Apostle Islands National Lakeshore
Protected park · WI, USA
Apostle Islands National Lakeshore in WI, USA. Operated by National Park Service.
Usual hours
- Mon–Sun 0:00–0:00
About
This park's official page lists: Wheelchair-accessible facilities.
Entrance / day-use fee applies.
This park's official page lists: Restrooms, Visitor center, Drinking water, Picnic areas.
Official facts
Public access: Open access.
Protected area: 41,377 acres (16,745 ha).
Designation: National Lakeshore. Listed as "Apostle Islands National Lakeshore" in the Protected Areas Database of the United States. Protection: protected from conversion, multiple uses allowed (GAP 3).
Established: 1970.
Managed by: NPS.
At the park
- Camping
- Beaches
- Caves & caverns
- Wildlife & bird watching
- Boating
- Fishing
- Paddling (kayak/canoe)
- Sailing
Shows and experiences
- Junior Ranger program
Before you go
- Disability access
- This park's official page states it has wheelchair-accessible facilities. Specific routes, transfer access and equipment vary — confirm with the park for your needs.
- Limits
- Camping permit reservations are required and must be made in advance by visiting Recreation.gov
- Limits
- Yes, service dogs are legally permitted anywhere in a park that visitors can go
- ⚠ Caution: Bear Alert
- Black bears inhabit many of the Apostle Islands. Follow safety guidelines: store food and scented items properly, hike in groups, stay attentive, and make noises if you encounter a bear in a visitor area.
- Park alert: Ongoing Closure Notices
- Devils Island dock and campsites and West Bay Club on Sand Island are closed. These closures affect only a small portion of the Lakeshore. Enjoy your visit.
- Park alert: Construction Activity at Little Sand Bay; Boat and Kayak Access Maintained
- Construction for the Little Sand Bay Marina Rehabilitation Project begins May 1. The Town of Russell boat launch and the NPS kayak beach will remain open, with short detours around work areas. Expect reduced parking, delays, and increased noise. The Little Sand Bay Visitor Center will be closed in 2026 due to construction.
- Park alert: Stockton Island Trail Access
- The trail between Presque Isle Bay and Quarry Bay on Stockton Island is open, but a footbridge on the western portion of the trail was washed out in a 2024 storm. Visitors must wade through shallow water or take an alternate route.
- ⚠ Caution: Hunting Season Safety
- Hunting is allowed in parts of Apostle Islands National Lakeshore from mid-September through early January. Wear blaze orange to stay visible and keep pets leashed and in bright vests. Make noise while hiking so others can hear you. Stay aware and enjoy a safe visit. Click the link below for more information on hunting and trapping in the Lakeshore.
- Park alert: Private Inholdings: Sand & Rocky Islands
- There are privately occupied residences and docks on the southeast corner of Sand Island, as well as just north of Group Site A on Rocky Island. These areas are closed to the public. Please respect their privacy and do not trespass in these locations.
- Getting there
- Apostle Islands National Lakeshore is located in northern Wisconsin along the shores of Lake Superior. The Lakeshore has several entrance points, with much of its area accessible primarily by water.
- Weather & when to go
- Lake Superior is renowned for its cold temperatures, rough seas, fog, and sudden squalls. Boaters and paddlers should monitor marine weather forecasts and be constantly alert to changing conditions. Average daytime high temperatures range from 60 degrees Fahrenheit in May, to the upper 80s in mid-summer, to the mid-60s in September. Average lows vary from 40 degrees in May, to the upper 50s in mid-summer, to 50 degrees in September. Average water temperatures in May and June are only in the 40s.
- Visitor center
- Apostle Islands National Lakeshore
- Visitor center
- Little Sand Bay
- Visitor center
- Little Sand Bay
- Visitor center
- Little Sand Bay
- Visitor center
- Little Sand Bay
- Visitor center
- Michigan Island
- Visitor center
- Oak Island
- Visitor center
- Raspberry Island
- Visitor center
- Stockton Island
- Visitor center
- Stockton Island
- Visitor center
- Stockton Island
Facilities on the park map
2 bench, 2 defibrillator, 3 first aid kit, 6 picnic area, 3 restroom, 11 visitor information.