Apostle Islands: Wisconsin’s Crown Jewel
Elevating the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore to a national park would enhance conservation efforts and mark a first for the state.
Known as “Wisconsin’s Crown Jewel,” the Apostle Islands are cherished for their pristine beauty, diverse wildlife, and unparalleled recreational opportunities. Established in 1970, the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore includes 21 islands and 12 miles of mainland shoreline on Lake Superior in Northern Wisconsin, covering over 69,000 acres. Its scenic tree-lined cliff formations, sea caves, and sandy beaches attract over 200,000 visitors annually.
The Apostle Islands offer unique natural treasures such as red sandstone sea caves shaped by centuries of wave erosion, freezing, and thawing. In the winter, they are transformed into spectacular ice caves that visitors can explore when the conditions are right. Wisconsinites and visitors value the abundant outdoor recreation opportunities that the lakeshore offers, including kayaking through the sea caves, camping, hiking, and scuba diving. The region also holds deep historical and cultural significance for the Ojibwe people, who were the original inhabitants of the land.
Beyond its impressive scenery and recreational opportunities, the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore holds great ecological importance, providing diverse and regionally rare natural habitats from old-growth forests to lagoons and bogs to endangered dune communities. These habitats support a wide variety of wildlife, including otters, coyotes, whitetail deer, black bears, six species of salamanders, 8-10 species of frogs, and the endangered piping plover. The lakeshore also harbors over 800 species of plants, including several state-listed endangered and threatened species.
The Apostle Islands National Lakeshore showcases some of the most remarkable natural features that Wisconsin has to offer.
Topics
Authors
Ellen Montgomery
Director, Great Outdoors Campaign, Environment America
Ellen runs campaigns to protect America's beautiful places, from local beachfronts to remote mountain peaks. She sits on the Steering Committee of the Arctic Defense Campaign and co-coordinates the Climate Forests Campaign. Ellen previously worked as the organizing director for Environment America’s Climate Defenders campaign and managed grassroots campaign offices across the country. Ellen lives in Denver, where she likes to hike in Colorado's mountains.
Amelia English
Public Lands Intern
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