Bayfield—The Smallest City in Wisconsin

With a population hovering right around 600, Bayfield is said to be the smallest city in Wisconsin. That’s no reason to ignore it. 

Whatever Bayfield might lack in numbers, it more than makes up for in scenic beauty. Located near the center of the Wisconsin Lake Superior Scenic Byway—one of the most memorable sections of the entire 1,300-mile Lake Superior Circle Tour—with the lake on one side and magnificent state forests on the other, Bayfield is an ideal destination for adventurous motorcyclists.

The cultural hub of the Bayfield Peninsula, the city is home to numerous small shops, outdoor outfitters, cafes, art galleries, and much more. Add to this the views over Lake Superior, and you have a city that punches way above its size. 

The largest freshwater lake in the world (by surface area), Lake Superior’s broad, crystal-blue expanse is broken up here by numerous emerald-green islands just off the coastline. Combined, these 21 individual islands make up the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore. It’s a stunning freshwater archipelago that contains Wisconsin’s largest wilderness reserve, the 33,500-acre Gaylord Nelson Wilderness Area, as well as the nation’s largest collection of lighthouses.