Heading north in winter is not something I’d normally recommend, but the islands off the coast of Bayfield, Wisconsin offer breathtaking beauty worth the wearing of a few extra layers. If you're very, very lucky, you might experience the ultimate beauty: the Northern Lights (at left).The Apostle Islands are a cluster of islands reachable by ferryboat most of the year, until the bay between Bayfield and Madeline Island becomes frozen. At that point, island bound visitors can actually drive across the bay via the ice road. While this in itself is a fun and unique experience, it doesn’t compare to the splendor of the island’s ice caves.
Imagine walking or snowshoeing across the ice and into a one of t
hese incredible icepalaces! Keep in mind that visiting the ice caves requires a 2-mile hike (round trip) and it’s important to call the Ice Line at (715) 779-3397 - extension 3 for the most current ice conditions. For more information, check out this website: http://www.nps.gov/apis/mainland-caves-winter.htm.
Winter spelunking is not the only outdoorsy thing to do on these frosty islands. Try cross country skiing, ice fishing, and winter camping (brrr…no thanks). Or for something really different: dog sledding. You can go for the annual dog sled race in February to watch the fun, or, for a fee,
actually ride a dog sled!
Thanks for stopping by. PLEASE LEAVE A COMMENT for a chance to win a copy of Lynda Lee Schab’s Mind Over Madi, a delightful book about a woman trying to reconnect with her
husband, her faith, and her kids while trying to ignore the Edy’s Dibbs calling to her from the freezer.
