TV Show “Rock the Park” Dives Into the Apostle Islands

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The adventurer-hosts of TV program “Rock the Park” go hiking, kayaking and scuba diving in the Apostle Islands in Lake Superior in the episode that airs Sunday morning on Duluth’s ABC affiliate, WDIO-TV.

Colton Smith and Jack Steward explored Apostle Islands National Lakeshore in Wisconsin earlier this year. The show is scheduled to air Nov. 1 at 10 a.m. on Channel 10.

The two outdoorsmen, who are both originally from the Twin Cities area, hiked the sand dunes and island trails on Stockton Island. They kayaked inside the multicolored sandstone sea caves at Devils Island, squeezing through narrow passageways, as cameras take viewers along for the ride. They trade kayaks for wetsuits for a dive to the shipwreck Savona, then a second scuba-diving experience into the sea caves provides an underwater adventure that few park visitors get to experience.

In a Q&A with Lake Superior Magazine via email, Colton and Jack described their trip to the Apostle Islands in more detail and in personal terms. Here’s what they said:

LSM: What did you find most surprising about your visit to the Apostle Islands?

Jack Steward: I was surprised by how dramatic and unique the Apostle Islands are! It seemed that everywhere we went in the Apostle Islands was jaw-dropping. We started by taking a hike on Stockton Island through a forest that was so green that it felt like we were in the Pacific Northwest. I’m from Minnesota and have spent a lot of time in the north woods, but I had never seen anything like that in the Midwest. Then, of course, the sea caves were incredible. Being able to not only kayak but also scuba dive through the caves was such an amazing adventure. It’s so crazy that the force of the waves on Lake Superior carved out some of the most beautiful sea caves in the world.

Colton Smith: Growing up in Minnesota, I had visited Bayfield in the past. What surprised me most about the Apostle Islands was how, just a few miles from town, the landscape seems to drastically change. It felt like a 180-degree turn from civilization into wilderness. I instantly felt isolated and surrounded by nature. That's a great feeling. I’ve always felt that you don’t need to venture far to find your solitude. The Apostle Islands are a great example.

LSM: How would you describe paddling the waters at the sea caves of Devils Island? Do you have advice for paddlers who want to follow what you’ve done?

Jack: Paddling through the sea caves at Devils Island was unbelievable because you’re not only kayaking, but you’re caving at the same time! Once you enter into the caves, it feels like a completely different world. You totally forget that you are in Wisconsin. It is such a fun adventure because you’re able to kayak through the larger caverns, but then also squeeze through smaller passageways. Let me tell you, it’s tough enough to squeeze through caves on dry land, let alone in a kayak. I think that in the right conditions, anybody could kayak through the sea caves. We were lucky enough to have a very calm day on Lake Superior, which allowed us to safely navigate through the caves. If there is a lot of wind and waves on Lake Superior, kayaking around Devils Island could be very dangerous. It is important to keep an eye on the weather and know your limitations.

Colton: My advice: get low! It was such a blast. The tiny passageways just got smaller and smaller. There are definitely some tight squeezes and turns, but if you’re uncomfortable, there’s always another way around. We always seem to opt for the more challenging path. The sea cave formations were so beautiful that maybe we felt guilty not putting in any work to see them.

LSM: Scuba diving at the sea caves – we don’t hear about that much. Tell us about what you saw.

Jack: Scuba diving through the sea caves is an amazing way to explore them. Above the water, these caves are so dramatic, but then underwater you have the same maze of caverns and tight squeezes. The caves cast these shadows underwater that make you feel like you’re headed into an abyss. The rock formations are out of this world! Cave diving can be dangerous, but the sea caves in the Apostle Islands are very safe. The depth of the water is only about 10 feet, which allows you to safely swim around without getting yourself into a sticky situation. Also, they aren’t enclosed, which gives you the ability to swim up to the surface anytime you need to. It is very safe, and one of the best scuba dives I’ve ever done.

Colton: I’ve grown up gazing out at Lake Superior. It’s always given me this weird feeling of adventure combined with mystery. I mean, let’s be real, 6,000-plus shipwrecks and a habit of brutal weather? That's pretty intimidating. What I didn’t know was how the frigid water temperature and lack of sediment creates the beautiful crystal clear water. Diving the sea caves exposed me to the other side of Lake Superior, the calm and tranquil side. I’ve found nature has a tendency to do that, and at times reminding us that we must respect it. Then, like my trip to the Apostle Islands, we’re reminded why we must cherish it.