Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Bear Island
is geologically noteworthy as the second-tallest island in the chain behind
Oak Island, 250 feet above water. More than 400 acres of the island are protected old and
recovering northern mesic and wet-mesic forest.
Not an island but a peninsular oddity,
Long Island
smacks more of a breakwater or dis-
placed sand spit, precluding entrance to Chequamegon Bay south of Madeline Island. A
breedinggroundforendangeredpipingplover(theonlysuchplaceinthestate—fivechicks
survived in 2006), it isn't technically possible to visit.
Little Sand Bay
is the beginning of the federally protected shoreline on the other side of
thepeninsula,13milesnorthwestofBayfieldanddirectlyacrossfrom(andwithniftyviews
of) Sand Island. Here you'll find yet another National Park Service
visitors center
(715/
779-7007, 9am-5pm Memorial Day-Labor Day and the last three weeks of September).
Featuring a dock and scattered displays on fishing, shipping, and tourism, the center partic-
ularly rehashes the story of the
Sevona,
a 3,100-ton steamer that was slammed to a watery
grave in 1905. Adjacent to the visitors center is the restored
Hokenson Brothers Fishery.
Free 45-minute ranger-led tours depart regularly.
Slowly the National Park Service is forging a mainland
hiking trail
toward Bayfield;
it's slightly over half-finished. A community
campground
is cheap and has good views,
though you're pretty close to neighbors.
Squaw Bay
A trail is being blazed, leading along the 13-mile coastline surrounding Squaw Bay, north-
east of Cornucopia; get there by driving along WIS 13 and cutting down one of a few roads
that dead-end atorbehindthewaterline—none aredeveloped. Thebest waytosee thetwo-
mile-long spread ofabsolutely wild sea caves andnatural arch-shaped hoodoosinthe sand-
stone is from a kayak, paddling right into the yawning chasms. Easily one of the most pho-
tographed sights in the peninsula, the caves soar to heights of 65 feet in some sections.
There are no reservation fees added onto your campsite fee, but there are fees for guided
interpretive sessions ($3 and up) and parking ($3-20).
