Lake Michigan Road Trip Pt 2: Day 6

 Day 6

Start: Ironwood, MI
Finish: Rice Lake, WI

Miles: 210

States: MI, WI

I didn't make it all the way back to Madison today but for all intents and purposes, this was the final leg. My planning for the day was non existent but I started out driving west towards Ashland. I haven't been there since my youth hockey days but I stopped at the marina to stretch the legs and to take this generic lake photo.

See, pretty generic.

From there, I made my way up and around Bayfield Peninsula stopping when I saw something interesting. 

Memorial Park in Washburn.

Just north of Memorial Park was a place called Stoughton Falls State Natural Area that turned out to be pretty cool. The whole hike from the lot to Lake Superior was probably 1 mile but it was mostly along a gorge created by a meandering stream. Unless there's a snow melt or heavy rain, I'm guessing the stream stays pretty dry as it was today. I definitely did not break any rules when I hopped down there to check it out.

Looks like a shot from Isla Nublar (get the reference?).

View back to where I was standing.

Little sand bar for the people.

From the other side. Would have been a good place to swim but Lake Superior and I will tangle later.

Bayfield was the next stop just because it was on the way and because I needed gas. Fun fact, I went 500+ miles on one tank for the first time and I could have kept going! This little town is definitely a tourist trap as it's where you take the ferry out to Madeline Island. I remember going out there as a kid and it wasn't much to look at so I stayed away.

 

Annnnnnnd got some ice cream instead! How about that, Randy?!?!

I almost made a stop at the casino in Red Cliff but other than that, there isn't really anywhere to check out up north so I looped around to the west side of the peninsula. I was going to hike the Sea Caves Trail but I couldn't find out where it started! Turns out I was at the right place but it was so busy with kayak tours going to out the caves that I just left. 

5 minutes down the road was another beach and IT WAS TIME to take my first swim in Lake Superior. It was actually quite comfortable and I put in a little work on my backstroke.

Spent a bit of time here, got my swim on, and even cracked open my book for the first time on the trip.

Well folks, from here it was a 2 hour drive back to Rice Lake effectively ending the trip. It was another good vacation and I don't think it will be the last time I head up north. Where to next though? Colorado? California? Canada? Who knows!