Apostle Islands National Lakeshore
Wisconsin's northernmost promontory breaks up into an archipelago of 21 islands in the cobalt-blue waters of southwest Lake Superior. French missionaries, who spied the archipelago from a distance, counted 12 islands and thus named them the "Apostles." However, 22 islands actually comprise the archipelago. The lakeshore also includes 12 miles of picturesque coastline on the mainland where the waters of the world's largest freshwater lake caress white sand beaches. Read More »
Apostle Islands National Lakeshore Highlights
- Check out the distant Apostles—and maybe get your feet wet—on the 4.5-mile, one-way lakeshore hiking trail from Meyers Beach to Sand Point.
- Keep your eyes peeled for bears while hiking to the old logging camp on Stockton Island. It has one of the highest densities of black bears in the nation.
- A short paddle to the mainland sea caves in a sea kayak is a must. Put in at Meyers Beach northwest of town and paddle east along the shore, or try outfitters Trek & Trail and Living Adventure, which leads trips from Bayfield.
- Non-paddlers can shuttle to and from the islands care of Bayfield's Apostle Islands Cruise Service. Call ahead for weather reports and up-to-date shuttle information.
- Camping on the islands requires a National Park Service permit, available at the island ranger stations or reservable online—the latter is recommended, because it can be a long paddle back to shore on a busy weekend.
- Wisconsin's northernmost promontory breaks up into an archipelago of 21 islands in the cobalt-blue waters of Lake Superior. French missionaries, who spied the archipelago from a distance, counted twelve islands and thus named them the Apostles. The lakeshore also includes 12 miles of picturesque coastline on the mainland, where white-sand beaches are caressed by the waters of the world's largest freshwater lake.
- Sea caves penetrate deep into the crimson cliffs that tower above the blue sapphire waters of Lake Superior. During calm waters, kayakers can explore the innermost recesses of sea caves and discover a beguiling interior of honeycombed passageways and vaulted ceilings.
- Camping on the islands requires a National Park Service permit, available at the island ranger stations or online—the latter is recommended, as it can be a long trip back to shore on a busy weekend.
- Keep your eyes peeled for bears on Stockton Island—the largest island in the designated National Lakeshore has one of the highest densities of black bears in the nation.
- During spring, the water temperatures near shore attract large numbers of trout and salmon. The spawning of steelhead (rainbow) trout and rainbow smelt further enhance the fishing. The best areas are usually adjacent to good spawning streams such as the Sioux, Onion, Pikes, Cranberry, and Flag Rivers. Fall salmon spawning also makes for good fishing.
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Apostle Islands National Lakeshore Travel Q&A
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What You Can Do in Apostle Islands National Lakeshore
- Biking
- Camping
- Caving and Canyoneering
- Fishing
- Hiking and Backpacking
- Nature
- Paddling
- Sailing
- Scenic Drives
- Scuba Diving
- Snow Sports
- Windsurfing
Articles & Advice on Apostle Islands National Lakeshore
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- Paddling Our Wild Shores
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- What to Do & Where to Do It
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- Basswood Island
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Parks Near Apostle Islands National Lakeshore
- Superior Hiking Trail, MN (43 mi.)
- Porcupine Mountains State Park, MI (54 mi.)
- Chequamegon National Forest, WI (55 mi.)
GEARZILLA: The Gorp Gear Blog
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