Bayfield County Forest
Managed by Bayfield County
32,453 acres64.3 mi of trail
Jolly LoopCounty Forest Road 63BCounty Forest Road 63ADeer Path Trail+1
Dogs on leash
Directionsto the trailhead
Photo: The original uploader was Nationalparks at English Wikipedia. · CC BY-SA 2.5–Not graded
Outdoors in Bayfield
More than half of Bayfield’s land is conserved: 69%
69% of Bayfield’s land is conserved, about 39,233 acres. The biggest trail networks: Bayfield County Forest (64.3 mi), Apostle Islands National Lakeshore (16.1 mi), Nourse Sugarbush State Natural Area (3 mi). 37,289 acres are parks and preserves, 52,594 per 1,000 residents.
Conserved land
69%
39,233 acres · of 89.1 sq mi of land
Trails
103 mi
1.2 per sq mi of land
Park land
37,289 ac
52,594 acres per 1,000 residents
Near a park
35%
of residents within ½ mile
Bike routes
10 mi
10 mi paths
Highest peak
1,312 ft
Mount Ashwabay
Lakes & rivers
1
3 boat launches
The map
Conserved land, trails & bike routes
Tap a number to zoom to a park. Tap a layer to hide it.
Easements protect land from building but are usually private.© OpenStreetMap contributors · USGS PAD-US
Places to walk
Pick a walk
The longest trail network is Bayfield County Forest, with 64.3 miles. Directions go to the nearest trailhead or public parking.
Apostle Islands National Lakeshore
Managed by National Park Service
5,011 acres16.1 mi of trail
Lakeshore TrailLighthouse Trail
Dogs on leash
Directionsto the parking lotWebsite ↗
Nourse Sugarbush State Natural Area
Nature preserve
502 acres3 mi of trail
Anchor LoopBirch Hill TrailJolly Loop
Dogs on leash
No trailhead mapped yet
South Shore Lake Superior Fish and Wildlife Area
Managed by Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
1,146 acres0.7 mi of trail
Salmo TrailJolly Loop
Dogs on leash
Directionsto the parking lot
Big Ravine Nature Preserve
Nature preserve
34 acres0.7 mi of trail
West Rim TrailOverlook TrailBear Cub Trail
Dog rules not recorded
No trailhead mapped yet
All 12 parks & preserves
Bayfield County Forest32,453 acres · 64.3 mi of trail · Bayfield County
DirectionsApostle Islands National Lakeshore5,011 acres · 16.1 mi of trail · National Park Service
DirectionsNourse Sugarbush State Natural Area502 acres · 3 mi of trail
South Shore Lake Superior Fish and Wildlife Area1,146 acres · 0.7 mi of trail · Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
DirectionsBig Ravine Nature Preserve34 acres · 0.7 mi of trail
Belanger Settlement Historical Society9 acres · 0.1 mi of trail
Brownstone Trail Corridor3 acres · 0.1 mi of trail · Landmark Conservancy
DirectionsSaxine Creek Habitat Area240 acres · Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
Fire Hill105 acres
Les Voigt Fish Hatchery42 acres · Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
DirectionsGaylord Nelson Wilderness21 acres · National Park Service
Dalrymple Park17 acres · City of Bayfield
Who protects it
39,233 conserved acres
69% of Bayfield’s land. Water is left out: Bayfield has 89.1 square miles of land and 44.8 of water, so the share counts land only. Who manages Bayfield’s conserved land, from the USGS Protected Areas Database. Approximate, because parcels can overlap.
County32,943 ac
National Park Service4,710 ac
State natural resources2,066 ac
USDA easements (NRCS)194 ac
Land trusts & nonprofits34 ac
Private owners1 ac
Local Conservation Area · 32,269 acNational Lakeshore or Seashore · 4,710 acState Conservation Area · 2,440 acState Recreation Area · 299 acAgricultural Easement · 194 ac
Good to know
Conserved doesn’t always mean open to visitors. 229 acres are conservation easements, usually private land. The walks above are places people visit.
The biggest protected parcels
| Parcel (PAD-US) | Managed by | Acres | Public access |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bayfield County Forest Local Conservation Area | County | 32,269 | Open |
| Apostle Islands National Lakeshore National Lakeshore or Seashore | National Park Service | 4,710 | Open |
| South Shore Lake Superior Fish State Conservation Area | State natural resources | 1,137 | Restricted |
| Natural Area State Conservation Area | County | 674 | Restricted |
| Nourse Sugarbush State Natural Area State Conservation Area | State natural resources | 443 | Restricted |
| Statewide Habitat Areas State Conservation Area | State natural resources | 243 | Restricted |
| Saxine Creek State Habitat Area State Recreation Area | State natural resources | 243 | Open |
| South Shore Lake Superior Fish And Private Conservation | Private owners | 1 | Closed |
Things to do
15 places to go in Bayfield
Beaches, playgrounds, peaks, falls and more. Pick a kind.
Playgrounds in Bayfield
1 playground without a name on the map. Tap “Show all on map” to see it.
Boat launches in Bayfield
Meyers Beach Kayak LaunchIn Apostle Islands National Lakeshore
DirectionsPlus 2 boat launches without a name on the map. Tap “Show all on map” to see them.
