Apostle Islands National Lakeshore

Apostle Islands National Lakeshore Welcome to the official page for Apostle Islands National Lakeshore.
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What roams the Apostle Islands when no one’s around to see? Since 2010, a wildlife monitoring program in the park has ca...
09/04/2026

What roams the Apostle Islands when no one’s around to see? Since 2010, a wildlife monitoring program in the park has captured curious black bears, bobcat, and even Wisconsin’s only state-endangered mammal, the American Marten.

The data collected helps the Natural Resources team better understand wildlife numbers, behavior, and habitat use to supports long-term conservation work. Partners also use the data to strengthen research and monitoring projects.

What’s your most memorable wildlife moment in the Apostle Islands?

Protecting Endangered Piping Plovers in the Apostle IslandsIf you visit Long Island this summer, you might be sharing th...
08/14/2026

Protecting Endangered Piping Plovers in the Apostle Islands

If you visit Long Island this summer, you might be sharing the beach with one of the rarest birds on Lake Superior: the Piping Plover. Each year, National Park Service staff work with the Mashkiiziibii Natural Resources Department and other partners to help these tiny shorebirds thrive. Teams band plover chicks so biologists can track their journeys, monitor survival, and support long-term recovery. This collaboration protects the largest breeding population of Great Lakes Piping Plovers in Wisconsin.

Park staff and partners monitor Long, Outer, Stockton, Michigan, and Cat Islands throughout the season. When they find a nest, they place a small protective exclosure over it, along with a rope barrier and “Area Closed” signs. The exclosure keeps predators out and allows plovers to move freely and safely. The rope barrier lets visitors know that nesting plovers are using that part of the beach, and the area inside it is closed to protect the birds.

This effort is made possible by dedicated partners. Plover Monitors with the Mashkiiziibii Natural Resources Department spend their summer watching nests and talking with visitors to help safeguard this fragile species on Long Island.

Visiting Long Island this summer? Here is how you can help protect nesting plovers:
• Give plovers space. Even brief disturbances can cause the birds to abandon their nests and reduce the time they spend foraging, which can lead to declining chick health.
• Watch your step. Their eggs blend in with sand and pebbles.
• Keep dogs leashed at all times. Off-leash pets are a major threat to plovers and their chicks.
• Respect signs and closures. These areas help plovers raise their young successfully.

By exploring responsibly, you help protect one of the rarest birds on Lake Superior.

NPS Photos / Billy Flynn

Now Hiring: PSAR Park RangerAre you passionate about the Apostle Islands and enjoy working with people? The National Par...
07/24/2026

Now Hiring: PSAR Park Ranger
Are you passionate about the Apostle Islands and enjoy working with people? The National Park Service is hiring a permanent, career-seasonal Preventative Search & Rescue (PSAR) Park Ranger who lives within 90 miles of the Apostle Islands.

What You’ll Do:
-Plan and lead patrols to help prevent search-and-rescue emergencies
-Patrol trails, campgrounds, waterways, and other park areas
-Teach safety and educational programs to visitors, in person and online
-Respond to search-and-rescue calls and evacuations
-Perform routine facility maintenance, grounds, and equipment operation

Who Can Apply:
Applicants must be a local resident within 90 miles from the Apostle Islands NPS office at 415 Washington Avenue, Bayfield, WI.

Apply: https://www.usajobs.gov/job/877549600; or email resume and required docs to: [email protected].

Wildfire smoke is creating hazardous to very unhealthy air quality and limited visibility across the area. Outdoor recre...
07/15/2026

Wildfire smoke is creating hazardous to very unhealthy air quality and limited visibility across the area. Outdoor recreation, including hiking, paddling, boating, and camping, remains open in the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore, but visitors should expect smoky conditions. Sensitive groups should use extra caution and avoid strenuous outdoor activity.

Dense smoke is also reducing visibility on Lake Superior. Boaters and kayakers should use running lights, fog signals, and limit unnecessary travel until visibility improves.

Check current air quality before heading out: https://www.airnow.gov/?city=Bayfield&state=WI&country=USA

📣Now Hiring Seasonal Park Rangers📣Are you passionate about the Apostle Islands and enjoy working with people? The Nation...
07/15/2026

📣Now Hiring Seasonal Park Rangers📣

Are you passionate about the Apostle Islands and enjoy working with people? The National Park Service is hiring seasonal Park Rangers for the winter season.

Apply: https://www.usajobs.gov/job/876192400 & https://www.usajobs.gov/job/876129900

Series/Grade: GS‑0025‑05 and GS-0025-07
Pay: $19.52 - $31.43/hr
Season: October 2026–March 2027

What You’ll Do:
• Provide orientation, answer questions, and share safety info
• Check in with visitors on trails and in parking areas
• Educate visitors about wildlife and resource protection
• Assist with permits, basic admin tasks, and data collection
• Perform light maintenance and facility/grounds clean‑up
• Assist with winter park operations, including outdoor work

Who Can Apply:
This job is open to the public. If you’re a U.S. citizen or national you can apply to jobs that are open to the public.

