Apostle Islands – A Year-Round Family Fun Vacation for Pilots
Are you ready for a Wisconsin adventure? Wisconsin borders two Great Lakes, including Lake Michigan and Lake Superior, and the state is well-known for its boating, watersports, and fishing. Of course, when most people think of Wisconsin, they think of the high-quality dairy products, like their amazing cheeses. In fact, the state has several cheese festivals each year. However, Wisconsin is also full of amazing national and state parks, as well as forests. You can even visit some islands, including the Apostle Islands, which are located on Lake Superior. Let’s explore what makes Lake Superior and its islands such a great destination for adventure and family-friendly fun all year long.
The Apostle Islands – National Lakeshore, Wisconsin
Twenty-two islands comprise the Apostle Islands in Wisconsin. However, only 21 of them are part of the National Park system. The islands are located along the 12-mile shoreline of the northern tip of the Bayfield Peninsula, which is the farthest north you can travel on the Wisconsin mainland.
The Apostle Islands became part of the National Lakeshore in September of 1970. If you’re unfamiliar with the National Lakeshore, its objective is to preserve the natural features and scenery of certain scenic and historic places so that the public can enjoy their beauty. Currently, several places along the Great Lakes are part of the National Lakeshore, including Indiana Dunes and, Pictured Rocks and Sleeping Bear Dunes in Michigan.
Apostle Islands National Park contains 69,372 acres spread over an impressive 450 square miles. However, only 42,049 acres are dry land. The rest lies under the waters of Lake Superior. Initially, these islands were inhabited by the Ojibwe Native American Indians, and this tribe still lives in the Great Lakes region on both the US and Canadian sides.
A Brief Overview of the Islands of Apostle Island National Park
The islands of this archipelago vary in size. The smallest, at three acres, is Gull Island, and the largest, at 15,360 acres or 24 square miles, is Madeline Island. Additional popular islands include Devils Island, Michigan Island, Oak Island, Outer Island, Raspberry Island, Sand Island, Stockton Island, and the mysterious Long Island, which is sometimes an island and sometimes part of the Bayfield Peninsula. Today, Long Island is part of the peninsula. The last time it was an island was before 1970.
Apostle Island National Park is known for its amazing lighthouses, beautiful sandy beaches, and amazing sea caves. In fact, if you’re looking for sandy beaches, you may want to head over to Stockton Island, which is home to the most beaches of any of the islands. If you’re looking for sea caves, you’ll want to check out Sand Island, and if you’d like to view the lighthouses, they’re located on just about every island in the archipelago, but the most scenic might just be on Raspberry Island.
Flying into the Apostle Islands at Madeline Island Airport
Madeline Island Airport is also known as Major Gilbert Field. It’s located two miles northeast of La Pointe, WI. It is an unattended airport that was first activated in 1949. The airport does have tie-downs. However, there’s no bottled or bulk oxygen, and there are no powerplant or airframe services. The white and green beacon operates from sunrise to sunset. It’s important to note that the airport does not provide fuel. Pilots should carry all the fuel they need to arrive and depart the airport safely. The CTAF is 122.9. Runway 04/22 is 3,000 feet long and 75 feet wide, and the asphalt surface is considered to be in excellent condition.
When to Visit the Apostle Islands in Wisconsin
The Apostle Islands are open year-round, 24 hours a day. However, visitors should understand that the islands may be difficult to access during the winter months. The national park’s administrative offices are open from eight in the morning until four-thirty in the afternoon. The Bayfield headquarters is located in the old Bayfield Courthouse on Washington Avenue. The headquarters contains in-depth orientation materials, artifacts from the local area, and a National Parks bookstore. Camping permits can also be purchased in the headquarters.
Awesome Things To Do While Visiting the Apostle Islands
Since the islands are open year-round, there’s plenty to do in the winter. In fact, you might just want to make your basecamp on Madeline Island. After all, it’s the largest island in the archipelago, and there are plenty of places to stay and eat.
Where to Stay on Madeline Island
Madeline Island offers a plethora of cabins and cottages, condos and rental homes, and inns and motels. If you’re looking for a cabin or cottage, you might check out Madeline Cabins. These cabins are available for rent year-round. They have multiple bedrooms and are fully equipped with kitchens and bathrooms. If an inn or hotel is more your speed, you might consider the Inn on Madeline Island, the Farmhouse Kitchen and Inn, which has a restaurant, or the Island Inn.
What To Do While on the Island
Even though the temperatures are cold, there’s still plenty to do on the island. Madeline Island is home to Big Bay State Park, which is located six miles from town. The park boasts hiking trails, a picnic area, a campground, and firewood sales. There are also many bike lanes on the island.
Madeline Island is home to the Madeline Island School of the Arts, the Woods Hall Gallery, and Studios, which is an artists co-op and extremely popular in the winter, and the Bell Street Gallery, which houses a pottery garden, a boutique, and a wine bar.
Hiking and snowshoeing are popular along the Lakeshore Trail near Meyers Beach in Bayfield, WI. Meyers Beach is also used to access Lake Superior, the mainland sea caves, and the ice caves when they form. It’s important to note that the ice caves haven’t been viewable since 2015.
Fun to Visit Any Time of Year
The Apostle Islands are fun to visit any time of year. The islands offer beautiful views, excellent places to stay, and plenty to do all year round. The islands contain 62.4 miles of trails, 67 campsites, three visitor centers, and 18 public docks. The islands also boast 237 migratory bird species, 150 forest breeding bird species, 40 species of fish, and 38 species of mammals, including bears. Visitors to the island can also enjoy viewing 187 historic structures, which include the many lighthouses. If this sounds like a fascinating family vacation to you, you may want to fly on over to the Apostle Islands and land at the Madeline Island airport.
