Exploring Bayfield County

Friday August 27

Even though we are staying in Washburn, we are still in Bayfield County and just a few short miles from Bayfield to the North and Ashland to the East.

One day we spent exploring the town of Bayfield, checking out restaurants, ferry schedules, souvineer shops and we found a Museum cataloguing the fishing industry on Lake Superior.  In Washburn is the Bayfield County Courthouse make from brownstone.  It’s quite an impressive building.

Another day we rode our bikes out in the county, making a big loop that encompassed the Chequamegon National Forest and Chequamegon Lake (pronounced: Chah-kaw-mah-gone).  Since the Ojibwa Native Americans inhabited this area, they use their Indian Names along with the English on all their signs.  We also hiked near the ski area and enjoyed the quiet forest before coming back to Washburn and buying fresh food at the Farmer’s Market.

We also hiked out from Meyer’s Beach up and on top of the Sea Caves.  Half of the hike was on a board walk then we climbed over roots and rocks to reach the top and look down into a 50 foot deep crevasse where the water rushed in.  From there we could look out on points of land and see the caves below us.  We ate lunch while enjoying the vista of The Bowl, a long point with sea caves its full length.