Adjacent to the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore and the City of Bayfield, the Big Ravine forest is of extreme ecological importance, particularly to migratory birds. The primary focus of acquiring 40 acres at the top of the ravine is to further protect unfragmented woodland habitat.
By summer 2015, Bayfield Regional Conservancy will convey these 40 acres to the Town of Bayfield after working with the town to place a conservation easement on the property. BRC also hopes to work with private landowners on the eastern side of the ravine to provide trail access.
Through an established hiking trail along much of its western side, the Big Ravine is open to the public for hiking, snowshoeing, cross country skiing, hunting, and trapping. The trail can be accessed at the Bayfield School Baseball field or off of Martin Rd.
To date, BRC has worked in collaboration with the City of Bayfield and Town of Bayfield to protect almost 200 acres of habitats in the Big Ravine. We invite you to explore the Big Ravine and enjoy a number of scenic overlooks along the way!