Basswood Island

Although the Bayfield Peninsula lies just over a mile away, visitors are rewarded with the isolation and solitude of an island experience. Low cliffs of brown sandstone or banks of broken stone and red clay meet Lake Superior along Basswood’s shoreline. An isolated sandstone block, called “Lone Rock” or “Honeymoon Rock” lies off the island’s north tip. A dense growth of forest is broken only by several small clearings, the result of historic activities.

Devils Island

Devils Island is located 20 miles from Bayfield. It is the farthest north of the 22 island archipelago. The small island boasts intricate sandstone sea caves, a one mile hiking trail connecting the north and south end of the island, a lighthouse, and one campsite near the dock on the southern end of the island. The sea caves and cliffs under the lighthouse are some of the most alluring within the national lakeshore.

• (Devils Island) is located 20 miles from Bayfield. It is the farthest north of the 22 island archipelago. The small island boasts intricate sandstone sea caves, a 1 mile hiking trail connecting the north and south ends of the island, a lighthouse, and one campsite near the dock on the south end. The sea caves and cliffs under the lighthouse are some of the most intricate within the national lakeshore. The carved delicate arches, vaulted chambers, and honeycombed passageways are a beautiful sight to behold. 

Little Sand Bay

This seasonal visitor center was brand new in 2020. Exhibits on the grounds tell the story of Little Sand Bay and the challenges and joys of living in the North Woods, including the restored Twilite fish tug and audio stories from the community. The center offers orientation and information, camping permits, kayak safety guidance, and the America's National Parks bookstore.

• This seasonal visitor center is brand new in 2020. Exhibits on the grounds tell the story of Little Sand Bay and the challenges and joys of living in the North Woods, including the restored Twilite fish tug, Ojibwe Elders audio stories, and the John Nelson cabin. This has become an increasingly popular kayak launch for paddlers heading out to Sand and York Islands for day trips and overnight camping. Overnight docking slips are available for boaters at a first come first serve basis. The center offers orientation and information, camping permits, kayak safety guidance, and the America's National Parks bookstore.

Long Island - An Island Apart

Long Island (at least for now) is not an island at all! It changed from an island to a continuous part of a peninsula many times, usually persisting in one form or the other for a few decades. It is presently part of a peninsula and has been since the mid-1970s.

Michigan Island

Michigan Island is one of twenty one islands in the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore. It is on the eastern edge of the archipelago. Due to its location and exposure it can be a challenging islands to reach. Two lighthouses are located on Michigan Island built in 1857 and 1929. There is a rich history of lighthouse keepers, their families, and guiding ships through the islands to discover when you visit Michigan Island.

• Michigan Island is located 16 miles from Bayfield and is one of the farthest west islands in the archipelago. It is 1.1 miles in width and has 8.3 miles of shoreline. A unique and controversial lighthouse history lead to the island having not one but two lighthouses on the island. Camping, hiking, boating, and history await you on Michigan Island.

Oak Island

Oak Island rises to 1,081 feet above sea level making it the highest point in the Apostle Islands. Wind, waves, and ice have carved spectacular features here including the highest bluffs on Wisconsin’s Lake Superior shoreline.

• Oak Island is located 10 miles and Bayfield and 10 miles from Little Sand Bay in the inner ring of islands. It has the highest elevation of all the Apostle Islands rising 1,081 feet above sea level. It is heavily forested and has an array of shoreline features including sandy beaches, sandstone rock ledges, and clay banks. There is a dock in the middle of the western side of the island that gives you access to two campsites and two group sites. The other three campsites dispersed are located on the on the shoreline away from the dock. There are 11.5 miles of hiking trails that range from moderate to difficult with steep inclines. This is a popular island for overnight campers, hikers, hunters, and wildlife.

Outer Island

Outer Island is one of twenty one islands in the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore archipelago. It is located 24 miles from Bayfield to the southern sand spit. There is a lighthouse located on on the northern edge of the island built in 1874.

• Outer Island is located 24 miles from Bayfield. It is the farthest from the mainland and the most remote of the six Apostle Islands light stations. Visiting outer can be a challenge due to its location and exposure. When you visit Outer Island there is a large sand spit at the southern tip of the island and a lighthouse station built in 1874 at the northern tip. There is a 7.5 mile Sandspit trail that connects the campsite on the sandspit on the south end of the island with the light station on the north end, and a 1.5 mile hike leading to the historic Lullabye logging camp.

Raspberry Island

Raspberry Island is located on the inner island ring 14 miles from Bayfield and 6 miles from Little Sand Bay. This little island has a lighthouse built in the 1860's and is known as the "Showplace of the Apostle Islands." It was designed to guide ships through the west channel around the Bayfield Peninsula. During the summer months you can visit the island and get a ranger led tour of the light station and grounds to imagine what it was like to work as a keeper in the 1900's.

• Raspberry Island is located 14 miles from Bayfield on the inner ring of islands in the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore archipelago. It is on the smaller size at 1.1 miles in width and 3 has miles of shoreline. The historic Raspberry Island lighthouse and keepers quarters are available to visit during the summer months. A few short trails, proximity to the mainland, and historic significance make this the most visited lighthouse in the Apostles.

Sand Island

Sand Island has a little bit of everything for you to enjoy. With a lighthouse, camping, hiking, sea caves, and a rich history, you could spend an entire day exploring the island and discovering new things.

• Sand Island is located four miles from Little Sand Bay on the western edge of the Apostle Island archipelago in Lake Superior. There are four miles of hiking trails through forested areas and six campsites available with a picnic table, fire ring, and metal food storage locker. There is a total of 9.7 miles of shoreline which consists of a mixture of sandy beach, sandstone rock ledges, clay banks, and cobble beaches with boulders. On the northern tip of the island there is a staircase leading up to a stone lighthouse on the edge of the lake that was built in 1881. The light was later automated in 1921. Two of the campsites in East Bay are accessible by boardwalk. Vault toilets are available by campsites 1-6 and there is a small dock for boaters in East Bay. The northeastern shoreline of Sand Island has sandstone sea caves that are accessible by kayak.

Stockton Island

No island is blessed with more spectacular and diverse sandy areas than Stockton. The 10,054 acre island features sand beaches at Quarry, Presque Isle, and Julian Bays. The bridge of sand connecting Presque Isle Point to the rest of Stockton Island is an outstanding example of a geologic feature called a “tombolo”. The tombolo is home to a variety of plant communities (bogs, dunes, lagoons, savannahs, and pine forests), the park’s largest campgound, and “singing sands."

Bayfield Headquarters

• Bayfield Headquarters
• The park's headquarters is located in the Bayfield, WI in the old Bayfield Courthouse Building. This iconic, brownstone building is easy to recognize from Washington Ave. Headquarters offers orientation and information, camping permits, museum exhibits, a park film, and the America's National Parks bookstore. The Apostle Islands National Lakeshore Headquarters is open seasonally.

Little Sand Bay Visitor Center

• Little Sand Bay Visitor Center
• This seasonal visitor center, opened in 2020, features exhibits that showcase the history of Little Sand Bay and the experiences of making a life on the shores of Lake Superior. Visitors can find orientation information, camping permits, kayak safety tips, and the America’s National Parks bookstore.