About Madeline Island Ferry Line
Madeline Island Ferry Line is the lifeline between Bayfield, Wisconsin and La Pointe on Madeline Island, carrying passengers, bicycles, and vehicles across the two-and-a-half-mile channel that separates the largest Apostle Island from the mainland. Operating from the terminal at 20 Washington Avenue on Bayfield's waterfront, the family-run line has connected the island to the world for generations.
Ferries run frequently throughout the day during the open-water season, roughly spring ice-out through winter freeze-up, with crossings taking about twenty minutes. The ride itself doubles as a scenic mini-cruise, with views of the Bayfield hillside, Basswood Island, and the open sweep of Lake Superior. Walk-on passengers, cyclists headed for Big Bay State Park, kayakers, and cars all board together; no reservations are needed for most crossings. When the channel freezes solid, the famous ice road takes over until spring.
As one of the few remaining independent ferry operations on the Great Lakes, the line is woven into island life — hauling everything from school kids to construction trucks. For visitors, it is the essential first chapter of any Madeline Island adventure and one of the most affordable boat rides on Lake Superior.
