Apostle Islands National Lakeshore — Attraction in Town of La Pointe

Short version:

Go. Reconnect with nature. Enjoy this amazing gem of the Midwest. Find a quiet moment to contemplate what an amazing thing it is to be alive!

Long version:

The Apostle Islands are a group of (21, if memory serves) islands off the North Central tip of Wisconsin and on Lake Superior. It is a wilderness area that is protected/monitored by the Dept of the Interior, National Park Service, and U.S. Coast Guard. There are six light houses amongst the isles that are largely maintained by private foundations and manned by volunteers who give tours and maintain various functions on the respective islands. This is a wilderness area and camping is by reservation only. Some islands allow for wilderness camping - by permit only. Others, like Sand Island offer sites on raised platforms that have access to "bivies" (i.e. outhouses). A "leave it like you found it - or better" approach is absolutely mandatory by all visitors.

To call the area a gem would be understating the case to a true extreme. There are caves that are absolutely amazing, beautifully restored light houses, pieces of history from the 1800s, gorgeous views, first growth trees, and much more. I would recommend a visit to anyone who is looking to escape day to day life and feel a connection to nature that is often difficult to find. Just come out, enjoy seeing the sunrise, sunset, and the Milky Way in between.

Access to the islands can be made by taking trips via just about any watercraft capable of operating safely on a major body of water (think ocean essentially). Please do remember that Lake Superior isn't named that because it is always for the faint of heart. There are serious squalls on this lake that can blow up with very little warning. Even with contemporary forecasting abilities, this lake can (and likely will) humble you. On a "light" day, the lake is navigable with a properly outfitted sea kayak (the absolute minimum). At it's worst, it easily swallows ships. While that sounds a bit dire, once you accept that the "Lake is the boss" you will be fine. Just never forget that the water is cold enough year round to kill you in roughly 20 minutes (at it's warmest) and that a cuddly looking Bear can disembowel you with ease, and you will be...

The Apostle Islands National Lakeshore provides regionally diverse and unique plant communities." "Over 800 plant species occur within the lakeshore, including Wisconsin listed endangered and threatened species." The Apostles are dominated by boreal forest, composed largely of white spruce (Picea glauca) and balsam fir (Abies balsamea), often mixed with white birch (Betula papyrifera), white cedar (Thuja occidentalis), white pine (Pinus strobus), balsam poplar (Populus balsamifera) and quaking aspen (Populus tremuloides). On Madeline Island, Stockton Island, and several other islands, a unique bog-dune ecosystem can be found near deep bays and enclosed lagoons.

According to the National Park Service, "One of the greatest concentrations of black bears in North America is found on Stockton Island in the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore. Bears also regularly inhabit Sand and Oak islands, and, due to their mobility, may be found on just about any of the islands" "The Lakeshore provides important nesting habitat for the following colonial nesting birds: herring and ring-billed gulls, double-crested cormorants, great blue herons, and cliff swallows. Gull and Eagle Islands combined have 88% of the lakeshore's breeding herring gull populations and 80% of the herring gull breeding population on the entire Wisconsin shore of Lake Superior. Eagle Island has the only great blue heron rookery...

The Apostle Islands offer a truly stunning lakeshore experience, though much of its beauty depends heavily on the weather. On a clear day, the shimmering water, dramatic cliffs, and forested shores are absolutely breathtaking.

If you’re planning a visit, taking a boat tour, cruise, or ferry is a must. It’s the only way to fully appreciate the incredible sea caves, striking sandstone columns, and historic lighthouses that make the islands so special. These features are difficult or impossible to see from land, so getting out on the water really enhances the experience.

Unfortunately, when we visited, the lake was extremely windy, which meant kayaking, one of the most popular ways to explore the caves up close. wasn’t safe or allowed. It was a bit disappointing, but still worthwhile to experience the area from a larger tour boat, which could handle the waves better.

In short: the Apostle Islands are absolutely worth the trip, but check the weather and lake conditions ahead of time, especially if kayaking or smaller watercraft are part...