Project Profile: Designing Trails for ADA & Tribal Connection Apostle Islands National Lakeshore

New proposed boardwalk with marsh view.

NPS Photo

Bipartisan Infrastructure Law
Recreation | FY22 $165,577

The National Park Service completed compliance and design for a proposed network of mainland trails to enhance health and fitness opportunities for nearby residents including Red Cliff Tribal members and to expand mainland trail experiences for visitors of Apostle Islands National Lakeshore.

Why? Little Sand Bay has a long history as a gathering place, dating back thousands of years. It is a park inholding within the Red Cliff reservation and is a place of special significance to the Red Cliff Tribe due to the presence of a coastal wetland/lagoon complex and direct shoreline access to Lake Superior. It hosts the park’s only shoreline visitor center, historic fishery, marina, and kayak launch as well as Town of Russell campground, pavilion, boat launch and swim beach. However, there are no trail opportunities and informal trailing – also called social trails – are causing resource impacts.

What Else? The final designs include a fully accessible raised boardwalk with bilingual exhibits, a shoreline trail that potentially links to trails at Red Cliff, as well as a safe connector trail from the Wilderness Inquiry kayak camp to the Little Sand Bay marina and kayak launch. Compliance was also completed to add an ADA fully accessible ramp for pedestrians hauling kayaks to Meyers Beach, the heaviest used beach/kayak launch in the park.

Bipartisan Infrastructure Law – Ecosystem Restoration

This project was made possible by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law – Ecosystem Restoration, signed on November 15, 2021. It is a historic investment in the restoration and protection of the environment.