven baskets. The children were more than willing to tell you all about the mushrooms they had found.
Houghton Falls
So this is the waterfall that isn’t! I think it’s been a long time since any water flowed along this ravine. However, it was my favorite spot. The now empty ravine opens up into Lake Superior and gives you a gorgeous view of the Apostle Islands. Walking along the ravine brought to mind scenes from the Lord of the Rings movies. It was surreal. As you get closer to the lake you come across an area where railroad tracks used to lie. In the 1880’s trains from Minneapolis would stop here and passengers would take an excursion boat out to Madeline Island.
At the end of this trip I was exhausted. I’d kayaked, hiked and camped. I was grubby and bitten up by mosquitos, it was a marvelous experience! But…..don’t let my active experience turn you off visiting. There are plenty of benches to sit and contemplate the surrounding beauty. Camping is not your only option. The Bayfield area has many inns and resorts to stay in that are much less rustic!
https://www.nps.gov/apis/index.htm
https://www.travelwisconsin.com/northwest/bayfield-county/bayfield