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Published 1/17/2022
Is It Worth Visiting Bayfield, Wisconsin in the Off-Season?
There’s no shortage of things to do in Bayfield, Wisconsin, but like many small tourist towns, it operates seasonally. When we planned an early November girls weekend trip to Bayfield, we quickly realized that lots of businesses in this gateway to the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore were closed for a well-deserved seasonal break.
Although several Bayfield wineries, distilleries, restaurants, orchards, and other tourist attractions – like the ferry to the Apostle Islands – weren’t running, we found so many fun things to do during our all too brief weekend. If you’re planning an off-season trip to Bayfield and the Apostle Islands area, here’s what to do.
Where is Bayfield, Wisconsin?
A town of under 500 permanent residents, Bayfield sits halfway up the Bayfield peninsula on the south shore of Lake Superior in northern Wisconsin. Bayfield’s large marina on Chequamegon Bay makes the town a hub for Lake Superior boaters. Nearby towns include Washburn, Ashland, Cornucopia, Herbster, and Port Wing. The peninsula features about 70 miles of Lake Superior shoreline. The Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Reservation sits on the tip of the peninsula.
Drivetimes to Bayfield, WI:
Duluth, MN to Bayfield: 1 hour and 40 minutes
Twin Cities, MN to Bayfield: 4 hours
Madison, WI to Bayfield: 5 ½ hours
Things to Do in Bayfield, WI During the Off-Season
Explore the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore
The Bayfield, WI area is synonymous with visiting the Apostle Islands. In the summer months, a variety of cruise and tour companies ferry visitors out to the 21 Apostle Islands for camping, hiking, lighthouse tours, and more. But come mid-October, these commercial services shut down and it becomes impossible to reach the archipelago without a boat of your own. A ferry runs to Madeline Island year-round, although this residential island isn’t actually part of the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore.
However, if you visit Bayfield when the ferries aren’t running, you can still enjoy the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore from the mainland. The National Lakeshore starts on the western side of the Bayfield peninsula at Meyers Beach. That’s where you can access the Lakeshore Trail. The only mainland hiking trail in the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore, this trail extends for six miles along the Lake Superior shore. The trail ultimately terminates at a campsite for a 12-mile round trip hike. However, most people opt to use the trail as a shorter day hike to view the famous sea caves.
If you hike the Apostle Islands Lakeshore Trail:
Meyers Beach is located a 20-minute drive from Bayfield. It costs $5 to park at Meyers Beach. You can either pay via an app or leave cash in a pay envelope. The Lakeshore Trail is very popular. When we visited in the early afternoon on a November Saturday, we found the parking lot about 1/3 full.
The trail starts off with a 1.5 mile meander through the woods on an impressive boardwalk. You spend most of this stretch of the trail popping in and out of ravines that channel snowmelt into Lake Superior. At 1.6 miles, you finally glimpse Lake Superior at First Point.
Hike for another .2 miles to reach the trail’s first sea cave: the Crevasse. Some people turn around here for a 3.6 mile round trip hike. However, I highly recommend continuing on for three more sea cave views in this order: Keyhole, Garage, and Bowl. We turned around at the Bowl, located at the trail’s 2.4 mile point, for a nearly 5 mile hike. Overall, the trail is in great condition. The hike took us just over two hours with lots of photo breaks to try to capture the striking scenery.
In very cold winters, this section of Lake Superior sometimes freezes over so solidly that you can hike out to the sea caves on the lake. Definitely a bucket list item!
Other Bayfield, WI hiking trails to check out:
The Bayfield peninsula boasts more than 30 hiking trails of varying difficulty. While I highly recommend the Lakeshore Trail, you have plenty of other options.
Hiking trails right in Bayfield include:
Big Ravine – West Rim Trail: a moderately difficult wooded hike of approximately two miles that starts behind the Bayfield baseball field.
Brownstone Trail: easy waterfront trail that takes off from Manypenny Avenue right in downtown Bayfield.
Iron Bridge Trail: a short out and back trail through a wooded ravine with a waterfall and Lake Superior views.
Shop in downtown Bayfield
Known for its Victorian charms, the hillside town of Bayfield hosts a small shopping district of independently owned shops. Many of these stores are open year-round. We spent a pleasant afternoon strolling down Rittenhouse Avenue picking up gifts for ourselves and others.
We swung into these shops during our visit:
Joanne’s Scandinavian – great selection of housewares, Swedish dishcloths, and toys.
Roxanne’s Gifts – an eclectic mix of trinkets and clothing. If you stop in, there’s a good chance you’ll meet Roxanne herself. She’s owned the business for more than 50 years!
Apostle Islands Booksellers – a small bookstore with an extensive selection of local reads and cozy reading nook.
Howl Downtown – clothing store with an emphasis on active outdoor wear and pet items. We all made purchases here!
Honest Dog Books – a charming multi-level bookstore offering new and used books and lots of branded merch.
Eat at Manypenny Bistro
If you asked a handful of people where to eat in Bayfield, chances are someone’ll mention Manypenny Bistro. This popular eatery, located on Manypenny Avenue, is open year-round. Known for its pizza and burgers, the bistro offers a large menu of ‘American fare with a Turkish flare.”
