Beautiful, easy walk on the Point Trail to see fall colors and waves of Lake Superior splashing on all manner of rock formations. At certain points you can walk out on the rock outcrops and just sit and listen to the waves coming and going. There were sections at the beginning of the trail that were roped off due to erosion and unstable soils. It is a pricey park since you have to pay for the ferry to get there, plus pay for the park pass (purchased on line). Came here when the boat ride out of Bayfield was postponed due to heavy fog. The beach looked nice, but didn't extend out very far at the time I went. There is a change house next to the bathrooms. Didn't spend any time there because of rain and cool weather. Looks like they have a good campground.

This was a family vacation to Ashland, Bayfield and the Apostle Islands. The ferry ride to the island cost us around $150 (vehicle and all occupants of the Suburban) but I was really looking forward to Big Bay State Park. The entrance is a decent drive from the ferry terminal in LaPointe. I wish the state kept the front gate staffed during the pandemic when use is so high. It seems stupid for all these cars full of families driving into a State Park and most could benefit from a park ranger giving tips and directions. Doesn't seem like it would be that hard to do. At the entrance, go to the left and follow signs to the beach and camping areas. At the beach parking lot there are bathrooms and changing areas. I loved loved loved the beach! So beautiful and large enough to find your own spots. The cliff jumping is down the Bayview trail. Walk past the bathrooms and head towards the stairs tot he beach. Look to the right for the sign for the Bayview Trail. There are a few separate spots to jump into the lake but the best one is pretty much at the end of the 1.3 mile trail. There were older folks and young kids all jumping and it was totally awesome! All our boys jumped and I did too! I think Big Bay is pretty cool. There isn't a ton to do there but the beach and cliffs are supper cool! Something everyone should see at least once.

Perhaps I am biased, and this park is not so great, since it doesn't have that many trails and features compared with other State Parks. But the views are stunning, the Lake Superior is always beautiful, and ferry ride to Madeline Island is exciting. The park also includes Big Bay Sand Spit & Bog State Natural Area.

BEWARE... The Wisconsin park system is pulling a sneaky on tourists. They expect you to buy a yearly park pass before entering any parks. The entrance is open, but no one is there to tell you this. I guess they assume everyone looks online before they go, at least that's what the park ranger told us when he handed us a park violation for $38.00 (The annual fee for a park pass) BTW, he was writing out several violations in the parking lot. If they can afford to pay someone for that job, why can't this person give out reasonably priced day passes at the entrance? Parks in Minnesota seem to handle this okay through COVID. Perhaps they need funding for the swanky boardwalk that runs through the park. It's nice, but for the cost of a R/T boat fare and park violation, I would go on a kayak tour instead.

After reading these reviews I was prepared to be bored. It was not at all! We hiked 4 miles including on the rocks, the trails, the woods, the beach— even jumped off the cliffs. So much fun here. Better than all the other area hikes

This beach is AMAZINGLY BEAUTIFUL!!!! This was the last stop on our Apostle Islands vacation and truly one of the best sights in the area. The State Park itself seems very primitive and there are a lot of mosquitos in the woods...which is why I like to stay in hotels rather than campgrounds. However, this beach is one the most beautiful beaches that I have ever experienced. The cold water was clear and the bottom was rocky near the shore and then was soft sand. I also didn't see even one pesky seagull, but the chipmunks might try to creep on your snacks. We visited mid-week and found that is was nearly empty. I would recommend taking a cooler and some snacks or lunch, as there are no vendors in the area. I would also recommend lightweight chairs, if you find sitting in the sand difficult. There are changing rooms and pit toilets near the beach parking lot.

Nice park, but apathetic staff. The woman who checked people in could barely care less. They shut the water off leaving campers with no toilets and no showers! They only told us when we went to find out what was going on. Signs on the door said out of order. We left 2 days early.

Having come in the winter, we decided to take a trip to Big Bay State Park. It was fairly cold out, so we did the shorter Point-Trail loop. It was quite gorgeous. I can't give it an "excellent" just because the cost to get to the island is heavy. One could definitely plan for a longer hike...in mid-January 2021, there was not a lot of snow. Hiking with yax-trax on standard hiking shoes was fine.

I was here twice within a year, and would go back again. This is a wonderful park with great, mostly level hiking trails. There are a few rocks & roots here & there, but overall a pretty smooth hiking surface. We went in the fall, and the colors were beautiful! I would definitely go back again.

We loved this state park. You definitely have to get out of your car and explore a little bit. We only went to a couple spots but they were beautiful. There a lot of small trails to get closer to the water. We were able to follow an off road trail to a platform of rocks. We swam and hung out there. Dogs are not allowed on the beaches but are allowed in the park.