Scenic views in Bayfield
Caves Viewpoint
DirectionsCaves ViewpointIn Apostle Islands National Lakeshore
DirectionsCaves ViewpointIn Apostle Islands National Lakeshore
DirectionsCaves Viewpoint
DirectionsLunch BeachIn Apostle Islands National Lakeshore
DirectionsPlus 1 scenic view without a name on the map.
Peaks in Bayfield
Mount Ashwabay1,312 ft elevation · In Bayfield County Forest
DirectionsCampgrounds in Bayfield
Dalrymple Park CampgroundIn Dalrymple Park · City of Bayfield
DirectionsLakeshore Trail CampsiteIn Apostle Islands National Lakeshore
DirectionsPlus 2 campgrounds without a name on the map.
Trails & water
22 named trails and 1 lakes & rivers
Named trails
Open to bikes · 1.1 miUnpaved · 27.1 mi
Lakeshore Trail5.5 mi
Jolly Loop2.8 mi
County Forest Road 63B1.5 mi
Lighthouse Trail1.4 mi
Brownstone Trail1.2 mi
County Forest Road 63A1.1 mi
Deer Path Trail1.1 mi
Star Route Connector0.9 mi
Hessian's Cutoff0.8 mi
East Rim Trail0.7 mi
12 more trails
Fat Tire Bike
0.4 miBirch Hill Trail
0.4 miAnchor Loop
0.4 miSalmo Trail
0.4 miFinn Loop Trail
0.3 miJolly Meadow Loop
0.3 miWest Rim Trail
0.3 miSand Point Spur
0.3 miBlack Bear Trail
0.1 miOverlook Trail
0.1 miBear Cub Trail
0.1 miOppendahl's Alley
0.1 miLakes & rivers tap for directions
Biking & sports
10 miles of bike routes
Bike lanes are often missing from the map in smaller towns, so that number is likely low.
10 mi
off-road bike paths
Tsuga DaddyBike route
0.8 miHistory along the way
History →6 places on the National Register
The country’s official list of places worth saving (National Park Service). The map also marks 2 historic points from OpenStreetMap: plaques, memorials and old buildings.
When to get out
September is the best month for walking in Bayfield
NOAA’s 1991–2020 normals for the town and the daylight at its latitude. Outlined months have long days, highs of 59 to 86 °F and little rain for the place.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daylight (h) | 8.9 | 10.2 | 11.8 | 13.5 | 15.0 | 15.9 | 15.5 | 14.2 | 12.5 | 10.8 | 9.3 | 8.5 |
| High (°F) | 22 | 27 | 37 | 49 | 62 | 71 | 77 | 75 | 67 | 53 | 39 | 27 |
| Rain (in) | 1.3 | 1.0 | 1.6 | 2.6 | 3.3 | 3.6 | 3.7 | 3.3 | 3.1 | 3.2 | 2.0 | 1.7 |
February is the driest month (1.0 in) and July the warmest (highs of 77 °F). 3.7 inches fall in July, the wettest month. The climate in Bayfield →
Next door
Bayfield and its neighbors
Bayfield has the most mapped trails of the 4 towns around it. Tap a town to see its outdoors.
| Town | Conserved of land | Trail mi per sq mi | Park acres per 1,000 | Near a park ½ mile | Outdoors |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bayfield | — not graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its town | ||||
| Russell | 31% | 0.5 | 6,545 | 78% | A |
| Bell | — not graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its town | ||||
| Bayview | — not graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its town | ||||
The four inputs of the Outdoors grade, from the engine; shares are of land, not water.
Questions about parks and trails in Bayfield
Where can I hike in Bayfield?
The longest trail networks: Bayfield County Forest, 64.3 miles; Apostle Islands National Lakeshore, 16.1 miles; Nourse Sugarbush State Natural Area, 3 miles; South Shore Lake Superior Fish and Wildlife Area, 0.7 miles. Each one is on the map above, with directions to the nearest trailhead or parking.
Are dogs allowed on Bayfield’s trails?
OpenStreetMap records dogs as welcome at Bayfield County Forest (on leash), Apostle Islands National Lakeshore (on leash), Nourse Sugarbush State Natural Area (on leash) and South Shore Lake Superior Fish and Wildlife Area (on leash). For the rest, check the signs at the trailhead.
Where can I bike in Bayfield?
10 miles of bike routes are on the map: 10 of off-road paths. Named routes: Tsuga Daddy.
Is there public land near Bayfield?
128,103 acres of parks and open public land lie inside Bayfield or within 10 miles of it (PAD-US), 37,289 of them inside the town line.
Trail talk
Conditions, parking and favorite walks from Bayfield neighbors.
Share a tip
Sources
Where this page comes from
Conserved and public land: USGS Protected Areas Database of the United States (PAD-US), service updated July 2026. Parks, trails, playgrounds, beaches and other places: OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL), map data as of 2026-10-28. Land and water area: Census 2025 Gazetteer. Residents near a park: 2020 Census blocks. National Register: National Park Service. How TownRatings grades the outdoors →