I ordered the Shakshuka Burger – a burger topped with gyro meat and tzatziki sauce – and it was so delicious. In addition to a small bar and dining area, the restaurant does a handy takeout business. They do so much takeout that they even have a little takeout station set up in the entryway where customers can load up on any needed condiments, napkins, and silverware.
We popped in during the 5 o’clock hour on a Saturday evening and found a hopping restaurant – they’d been on a wait since they’d opened at 11! However, we were quickly seen to and we brought our food home to enjoy at our VRBO.
Other off-season Bayfield dining options:
Old Rittenhouse Inn – limited dinner hours on weekends only. Make a reservation.
Bayfield Inn – Known for its rooftop dining area, this lakeside inn and restaurant offers online ordering from their restaurant.
Visit Bayfield Apple Co.
You’ll find 14 different fruit farms growing mainly apples and berries on the Bayfield peninsula. Obviously it’s not always harvest season. But just because your visit falls outside of harvest time doesn’t mean you have to miss out. Long after vendors have rolled up their Applefest tents, you can still visit the peninsula’s plentiful orchards.
You’ll find Bayfield Apple Co., about three miles outside of Bayfield. Their small retail shop is open seven days a week, offering a wide variety of jams, jellies, mustards, baked goods, and ciders (both soft and hard) made on site. I personally think they make the best tasting apple cider in the world. We used it to make this delicious apple cider sangria at our rental house.
There’s also a selection of gifts and of course, retail packaged apples. I was looking for about a bushel of apples to bring my mom. When the kind lady working the shop saw how many packages of apples I wanted to buy, she invited me into the farm’s walk-in cooler to make a custom box of apples. Not only did I get a break on the price, it was a way more memorable experience than just buying something in the shop. There are definite advantages to visiting in the off-season!
Before you leave, don’t forget to stock up on Spotted Cow. Bayfield Apple Co. sells both Spotted Cow (a farmhouse ale) and Moon Man (pale ale) made by New Glarus Brewing Co. New Glarus infamously only sells their beer in Wisconsin.
Have a pint at the brewery
In recent years, Bayfield has become known as a destination for sipping wine flights al fresco. The peninsula is home to three wineries as well as a distillery. However, all of these businesses were closed for the season when we visited. If you have your heart set on local wine and spirits, don’t despair. You can stock up at Bayfield’s grocery store, liquor store, or Bayfield Apple Company and create your own flights at your rental!
But no matter when you visit Bayfield, you can always pull up a chair at Adventure Club Brewing for a pint. Located just south of Bayfield’s downtown, Adventure Club Brewing is open daily. The brewery features a small tap room with ample outdoor setting. We didn’t have a chance to visit, but it’s definitely on my short list for the next time I’m in the area.
Other Off-Season Things To Do in Bayfield
Enjoy lake views and sunsets
No matter which businesses are open, you can always spend some quality time with Lake Superior. We loved sitting in our VRBO, sipping coffee and soaking up the views each morning. Even though I’ve spent my entire life on Lake Superior’s North Shore, looking at the lake never gets old. Call me crazy, but I think the lake looks a little bluer on the South Shore.
When you’re in downtown Bayfield, swing by Halvor Reiten Park and Public Beach. With playground equipment, benches, and picnic pavilions, the park is designed for people to stay a while.
Visit Madeline Island
If you look across Lake Superior in Bayfield, you might think you’re looking a pretty narrow bay. But what appears to be the far shore of the mainland is actually the largest Apostle Island, Madeline Island. This 14-mile long, 3-mile wide island is accessible year-round via a 20 minute ferry ride . . . or an ice road in the deep winter.
Pedestrian friendly La Pointe, a village of about 420, offers restaurants, shops, historic buildings, and a large display of public art. You’ll also find beaches and hikes, like Casper Trail. Locals especially like hit Madeline Island up for some biking on the 45 miles of relatively flat roads.
Drive the Lake Superior Scenic Byway
With 70 miles of Lake Superior shoreline, just driving the edge of the Bayfield peninsula can be an adventure. Wisconsin designated this stretch of Highway 13 as the Lake Superior Scenic Byway. As you drive along, you’ll pass 12 different informational kiosks. The recommended route starts you in Ashland, WI, then driving up and around the peninsula in a counterclockwise manner. Points of interest include sandy beaches like Meyers Beach, views of the Apostle Islands and Minnesota, and several small towns. The route ends at the Cloverland Town Hall, near the mouth of the Bois Brule River. Fun fact: the Bois Brule has been fished by five different U.S. presidents!
Visit Frog Bay Tribal National Park
Did you know that the Bayfield peninsula is home to the first-ever tribal national park? Frog Bay Tribal National Park, located within the Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Reservation only started to become a reality in 2012, when the Red Cliff Reservation reacquired a historically significant tract of land. Now this 300-acre park managed by the Red Cliff Tribal Government features a network of nature trails, a sandy beach, and a conservation management area. Located near the northeastern tip of the peninsula, the tribe allows the general public to visit this special section of boreal forest and wetland. However, you should practice “leave no trace” during your visit and be mindful of areas in the park specifically designated for tribal use only.
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