Overview
Take your family on this kid-friendly adventure on the South Shore of Lake Superior between Cornucopia and Bayfield. The Apostle Islands are known for sea caves, sandy beaches, historic lighthouses, and sunken shipwrecks. On this Apostle Islands vacation, you and your family will paddle through sea caves, hike scenic trails, and enjoy wide sandy beaches. Camp with your family among the tall hemlock trees at our cozy and well-outfitted base camp at Little Sand Bay. Our talented and caring staff will have activities to keep kids of all ages engaged and having fun.
Itinerary
Expand All FieldsDay 1: Welcome to Little Sand Bay Base Camp! Get to know your trip mates and explore the area.
Your trip begins at our Little Sand Bay Base Camp. Your family will learn how to set up camp, go over safety issues, and begin to explore this area full of beautiful hemlock and cedar trees. Your guide will provide an orientation to sea kayaking and our 24-foot North canoes. After dinner you'll make s'mores around the campfire.
Day 2: Enjoy a paddle to the famous Fedora shipwreck or the wetlands of Bark Bay Slough.
Enjoy a hot cup of coffee or cocoa with breakfast, then set out for another day of adventure. Options include paddling out to explore the skeleton of the famous Fedora shipwreck near Buffalo Bay or paddling through the wetlands of Bark Bay Slough. Wilderness Inquiry staff will lead structured activities for the children throughout the day and evening.
Day 3: Paddle to the Mawikwe Bay sea caves or hike to a nearby waterfall.
After breakfast, we might paddle or hike to the Mawikwe Bay sea caves. As you eat your lunch on a sandy beach, feel the joy of this magical place. After lunch go on a beautiful hike to a nearby waterfall. Spend the evening back at Base Camp around the fire playing games and listening to stories.
Day 4: Enjoy one final adventure before saying farewell to your trip mates.
Pack up camp and have breakfast before one final adventure. Enjoy a picnic lunch as you bid adieu to new friends.
Dates & Fees
| 2023 Dates | Fee | Registration |
|---|---|---|
What to Expect
ACCOMMODATIONS: At night you and your family will sleep in a comfortable 4 person tent at our Little Sand Bay Base Camp. Each tent is mounted on a platform. Our Little Sand Bay Base Camp has very nice indoor bathrooms and shower facilities with hot water.
Read more »Frequently Asked Questions:
Where do we meet?
Standard Meeting Places and Times
Start: Little Sand Bay Base Camp at 1:30 PM (local time)
End: Little Sand Bay Base Camp at 1:30 PM (local time)
Transportation
This trip begins at 1:30 PM at our Little Sand Bay Base Camp near Bayfield, WI, where parking is available. The trip ends at 1:30 PM at the same location. Detailed meeting place directions will be sent to you when you are confirmed for the trip. Booking a flight? We recommend flying in the night before your trip to Duluth or Minneapolis St. Paul airports, and flying out from Duluth after 5:30 PM and from Minneapolis St. Paul after 9:00 PM.
What is the minimum age for kids on your family trips?
There is no minimum age requirement to participate on a WI family trip. We require participants to wear a personal flotation device (PFD) at all times when on water for safety. The smallest PFD we provide for children requires a minimum weight of 30 pounds. A family with a child smaller than this weight limit would need to provide their own PFD or would be unable to participate on the trip. For family paddling trips, children should be able to sit comfortably in a canoe or kayak for 1+ hour at a time. This should guide whether or not a child would be a good fit on any particular trip.
Do you have any additional health restrictions on trail?
In addition to following CDC guidelines, we work with a team of community and health experts to help guide our safety measures on and off the trail. Find a complete list of steps we are taking to provide you the safest experience here: https://www.wildernessinquiry.org/covid19/
Do you offer financial aid?
Yes - we believe the opportunity to enjoy the outdoors should be available to everyone. To keep our programs as financially accessible as possible, each year we raise funds to support need-based scholarships. Certain restrictions apply. Financial aid is available for a select number of trips only and typically not available for international trips. Click here to apply for financial aid. This website also shows a list of trips that are currently eligible for financial aid. Check back often, as this list is updated regularly! Call 612-676-9400 for more information.
Is there a discount on family trips?
Yes. All youth participants under the age of 18 pay 25% less than the adult rate on all family trips.
Would my teenager enjoy a family trip with Wilderness Inquiry?
There are typically both teens and younger children on our family trips. We often offer a variety of activities so that participants of all ages have an enjoyable trip!
I have a child with a disability. Would a family trip be appropriate for them?
Yes. All of our trips strive to integrate persons with and without disabilities, including children on our family trips. Call us at 612-676-9400 if you have questions. Otherwise, you can register for a family trip, and we'll call you when we receive your information.
Will age-appropriate activities be offered for children on a family trip?
Yes. Your trip leaders will offer age-appropriate activities for children at different points throughout the trip. Our staff love kids and are great at making sure your whole family has a great time.
Do I need paddling experience to join a canoe or kayak trip?
Paddling trips with WI are appropriate for beginners and seasoned paddlers alike. On the first day of all trips, basic paddling strokes will be taught by the trip leader. Each trip gives participants multiple opportunities to practice their skills. Participants with more experience will have plenty of opportunity to paddle during the trip, and even to help teach less experienced paddlers!
What is the base camp like on the Apostle Islands trips?
We refer to our property as the Little Sand Bay Base Camp. The camp is approximately 1,500 feet from the Lake Superior lakeshore near Little Sand Bay in Northern Wisconsin. Our base camp offers camping at its most comfortable and accessible. All tents are large enough to stand upright, and are set up on comfortable wooden platforms. Hot showers, private bathrooms, a roofed pavilion space, and an indoor seating area for leisure time are other key features. The camp consists of 40 acres of woods with wood chip trails, 5 campsites, and a gear warehouse. Watch this short video to see what it is like.
I use a wheelchair, can I still participate?
Yes, our Basecamp is accessible and this trip is pretty accessible overall. Of course, each person is different so we will ask you to complete a standard health form. If we have any questions, we will call you to discuss them. We do not recommend this trip for people who use electric wheelchairs, unless they bring their own van or ability to transport their power-chair.