🌊 Cold Water Safety on Lake Superior 🌊Even on a warm day, water temperatures on Lake Superior can cause cold shock, hypo...
07/14/2026

🌊 Cold Water Safety on Lake Superior 🌊

Even on a warm day, water temperatures on Lake Superior can cause cold shock, hypothermia, and dangerous situations within minutes. Before you head out paddling or boating, take a moment to prepare for the conditions:
• Wear your life jacket at all times.
• Dress for the water, not the weather. A wetsuit or dry suit helps protect against cold shock and hypothermia.
• Know your limits. Consider guided trips if you’re new to paddling.
• Check conditions. Wind, waves, and weather change fast. Always monitor NOAA marine forecasts and local wave reports before heading out. https://friendsoftheapostleislands.org/real-time-wave-watch/
• Carry safety essentials. A whistle or air horn, bilge pump, spray skirt, and communication device (like a VHF radio) can make all the difference in an emergency.

Outer Island Modified Closure Update: The island closure has been modified to a temporary nighttime closure from 10 PM t...
07/11/2026

Outer Island Modified Closure Update: The island closure has been modified to a temporary nighttime closure from 10 PM to 6 AM. Outer Island is closed to all use during nighttime hours (10 PM–6 AM). Day use is permitted outside the closure window. Due to increased human–bear interactions and food storage concerns, Outer Island was closed to all use beginning July 11, 2026. The modified nighttime closure remains necessary to ensure visitor safety due to ongoing bear–human interactions.

Help protect wildlife and yourself:

• Secure food, trash, and all scented items in bear boxes or boat cabins
• Never leave food unattended
• Keep a clean camp
• Pack out all trash and food waste

Learn more about bear safety in the Apostle Islands: https://www.nps.gov/apis/planyourvisit/bear-safety.htm

You Can Help Protect the Apostle Islands ReefsDid you know Lake Superior has reefs? Unlike coral reefs, these are shallo...
07/09/2026

You Can Help Protect the Apostle Islands Reefs

Did you know Lake Superior has reefs? Unlike coral reefs, these are shallow rocky areas that provide critical spawning habitat for native fish, like whitefish and lake trout. The reefs, or shoals, in the Apostle Islands are home to important whitefish and lake trout spawning habitats in Western Lake Superior.

But these reefs are now threatened. Invasive zebra mussels have begun appearing on shoals around the islands. These mussels over‑filter the water, stripping out the tiny organisms that native fish juveniles depend on for food. In Lake Michigan, similar invasions have contributed to a 95% decline in the whitefish harvest.

How you can help:
These invasive mussels often travel by boat, as tiny hitchhikers clinging to hulls, anchors, bilges, and ballast tanks. Before leaving the harbor and visiting the islands, you can make a huge difference by taking a few simple steps:
• Wash your boat thoroughly
• Drain your bilge and ballast tanks
• Clean, drain, and dry all equipment before launching

These small actions stop invasive species from spreading and protect the waters we all care about.

Image: Divers working at Oak Island shoal, credit: Toben Lafrancois

A trail camera captured this sow and cub exploring the woods on Long Island. Due to the high density of bears across the...
06/30/2026

A trail camera captured this sow and cub exploring the woods on Long Island. Due to the high density of bears across the Islands, visitors should stay bear‑aware while hiking, camping, and exploring.

Help protect wildlife and yourself:
✅ Secure food, trash, and all scented items in bear boxes or boat cabins
✅ Never leave food unattended
✅ Keep a clean camp
✅ Pack out all trash and food waste

Learn more about bear safety in the Apostle Islands: https://www.nps.gov/apis/planyourvisit/bear-safety.htm

“Those who have never seen Superior get an inadequate idea by hearing it spoken of as a lake… Superior is a sea. … It is...
06/26/2026

“Those who have never seen Superior get an inadequate idea by hearing it spoken of as a lake… Superior is a sea. … It is cold, wild, masterful, and dreaded.” -Rev. George Grant, 1872

A little weather preparation helps you enjoy your trip and keeps you safe. Before heading out on your next adventure into the islands, make sure to plan your route, pack the right gear, and check the weather. Ultimately, “the lake is the boss,” and some days the seas are too rough to be out on the water. Have a backup plan for bad weather days in case you need to spend an extra day or two on the islands while waiting for the storm to pass. https://www.nps.gov/apis/planyourvisit/conditions.htm

Address

415 Washington Avenue
Bayfield, WI
54814

Telephone

+17157793397

Website

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