Hiking Articles

Islands with hiking trails.

South Twin Island

South Twin Island

About the IslandSouth Twin is shaped like a lima bean. Before the island became part of the national lakeshore, it was used for a fishing resort and earlier, for commercial fishing camps. Most of the buildings have now been removed from the island. Second growth forest is now reclaiming the island in all but the dock area.There is a hiking trail about .5 miles in length leading from the dock clearing to the southwestern end of the former airstrip. The camping facilities on South Twin can provide a more civilized base camp for an exploratory trip to the islands farthest from the mainland....

Rocky Island

Rocky Island

About the IslandRocky Island’s features and location make it a popular stop for a variety of boaters. A string of individual and family fishermen based their summer operations on the protected Rocky Island eastern shore until commercial fishing lost its economic viability to the sea lamprey in the 1950s. There are still summer cottages and lands subject to life leases remaining along the eastern shore.Larger boats can find plenty of space to anchor using the sandy bottom along the eastern shoreline, protected from most winds except a “nor’easter.” Rocky offers 1.9 miles of trails. Excerpts...

Outer Island

Outer Island

About the IslandOuter Island’s name is descriptive in that it simply is the island farthest away from the mainland - its sandspit is 24 miles out from Bayfield and 22 miles from Buffalo Bay and Little Sand Bay. The island claims perhaps the largest well-developed sandspit among the islands. The main trail through the center island has become exceedingly difficult to to follow. A crossing trail leads to an old logging camp.The Outer Island Lighthouse was built in 1874, a 90 foot tall brick tower painted white and located at the northern tip of the island. Excerpts from Apostle Islands Water...

Otter Island

Otter Island

About the IslandThe clearing around the dock area provides the easiest access to the island and probably served as a fish camp in earlier days. The island was last logged for hardwoods in the late 1950s. Shortly after the last logging, in 1960, the island served as a temporary home for about fifteen hundred Boy Scouts who held a Jamboree.The sandspit and dock area offer the best and perhaps the only location for landing a kayak or larger boat, although the island map shows a possible calm weather rock shelf landing. The only designated campsite on the island is located at the sandspit on the...

Oak Island

Oak Island

About the IslandOak is the tallest island in the archipelago, rising about 480 feet above the lake level. The Ojibwe used the island prior to Europeans for gathering maple syrup and other purposes, according to historical sources. Fishing and lumber attracted the European settlers in the mid 1800s.There are over 11 miles of trails to hike on Oak Island. All of the Oak Island campsites have vault toilets, food lockers, and picnic table. Besides the designated campsites, Oak Island offers a single primitive camping zone outside of the designated campsites. Excerpt from Apostle Islands Water...

Manitou Island

Manitou Island

About the IslandManitou Island is centrally located among the islands. Twentieth-century Manitou Island history merges into more current times at the well-preserved fish camp located by the dock on the southwestern tip of the island. The buildings are currently being maintained as if they were still being used and the park service may have a ranger or volunteer at the site during the summer months to provide a tour of the buildings.The modern dock serving the historic fish camp is about 165 feet long, was repaired in 2020, and has been improved and maintained to accommodate boats drawing 6...

Long Island

Long Island

About the IslandWhile “island” remains part of its name, sometime in the late fall of 1976, sand deposited by the waves and wind of a geographically changing Lake Superior joined the island to Chequamegon Point, part of the Bad River Reservation. Long Island is made entirely of sand and rises only about 15 feet above the level of Lake Superior.Two automatic lighthouses now operate on Long Island. The old concrete path between the two lighthouses has become mostly buried under the sand but a mile-long wooden boardwalk makes for an easy hike between the two lights. Excerpts from Apostle...

Basswood Island

Basswood Island

About the IslandBasswood Island is located about 1.5 miles east of the mainland. Because of its location and accessibility, Basswood Island may be the first of the Apostle Islands visited by most novice paddlers.The southerly half of the island was used for several farms. The island has two stone quarries. The northwest corner is the location of a former fish camp. Basswood is the fifth largest island within the national lakeshore with an area of 1,917 acres. Excerpt from Apostle Islands Water Trips by John C. Frank. Buy a copy here. Proceeds benefit Friends of the Apostle Islands National...

Meyers Beach – Mainland

Meyers Beach – Mainland

About this LocationAs the primary launch point for kayakers wanting to explore the mainland sea caves, Meyers Beach is a very popular place in summer, and when conditions are just right for ice caves, in winter. Meyers Beach is also the trailhead for the Lakeshore Trail. Hike the trail for 2.5 miles and you’ll see the caves from above.For now, kayakers must carry their boats up and down a long staircase to the beach. The stairs are also challenging for people with mobility issues, but Friends of the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore is working with the National Park Service and supporters...

Stockton Island

Stockton Island

About the IslandStockton is the second largest island (after Madeline) in the Apostles. It is about 7.25 miles long and 2 to 2.5 miles wide. Its terrain includes a sandy lake level lagoon and bog along the tombolo. There is also sandstone on the island, producing sea caves and majestic rock ledges and towers.Throughout the 1990s and the first decade in the new millennium, Stockton Island was known as the island with the highest density of black bears. With 14.5 miles of trails, Stockton provides hiking opportunities through the most diverse ecological backgrops in the national lakeshore....