Apostle Islands

The Apostle Islands National Lakeshore covers 69,372 acres across 22 islands and 12 miles of mainland coastline. Lake Superior surrounds these islands with the largest freshwater lake in the world by surface area. The archipelago sits just off Bayfield Peninsula in northern Wisconsin. Madeline Island stands apart as the largest and only commercially developed island. A car ferry runs year-round from Bayfield, making it the gateway for most visitors. The other 21 islands remain undeveloped wilderness, managed by the National Park Service since 1970. Sandstone cliffs dominate the northern shores, carved into sea caves by thousands of years of wave action. The southern shores feature sandy beaches and wetlands. Dense forests of maple, birch, and pine cover most islands, broken by meadows where Native Americans once grew wild rice. The water depth varies dramatically. Some areas plunge to 400 feet, while others stay shallow enough for wading. This creates diverse ecosystems - from deep, cold waters perfect for lake trout to warm shallows where wild rice still grows. Shipwrecks dot the lake floor around the islands. Over 70 documented wrecks lie in these waters, making it one of the Great Lakes' most concentrated shipwreck areas. The cold, fresh water preserves them remarkably well.