Touring Apostle Islands National Lakeshore

Tour the Apostle Island sea caves by boat or kayak. The islands are a hidden gem in Lake Superior waiting to be explored.

Tours of Apostle Islands National Lakeshore

While it's possible to see the islands without a tour, a boat or kayak is required. There is also a trail on the mainland with an overlook of the mainland sea caves. We opted to go on the Grand Tour with Apostle Island Cruises.

The Grand Tour is the most popular of their cruise options. There are two departure times: 10 am and 4:30/5:30 pm (depending on the time of year). Cruises don't operate in colder months.

Get there early to get a good seat. We wanted a seat on the roof and were advised to get there at least an hour ahead of time. We ended up getting there an hour and a half ahead of time and we were the first ones there. Boarding starts 20 minutes before departure.

The Grand Tour lasted about two and a half hours and took us around most of the islands. At the beginning of the trip, we enjoyed views of a quarry on Hermit Island.

The star of the tour was the sea caves on Devils Island. The red rocks contrast with the green water creating gorgeous scenery.

At the end of the tour, we saw the lighthouse on Raspberry Island before heading back to the dock in Bayfield.

Tickets can be purchased online in advance and don't need to be printed.

Getting to Apostle Islands National Lakeshore

Located near Bayfield, Wisconsin, the Apostle Islands are about a 1 hour and 45 minute drive from Duluth, Minnesota, a 4 hour drive from Minneapolis, Minnesota, and a 5 hour drive from Green Bay, Wisconsin.

Best time to visit Apostle Islands National Lakeshore

The weather was very warm and sunny in Bayfield in August. It was probably close to 80 on shore, but it got much cooler on Lake Superior. For the best weather while on the lake, I'd recommend visiting in the summer.