Navigation and Logistics for Boat Rentals at Chequamegon Bay

 At Chequamegon Bay Boats, your safety and enjoyment are our top priorities. For our boat rental company to succeed, we prioritize fair weather boating and only send out boats when conditions are pleasant. Winds of 15 mph can create rough waters, and anything above 20-25 mph is a no-go. We develop a float plan based on current conditions and your experience, as conditions can change quickly.

We encourage you to stay local and enjoy Madeline Island and Long Island, where you can rely on cellphone coverage (most carriers, but not all) and easily return if the weather changes.

If you wish to explore the Apostle Islands, I can help create a float plan for Stockton, Raspberry Island, or the middle islands on most days. Devils Island, known for its sea caves, should be reserved for perfect days due to its exposure to large waves from the big lake. However, sea caves can be found on any shore exposed to the northeast. The shorelines just north of Washburn are stunning and seemingly endless. NE Basswood and Hermit Islands are amazing, as are many others. Well, you see, I'm just listing all the islands now...

 Chequamegon Bay is a substantial body of water, and while few boaters will stay just within the bay, there are compelling reasons to enjoy it, especially if you have a few days and it's windy. As you leave Washburn heading north, you'll encounter stunning rock formations and the famous Houghton Point. Exercise caution near Houghton Point due to old dock cribs near the shore from a former ferry terminal, a major destination in the area's early days.

Long Island forms the northern border of Chequamegon Bay and is, in my opinion, one of the most amazing places on earth. Its long, sandy beach stretches endlessly, with shallow waters on the southern Bay side. These 3-5 foot deep waters are ideal for swimming, being almost weed-free and sandy, and they can get quite warm. Long Island is a favorite destination for locals and visitors alike, boasting some of the best beaches in the islands, certainly with the warmest water, and it’s not far away!

Within the sloughs, rivers, and creeks, Chequamegon Bay becomes very shallow, with numerous stumps and deadheads to navigate around. This area is excellent for bass fishing, as Chequamegon is a world-class smallmouth bass fishery. If you head towards Ashland, stay within the navigation buoys and avoid approaching the shore. The old industrial town presents numerous navigational hazards with old docks scattered everywhere.

 North of Chequamegon Bay lies Madeline Island. To reach it, you must first cross the South Channel, a large opening into the big lake where winds from the east, northeast, or southeast can generate large waves. At the tip of Madeline Island is Grants Point, where a sandbar extends out a couple of thousand feet, creating shallow waters; be sure to navigate around the red marker.

The town of La Pointe is located on the southwest side of the island. Here, you'll find a full-service marina and fuel dock at the Madeline Island Yacht Club (MIYC) website. Next to the Yacht Club is The Pub, which has a dock for customers. A few properties down is Joni's Beach, a public park with a dock and restrooms. On the north side of this bay is the Ferry Dock and Town, home to the Beach Club dock, a restaurant with a dock for customers.

Big Bay State Park, located halfway down the east side of the island, is renowned for its rock cliffs at Eagle's Nest and the expansive Big Bay Beach. The northeast end of the island is an Ojibwe reservation and sacred fishing grounds. You'll notice large boulders in the water, so it’s advisable to stay a good distance offshore, as indicated by the light blue areas on the chart.

Named for the Hermit Wilson that lived on the island. There is no dock or easy access point for Hermit, and the beaches even the sand ones have many rocks and boulder. A very cool island to drive past there is an old Sand Stone Quarry with rock crib in the water be ware, and a north east stretch of cliffs and caves that is worth checking out. 

Stockton Island features the Apostle Islands' only true harbor. The docks at Presque Isle Point, protected by break walls, offer one of the few harbors of refuge in the national park. While many other islands have docks, they are exposed to the open lake, making them vulnerable to damage from waves caused by passing boats, even on calm days. Stockton Island provides a variety of activities, including hiking, beaches, and sea caves. A full day can be enjoyed exploring the island, which is sheltered by the surrounding islands, offering some protection from the wind and waves. There is also a dock in the south south west bay Quarry Bay dock. 

Raspberry Island is a well maintained lighthouse with a tour available when a ranger is out there. The island is exposed to West and North winds and waves. But when the dock is not too wavey it provides a great way to tour a lighthouse. There are boulders to the east of the docks and 2024 the water levels are down so caution should be taken.  

Little Manitou once had dirt and trees, but the Coast Guard washed it away with a fire hose to make a more permanent light fixture on the rocks. Between Little Manitou and Manitou Island is extremely hazardous with boulders and shallow water. Manitou Island does though have a National Park Service dock on the south west side and it is a good dock. Just make sure you return to deep water instead of fallowing the shoreline when you depart or arrive. There is a Park Service display of an old Fish Camps here. 

There is a dock on the south east side of the island near the spit. In the 60's The Boy Scouts held their special jamboree and a thousand scouts took over the island! The North West side of this island has cool sea caves and cliffs and is exposed to Northern Winds. 

Rocky and South Twin have a long history of summer residents, fishermen, even resorts and restaurants. Today there is still a preserved historic district on Rocky Island with Cabins still being used by families that have loved Rocky Island for a long time. They are north of the Park Service dock both on the East Side of the wider part of Rocky Island. The Rocky Island Dock is a pretty nice park service dock. The South Twin Island National Park Service dock had filled in barely usable 2022, 2023 it was better, but water is down 2024, I will update but I expect the dock to be too shallow for use this year. There was a resort and even an air strip on South Twin Island. 

Once two islands but filled in with a sand beach between them now York is not a big island but picturesque. The north side has rock formations at the ends and the beach in the middle. The South Side of this island is more eroding clay shore and boulders. This island has some boulders placed a little ways off the shore in many places and there is no easy access point and no dock. This Island is also very exposed to any North Direction Winds. 

Sand Island was the only island other than Madeline to ever have a full Town. Sand Island has a new park service dock in East Bay. But there is lots of shallow rocky water around Sand Island to be careful in the light blue areas of the chart. Swallow Point has Sea Caves that are of the Devils Island geological era red sand stone and are one of the 3 best locations for Sea Caves in The Apostle Islands. There is also a Light House on the North Point, but no dock near the light house, absolutely do not try to land on the rocks near The Light House.  I have the West side of the island as out of bounds as it just gets too far away from our start, and is just open waters out there. Note the Sand Bar going south of the Island and the docks around there are private docks. 

Devils island is one big rock. As a charter captain for effect I would always say if you were a large giant you could pick it up and throw it. There is no dock or access point, except the talked about rocks the Park Service ties their metal boats to. Please never tie the boat to a rock please! Devils Island is way out there, and  by far the crown jewel of the park, it is reserved for perfect days and experienced boaters

Cat Island is out of the more traveled paths on the way towards Outer Island. I always feel a little extra isolated on this island and personally I consider it more remote than Devils. The south end is sand spit and the north east end is rocks and sea caves. The water by the rocks on this island are more shallow and dangerous than others. This is definitely an expert only island.