Apostle Islands Archipelago planning
Apostle Islands Archipelago permits & access
What you need before you go, straight from the managing agency — with the verification date on every claim.
A permit or reservation is required
A wilderness camping permit is required for every overnight stay in the national lakeshore, reserved in advance through Recreation.gov. Day paddling the mainland caves needs no permit, but every island night does.
Official permit source: Recreation.gov — Apostle Islands wilderness permits ↗ · Verified 2026-09-15
Closures & advisories: NPS — Apostle Islands current conditions ↗
Access points
- Meyers Beach (mainland launch for the sea caves)
- Little Sand Bay (NPS ramp and kayak launch)
- Bayfield city dock (mainland gateway)