News Release

Apostle Islands National Lakeshore Reopens Island Camping for Summer 2021

Date: April 1, 2021
Contact: Julie Van Stappen, 715-779-9119

Bayfield, WI - Following guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and state and local public health authorities, Apostle Islands National Lakeshore is reopening access to island camping, including group, individual, and primitive zone camping today.

To protect the health of those who work and visit national parks, face masks are required on NPS-administered lands where physical distancing cannot be maintained and in all NPS facilities. With the support of public health professionals, park operations will be regularly evaluated and adjusted based on local conditions.

Reservations for all camping must be made in advance through Recreation.gov or park visitor centers. 

Campsites within the park have size limits and specific reservation timelines:

• Individual Campsites - $15/site/night. 1-7 people. Reservations can be made up to 30 days before the first night of your trip. Amenities include tables, bearproof food lockers and nearby privies.
• Primitive Zone Camping - $15/site/night. 1-5 people. No privies, tables or food lockers, and specific guidelines to what areas are available on each island. Reservations can be made up to 30 days before the first night of your trip.
• Group Campsites - $30/site/night. Limited to 8-14 people. Reservations can be made for the rest of the calendar year. Amenities include tables, bearproof food lockers and nearby privies.

There is no car or RV camping within Apostle Islands National Lakeshore. Campsites within the national lakeshore must be reached by boat, except for the Mainland 1 campsite, which can also be accessed by hiking 6 miles.
A variety of state park and private campgrounds with facilities for car and RV camping are available in the Bayfield area and on Madeline Island. Madeline Island is not part of Apostle Islands National Lakeshore and access is by private boat or ferry.

Due to the advanced nature of kayaking and varying weather conditions on Lake Superior, proper planning is required. Kayakers with little or no experience on Lake Superior are encouraged to go with professional guides authorized to operate within the park. If you need boat transportation, private water taxis are available from many companies authorized to provide services in the park.

We ask the public to recreate responsibly and plan their visit in advance to protect the safety of themselves and park staff. As conditions are subject to change, visitors should check the park’s website and social media channels for details on operations before they visit. For more details, visit our Camping webpages. 

For information about the Apostle Islands 50th Anniversary, visit our website. Send 50th Anniversary inquiries via email to [e-mail]. To add an event to the 2021 Anniversary calendar, become a sponsor, or partner with “Friends” to create an anniversary logoed product, visit the website for Friends of the Apostle Islands.

For more information about Apostle Islands National Lakeshore, please visit our website or call [phone]. Join Apostle Island’s on-line conversations on Facebook and YouTube.