Photo Credit: scenicus.com
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Photo Credit: scenicus.com
The Apostle Islands(AIs) are a group of 22 islands in Lake Superior on the very Northern Tip of Wisconsin. They are 20 miles from Ashland, Wisconsin and 85 miles east of Duluth, Minnesota. They are known for their lighthouses dating back to 1856, and great wilderness recreation including beautiful kayaking in and around the sandstone pillars that have been worn away by Lake Superior creating caves and tunnels.
See a map of the area.
The name itself, Apostle, given by Jesuit Missionaries implies 12 islands but there are 22. The islands were formerly the land of the Ojibwe people who inhabited area around the Great Lakes and survived along the lakeshores throughout the year. Like many native peoples of North America the Ojibwe were moved to reservations as white loggers, quarry men, miners and farmers move in and took their land.
Today the Apostle Islands are managed by the National Park Service. The Apostle Islands were established as a National Lakeshore in 1970 at the height of the environmental movement, just one year after the fateful burning of the Cuyahoga River in Cleveland, Ohio. Much as been done to restore the natural beauty of this area but if you look carefully you can see remnants of an older way of life.
And looking closer still you may find signs of a way of life yet to come. Global climate changes are already noticed in the lakeshore area such as the lowest water levels on record.
If you are planning a trip there the Park Service site is a good place to start your search. If you are planning to paddle the area, you should know that Lake Superior is known for being cold, foggy and can quickly kick up a squall. Be sure to monitor the marine forecast when you go out. While the temperature of the summer air is in the lovely 70s and 80s, the water temperature rarely gets above 55°F. Kayakers are encouraged to wear a wet or dry suit while paddling.
There are two free launch points for kayakers, Meyers Beach and Little Sand Bay. A site-seeing cruise boat can transport a canoe or kayak to a more distant island for a fee of $20. Camping in certain designated spots is available on a first come first serve basis. You will need a permit and 10 bucks.
The Wisconsin Historical Society has a wonderful site with archival photographs of the area which I find so fascinating! Look at people from 1915 standing outside this beautiful stone lighthouse on Sand Island!
There are several light houses still standing on the Apostle Islands, so many they might be called a collection. With such a history of fierce weather on Lake Superior, light house keepers were a busy group keeping large cargo and passenger ships safe. Not every ship made it. There are six wrecks listed on the Wisconsin's Great Lake Shipwrecks Site that you can scuba dive right around the Apostle Islands alone.
Photo Credit: Wisconsin Historical Society
At $15.50 for a 5x7, this is the first historical society I've come across that sells actual archival photos. What a great money maker for the often under-valued Historical Societies. They post galleries of photos and you can search for a specific area to get just the right sepia toned image. They have photos ranging in age from 1854 to 1965. The gallery pages loads very quickly. Bravo.
Many settlers came to the Apostles as part of the fur trade or the lumber and mining boom. Others were summer vacationers escaping the city for the clear outdoor air. Others came to cut the sandstone into the large “brown stones” we know today in our historical buildings. That same sandstone that brought workers and built cities is the material that Lake Superior cut and molded into the caves we can kayak under today.
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Listen to Streaming Weather Radio including Marine Forecasts from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Choose Duluth MN for Apostle Islands area Marine Forecast. |
41° North is a kayak school in Cleveland, Ohio. They are based on the near westside and offer classes around the city in all skill levels. They have affordable day and weekend trips to the Lake Erie islands.
I attended their Level 1 Intro to Kayaking class and found it well worth the money and time. Level 1 is the class to start with even if you've paddled around quite a bit. This class teaches you how to roll properly with a skirt, how to get back into your kayak after you've fallen out with a paddle float, various strokes and rescue techniques.
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