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Swimming beach at Big Bay Park on Madeline Island
Wisconsin's Big Bay State Park on Madeline Island, the most southern island of the Apostle Islands, is a great weekend or week long retreat for families who love the outdoors but still want a few urban comforts.
Big Bay State Park on Madeline Island will open June 1, 2020.
2015 Open House
June 6th & 7th
Madeline & Apostle Islands Directory
Madeline Island
Madeline Island Historical Museum
More Madeline Island Attractions
Madeline Island Ice Road
Madeline Island Big Bay Park
Madeline Island Town Park
Apostle Islands
Apostle Islands Cruise
Raspberry Island Lighthouse
Meyers Beach Sea Cave Hiking Trail
Bayfield Sea Caves Boat Tour
Winter Sea Ice Caves
Apostle Islands Links
Cornucopia Wi
Bayfield Wi
It is located on a peninsula 7 miles from the village of La Pointe Wisconsin where there are restaurants, ice cream parlors, gift shops, golfing, and other entertainments. Close enough for convenience yet far enough to offer isolation from the hustle and bustle.
Most campers bring bicycles to ride around the park, tour the island itself, or run into La Pointe for its entertainment. The swimming beach on Big Bay faces east so the morning sun helps warm the waters early in the day but there was still some sun on the beach after 4 pm on the August day we visited the park. In addition to swimming and biking, other park entertainment includes hiking trails, canoeing or kayaking, rock climbing, beach combing, and fishing. There's also a large open field for games.
Recently the campground has added electricity to 15 sites so it is more RV friendly (however the dump station is not in the park but is available in the town of La Pointe). There are flush toilets and showers and canoe/kayak rentals available. Bike rentals are available in La Pointe.
More adventureous swimmers find one of the many rock outcroppings around the point. On a warm summer day it is also a nice place to read a book or have a picnic catching the fresh breeze off the lake. > > >
< < < Here's another nice spot to relax and enjoy the view or the peaceful ambience of Lake Superior.
There is quite a bit of protected shoreline around the island for canoeing
or kayaking. > > >
< < < The park offers 9 miles of hiking trails, many with views of Lake Superior.
Included among the trails are this self-guided boardwalk nature trail along separating the barrier beach and Big Bay Lagoon. > > >
Big Bay State Park Campground
< < < The park offers 60 camp sites, some more open like this one; others quite secluded. Recently the park has added electrical hookups on 15 of the sites.
One of the new RV campsites, with electric hookups.
< < < Here's a map of the park and campground.
The only other camping on Madeline Island is at the Big Bay township campground north of the State Park. Previously it was primarily a tent campground and somewhat "rustic" in its accomodations. But recently RV sites have been added, plus showers and flush toilets, and other improvements like a huge picnic pavilion. We stayed there in June 2015 and found it in excellent shape. Modern washrooms and showers, spacious campsites, including 22 set up for RVs with electric service. Wi-Fi at the office. Good beach and a boardwalk hiking trail that connects to the State Park. A great addition to the Island.
See our profile of Madeline Island Big Bay Township Campground here.
Like Camping or RVing, see our Directory of Bayfield Area Campgrounds.
Madeline Island Links
Some helpful links for visiting and touring Madeline Island:
More things to see and do on Madeline Island
SuperiorTrails.com - Reinhold Development - 2023
Bayfield Holiday Events & Activities
Duluth Holiday Events and Fun.
Winter - Michigan UP
Winter - Wisconsin Winter - Minnesota
Winter - Sault Ste Marie.
See our guide to interesting and fun things to see and do on Madeline Island.
See photos from our recent Apostle Islands
Sea Caves cruise.
Apostle Islands Sea Caves Hiking Trail is about a 3.5 mile round trip from Meyers Beach to the Bayfield Sea Caves
Lake Superior Travel Directories
Minnesota Travel
Wisconsin Travel
Upper Peninsula
Ontario Travel
Scenic Fall Color Drives in Ashland Area
Madeline Island Town Park Campground has been significantly upgraded.
Bayfield is the gateway to the Apostle Islands and Madeline Island.
Copper Falls State Park
is near Mellen, Wisconsin.
Orchard Touring
Take a scenic drive of
farms and orchards in the Bayfield area.
Hotel, Motel Lodging
Ashland, Superior, Ironwood, Wisconsin South Shore