Overview
Discover the magnificent fall colors of Lake Superior’s South Shore. Days are filled with coastal and inland hikes around the Bayfield Peninsula enjoying the stark beauty of the area. Lost Creek Trail, Houghton Falls, and Frog Bay offer hikes along sea caves through hemlock forests, hidden waterfalls, the country’s first tribal national park, and endless beaches. The South Shore offers countless miles of sandy beaches, awe-inspiring sandstone formations and red clay cliffs, including dramatic sea caves. Shrouded in boreal and hardwood forest, it’s the perfect destination for fall colors and rivals any location for the country’s best leaf viewing.
Included in this trip is a curated book list from Kerri Miller, which will be discussed over campfires, morning coffee, and a wonderful dinner at a local farm to table restaurant the Friday or Saturday night of the trip! Also included is a visit to one or a few of the many farms off of the commonly known Co Hwy Fruit Loop just minutes from our base camp.
Reading List
- The Signature of All Things – by Elizabeth Gilbert
- The Net Beneath Us: A Novel – by Carol Dunbar
- And bring a favorite poem to declaim around the campfire!
*This itinerary is a women’s only trip.
Itinerary
Expand All FieldsDay 1: Arrive at Wilderness Inquiry's Little Sand Bay Base Camp and take a short hike to School Bus Rock.
Your trip starts in the early afternoon at Wilderness Inquiry's beautiful Little Sand Bay Base Camp. Orient yourself to the quiet North Woods on our 40 acre property and take a short hike to School Bus Rock. Get to know your guides and Kerri Miller over a glass of wine and enjoy the crisp fall air together over a fire and great conversation.
Day 2: Take in scenes of stunning fall colors as you hike along cliffs towering above sea caves.
After breakfast and great coffee, spend the day enjoying the beautiful fall colors as you hike above the National Lakeshore admiring sea caves below. Set off and explore the sandy shoals of the first tribal national park in the United States. You'll also have an opportunity to visit one of the area's local orchards before spending the evening around the campfire regaling in the day's events and curated books.
Day 3: Explore the charming town of Bayfield, followed by a hike to hidden waterfalls, before dinner at a local farm to table restaurant.
Visit Houghton Falls and see why this area has attracted explorers for the last three centuries. Stop in picturesque Bayfield and experience the charming town stop into Honest Dog Books. Nothing beats a local independent books store with new friends and a hot cup of coffee. In the late afternoon, Discover hidden waterfalls at Lost Creek Falls before an unforgettable dinner. Upon returning to basecamp, relax under a star filled sky with your adventure companions for one last night together.
Day 4: Enjoy one final adventure before saying farewell to your trip mates.
Walk down and dip your toes in Lake Superior taking in a final vista of the clear blue waters before saying goodbye to your new friends and heading home.
Dates & Fees
| 2023 Dates | Fee | Registration |
|---|---|---|
What to Expect
ACCOMMODATIONS: You will enjoy your stay at our Little Sand Bay Base Camp. At night you will sleep in comfortable platform tents with cots. Typically, there are 2-3 people per 4-person tent (other arrangements can be made). Our Little Sand Bay Base Camp has very nice 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 10:30 AM 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 2:30 PM and from Minneapolis St. Paul after 6:00 PM.
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/
Is this hiking trip wheelchair accessible?
Since hiking over rugged trails is a primary activity of our hiking trips, we do not recommend these trips for persons who use wheelchairs. Several of the hikes and activities are not very accessible for people who use wheelchairs.
Our canoe, kayak, and dogsled trips are generally more accessible for people who use wheelchairs. Water based travel is the great equalizer when it comes to outdoor activities. Fortunately, we have many trips to choose from.
All that said, if you use a wheelchair and are interested in going, please call to discuss the trip with us. We never want to say never!
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!