Warm Weather Impacts Tourism in the Northland

Some Areas Worse Than Others

The Apostle Island ice caves and the ice roads to the Madeline islands are some of Bayfield’s biggest draws for tourists, but this year the temperatures didn’t get cold enough for the ice roads to form.

And though that does affect the tourism numbers, business owners say it’s not detrimental.

According to the Bayfield chamber of commerce in the past few years the ice caves have put Bayfield on  the radar for tourists across the nation, and though they can’t be accessed by walking on the frozen lake, tourists still hike to the caves using a trail on the land.

Community members have also noticed a shift in the demographics of tourists.  Many outdoor sports enthusiasts have started visiting the area. 

In recent years, fat tire biking has put a noticeable dent on Bayfield’s tourism numbers, and there’s still plenty of snow for other things like dog sledding or skiing.

So though the ice roads and ice caves are helpful to Bayfield, the local businesses have figured out how to survive without counting on them.