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Photograph of Lake Superior sandstone rock stack under a blue sky.
WI

Apostle Islands National Lakeshore

Park Hours (Today)

All Day

Bayfield Headquarters: 9:00AM - 4:30PM

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About the Park

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.

Arts Photography Colonization and Settlement Commerce Trade Farming and Agriculture Industry Logging and Timber Cutting

Visitor Centers

A sign with an Arrowhead and flagpole in front of a large brownstone building.

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.

9:00AM - 4:30PM 7157793397
A single story green building with a covered porch on one end.

Little Sand Bay Visitor Center

The Little Sand Bay Visitor Center will be closed throughout 2026 due to construction associated with the Little Sand Bay Marina Rehabilitation Project. We appreciate your patience as we work to improve infrastructure and visitor access.

Closed 7157793459

Getting Here & Transit

How to Get Here

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.

Park Amenities

Accessible Sites
Amphitheater
Animal-Safe Food Storage
Audio Description
Automated Entrance
Automated External Defibrillator (AED)
Backcountry Permits
Beach/Water Access
Benches/Seating
Bicycle - Rack
Boat Ramp
Canoe/Kayak/Small Boat Launch
Dock/Pier
Fire Pit
First Aid Kit Available

Operating Hours

Entire Park

The park is open 24/7 year-round. Visitor centers are open only in summer, with varying hours.

  • MondayAll Day
  • TuesdayAll Day
  • WednesdayAll Day
  • ThursdayAll Day
  • FridayAll Day
  • SaturdayAll Day
  • SundayAll Day

When to Go

Crowd Calendar

Plan your trip around peak seasons to avoid crowds or embrace the energy of the busy months. Our crowd predictions are based on historical NPS Visitor Use Statistics.

Jan

Low

Feb

Moderate

Mar

Moderate

Apr

High

May

High

Jun

Low

Jul

Low

Aug

Moderate

Sep

Moderate

Oct

High

Nov

High

Dec

Low
Low Crowds
Moderate Crowds
High Crowds

Location

415 Washington Avenue
Bayfield, WI 54814

Around This Park

Find nearby essentials on Google Maps.

Common Questions

Planning Apostle Islands National Lakeshore

These common questions go deeper into logistics and planning. For real-time updates on road closures and current conditions, always check the Alerts section above.

Reservation policies vary heavily by season. During peak summer months, many popular national parks require timed-entry permits or vehicle reservations just to enter the park, or specific permits for popular hikes (like Half Dome or Angels Landing). Always check the official NPS alerts and recreation.gov before setting your dates.