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Apostle Islands National Lakeshore

Designation: National Lakeshore

Location: Wisconsin

Visit Official Park Website

📘 Park Overview

Apostle Islands National Lakeshore, located at the northern tip of Wisconsin's Bayfield Peninsula, features 21 stunning islands, a scenic 12-mile shoreline along Lake Superior, and is located within the ancestral homeland of the Ojibwe people. Established in 1970, the park showcases picturesque sea caves, sandy beaches, and the largest collection of lighthouses in the National Park system.

🌤 Weather Information

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.

🚗 Directions

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.

Images

Tree-covered red cliffs meet greenish blue water, in a bowl shape.

Hike or paddle to views of the sea caves along the mainland unit of the park.

Credit: NPS Photo / M. Carlson

A two story white house with a light tower in the middle, reflects the colors of the setting sun.

Step into the past with a visit to Raspberry Island Lighthouse.

Credit: NPS Photo / M. Carlson

Sunrise illuminates a long beach near calm water.

Julian Bay is a popular beach to visit on Stockton Island.

Credit: NPS Photo / N. Howk

A rocky shoreline meets the calm water of a lake at sunset.

Experience the setting sun along a rocky island shoreline.

Credit: NPS Photo / N. Howk

Activities

Topics

Operating Hours

Sunday
All Day
Monday
All Day
Tuesday
All Day
Wednesday
All Day
Thursday
All Day
Friday
All Day
Saturday
All Day

Entrance Fees

No entrance fees listed.

Entrance Passes

No entrance passes listed.

3-Day Weather Forecast

Wednesday, Jun 3

Sunny

Sunny

High: 81.3°F | Low: 50.7°F

Humidity: 53%

Wind: 13 mph

Rain Chance: 1%

UV Index: 8.5

Sunrise: 05:11 AM

Sunset: 08:51 PM

Moon: Waning Gibbous (83%)

Visibility: 6 mi

Dew Point: 57.8°F

Cloud Cover: 1%

Pressure: N/A mb

Air Quality (PM2.5): N/A

Ozone: N/A

EPA Index: N/A

Thursday, Jun 4

Moderate rain

Moderate rain

High: 55.1°F | Low: 51°F

Humidity: 95%

Wind: 16.8 mph

Rain Chance: 95%

UV Index: 4.4

Sunrise: 05:10 AM

Sunset: 08:52 PM

Moon: Waning Gibbous (74%)

Visibility: 5 mi

Dew Point: 53°F

Cloud Cover: 95%

Pressure: N/A mb

Air Quality (PM2.5): N/A

Ozone: N/A

EPA Index: N/A

Friday, Jun 5

Moderate rain

Moderate rain

High: 55.6°F | Low: 47.8°F

Humidity: 97%

Wind: 12.8 mph

Rain Chance: 95%

UV Index: 7

Sunrise: 05:10 AM

Sunset: 08:52 PM

Moon: Last Quarter (64%)

Visibility: 3 mi

Dew Point: 50.9°F

Cloud Cover: 95%

Pressure: N/A mb

Air Quality (PM2.5): N/A

Ozone: N/A

EPA Index: N/A

Park Alerts

Bear Alert Caution
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.

More Info

Ongoing Closure Notices Caution
Devils Island dock and campsites, West Bay Club on Sand Island, and the trail on Stockton Island between Presque Isle Bay and Quarry Bay are closed. These closures affect only a small portion of the Lakeshore. Enjoy your visit.
Construction Activity at Little Sand Bay; Boat and Kayak Access Maintained Park Closure
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.

More Info

Temporary Meyers Beach Parking Lot and Access Road Closure Park Closure
Meyers Beach parking lot and Meyers Beach access road are temporarily closed to protect visitor safety and support incident management.
Tree Felling at Meyers Beach on 5/12/2026 Caution
In preparation for the Meyers Beach Access Upgrades project contractors will be on site at Meyers Beach Tuesday 5/12 through 5/16 felling trees. Visitors should expect noise and occasional truck traffic. Operations will largely be confined to slope from the parking lot to the beach and the adjacent picnic area.
Temporary Phone System Outage Information
The phone system at Apostle Islands National Lakeshore is currently unavailable. We are working to restore service as soon as possible. For questions or assistance during the outage, please email apis_information@nps.gov.

More Info

Meyers Beach Parking Fees: Digital Payments Only Information
All parking fees at Meyers Beach must be paid online through pay.gov. Look for on-site signage with QR codes directing to the payment form. Cash will not be accepted on-site. This change follows the March 25, 2025 Executive Order on modernizing payments.

More Info

Ice caves are CLOSED due to unstable ice conditions. Park Closure
The ice shelf near Meyers Beach at Apostle Islands National Lakeshore was broken up during a strong winter storm that impacted the region beginning on 2/17. Access to the ice caves within the National Lakeshore is closed to visitation.

More Info

Private Inholdings: Sand & Rocky Islands Information
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.

Visitor Center & Contacts

📍 Physical Address:
415 Washington Avenue
Bayfield, WI 54814

🏤 Mailing Address:
415 Washington Avenue
Bayfield, WI 54814

📞 Voice Phone: 7157793397

📞 Fax Phone: 7157793049

✉️ Email: apis_information@nps.gov

Park Location

👏 Fun Fact
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