Apostle Islands Sea Caves Map

Sea Caves can be found at the following locations.  Each location is given a star rating for the sea caves, ease of access, and crowd levels. If you see an image above the text you can click on it and play a video from that sea cave location.  The locations include Devil’s Island, Meyers Beach, Sand Island, Romans Point, Houghton Point, Chequamegon Bay, Madeline Island, Red Cliff, Stockton Island, Cat Island, Eagle Island, Outer Island and Spirit Point.  You can expect  large crowds at Meyers Beach. The other sea cave locations you will have mostly to yourself.  You will need waves of 1.5 foot or less to enter the sea caves.

Devil’s Island

The hardest to access and is really only accessible by boat if you want to get out there and back in a day, but it has the best caves.  Devil’s Island is the most exposed to wind and waves of all the sea cave locations.

Romans Point

Located in Herbster, Wi these sea caves are a hidden gem.  Just as good as Meyers Beach but without the crowds or the AINL rules against dogs and paddleboards.  These are the best mainland caves and our guides always make this one more fun.  Without the AINL rangers we are allowed to let you explore the sandstone and make as many stops and take as many photos as you’d like.  We are better able to cater this to your enjoyment.

Sand Island

Much closer than Devil’s and can be accessed by kayak in one day. Sand Island has more caves than Roman’s point but not as many as Meyers.  Sand Island is a bit shorter but much more intricate stretch of caves.  There is the added bonus that they are on an island and the 2 mile open water crossing keeps the crowds down.  You rarely see motor boats at these caves.  The crossing to these caves are dangerous, you are exposed from every direction, even a South wind can create waves and white caps by the time you are half way through the open water crossing to Swallow Point.

Meyers Beach

 

Meyers Beach gets too crowded in August and you have to wait in line to get in to a cave, but these are excellent caves on the mainland peninsula.  If you are looking for good caves without crowds we suggest Romans Point.  Crowds are present and AINL rules do not allow family pets or paddle board tours.

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Stockton Island

Stockton Island has a couple good caves and a famous miniature sandstone island known as balancing rock.  There caves are located on the North East end of the island.  Crossing to Stockton is best done from Red Cliff or Madeline Island.  The crossing from Red Cliff is a bit more safe because you have Basswood and Hermit along the way which are both all public national lakeshore.

Madeline Island

There are about 1/4 as many caves at Madeline as those before it on this list but they are fun caves to paddle and if you look closely you can find one tunnel cave and one underwater cave.  The caves won’t be as amazing as Devil’s, Meyers and Sand but it is very protected from a West wind, so a good option for sea cave paddling on a West wind day, which is primarily what we get through the summer months.  This location will have more crowds than Romans but a bit fewer than Meyers.

Red Cliff

Every sea cave location in the Apostle Islands is more interesting and the waves from all the boats in the South Channel can make it dangerous in the summer.

APOSTLE ISLANDS KAYAKING

Apostle Islands Kayaking can be unpredictable; our primary goal is safety.  We have the best safety record in the Apostle Islands because we are the most cautious outfitter.

We offer a sea cave tour on the West side of the Bayfield Peninsula and the East side of the Bayfield Peninsula.  We only launch in calm (less than 1 ft wave) conditions, so if it’s wavy on the East side, we go to the West side and vice versa.

OTHER OUTFITTERS

Other outfitters focus on the crowded sea caves at Meyers Beach and will launch in waves of 2 to 3 feet.

We paddle the sea caves at Roman’s Point, Red Cliff,  and Houghton Point that are lesser-known, and we only launch when the waves are 1 foot or less.  Our goal is to get you to the sea caves but away from the crowds.

In our current reality, it is essential to avoid crowds.  At crowded sea cave locations, you may have to sit in line for the caves, waiting for other outfitters to go through.  When you are finally in the caves, you are rushed through, as another outfitter is right behind you, waiting to get in.  There are even instances of  algae blooms that can be harmful to humans and wildlife that have been recorded at Meyers Beach due in part to the overcrowding at the Meyers Beach sea caves.

ABOUT OUR TOURS

We cater to families with kids and people who are looking for a relaxing paddle without crowds.  Apostle Islands kayak tours can be dangerous but we choose to paddle in conditions that are not challenging.  Other outfits may launch in conditions or locations that we will not and this is because we cater to families with kids and people who are looking for a relaxing paddle without crowds

We tell you this to help you make your outfitter decision.

Our guided tours take place at secluded sea cave destinations, where we are likely to be the only group there.  We allow you plenty of time inside each cave to sit and enjoy the ambiance and take as many photos as you like.

Roman’s Point has the best caves but is a challenging paddle.  Houghton Point and Red Cliff are easy paddles and great for kids or anyone looking to take it easy.  Houghton Point has a few more and slightly better caves than Red Cliff, but Red Cliff has a beautiful sea arch and the famous Fedora shipwreck in shallow water.

WHAT IF WE CANCEL?

Being a cautious outfitter means we do have to cancel sometimes, but if we ever cancel your Apostle Islands kayak tour or if the CDC restrictions make it impossible to travel, you receive 100% of your money back.

In the event of a weather cancellation we also give your group priority re-booking, meaning we will open up spots on whatever tour you want and for whatever date you choose.