- Home
- Visitors
- Play
- Nature
- Wisconsin's National Treasures
- Apostle Islands National Lakeshore
A place like no other in the United States is the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore, which includes 21 islands and 12 miles of mainland shoreline. Dotting Lake Superior just off of the Bayfield County shoreline, the "Apostles" have been formed by and are subject to the majesty and fury of the big lake called "Gitchigumi" by the Ojibwe.
Winter Weather Information
Sandstone sea caves formed by centuries of freezing, thawing, and wave action are a favorite travel destination in summer and winter. Summer days allow kayakers to "island hop" and, on a calm day, to navigate deep into the caves to explore rock formations. In winter, spectacular ice formations hang from the caves that entice walkers, snowshoers, and cross-country skiers to discover the ever-changing, cathedral-like formations. Travelers can access the Apostles in a variety of ways: a guided cruise, an island shuttle, sailing or power boating, kayaking, or private boat charters.
Madeline Island, the largest of the Apostle Islands and the only island with commercial development and a year-round population, is not a part of the national park property, but can be accessed by ferry most of the year and via an ice road in winter.