National Scenic Byway · Wisconsin

Wisconsin Lake Superior Scenic Byway

WIS 13 around the Bayfield Peninsula on Lake Superior's south shore, through Washburn and Bayfield, the gateway to the Apostle Islands.

Also known as WIS 13

  • Length70.44 miles[1]
  • Drive timeNot verified
  • RoadsWIS 13[2]
  • Start and endFrom Whittlesey Creek National Wildlife Refuge near Ashland along the Bayfield Peninsula shoreline[1]
  • Fees and passesNone[1]
  • Best seasonNot verified
  • SurfaceNot verified
  • Vehicle notesNot verified
  • Seasonal closuresNot verified

Before you go

Road status and weather can change quickly. Check the official road-conditions link before you go.

Facts last checked against the sources on October 22, 2026.

About the drive

The Wisconsin Lake Superior Scenic Byway follows WIS 13 along the shore of Lake Superior, starting at Whittlesey Creek National Wildlife Refuge near Ashland and circling the Bayfield Peninsula.

Bayfield is the gateway to the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore, with its islands, sea caves and lighthouses. Farther west are the beaches of Port Wing and the mouth of the Brule River, a famous trout stream in the Brule River State Forest. The Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa's reservation is on the route.

We haven't verified a complete route line for this byway yet, so the map shows the stops only.

Stops along the way

  1. Washburn

    Lakeside town near Houghton Falls State Natural Area.

    Official information · 46.67328, -90.89491

  2. Bayfield

    Gateway to the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore.

    Official information · 46.81078, -90.81825

  3. Cornucopia

    Small harbor town on the north shore of the peninsula.

    Official information · 46.85383, -91.10186

  4. Port Wing

    Sandy beaches and boreal forest.

    Official information · 46.77467, -91.38658

Stops are listed in order along the route; the numbers match the map. Stop locations come from the National Park Service, the U.S. Geological Survey place-names database, the stop's own official page or, where noted in the data, OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors).

Sources

  1. America's Byways: Wisconsin Lake Superior Scenic Byway (FHWA) (checked 2026-10-22)
  2. Explore Wisconsin's Scenic Byways (Wisconsin Department of Transportation) (checked 2026-10-22)
  3. WI Lake Superior National Scenic Byway (Travel Wisconsin) (checked 2026-10-22)
  4. Route line: U.S. DOT scenic byways map service (geo.dot.gov), retrieved 2026-10-22.

Written by VanillaGoods from the cited official sources. This is a drive to know, not a ranking. Road status and weather can change quickly; check the official road-conditions link before you go.

Spot something out of date? Email help@vanillagoods.com (help@vanillagoods.com).

More drives in Wisconsin · All scenic drives