Re: [Paddlewise] Apostle Islands

Quoting Needfreed_at_wmconnect.com:

> Hi,
> 
> Looks like I'll be able to visit the Apostle Islands for a few days in late 
> July and I have a hunch there are some folks on this list who could offer 
> advice on campsites, sights to see and any other things they think a new
> visitor should know. 
> 
> Thanks in advance for any input.

Late July is a great time to be in the Apostles. For one, the surface water 
temperature is usually in the sixties by then, though this year might be an 
exception, and bugs are not usually a problem.

Be sure to check the Web site for the Apostles at http://www.nps.gov/apis/ and 
the campsite directory at http://www.nps.gov/apis/campsite/campsite.htm (the 
link to it on the main Web site can be hard to find). Plan your route well in 
advance, and then reserve your campsites as early as possible. For individual 
sites (two tents/seven people max) you can reserve no earlier than 30 days in 
advance. A $15 fee is charged for each reservation regardless of how many days 
or campsites it includes. If you put in at Little Sand bay, you can ask to pick 
up your permit there, otherwise you will have to pick it up in Bayfield.

Many of the islands have only one campsite. That includes Outer, Cat, Ironwood, 
Michigan (I think), Otter (I think), Devils, and Manitou. If you are the only 
party camped there, you have the island to yourself, except for daytrippers. 
Most of the campsites are on beaches. However, since most of the sites were 
originally designed for backpackers, some are not. The campsite on Devils is 
high above the water, but there is an easy landing in the harbor below. All but 
the southernmost campsite on Rocky are trail access only. On Basswood, the 
sites are a long trek uphill from the landing. On Oak the sites near the dock 
on the west side have a very poor landing for kayaks alongside the dock, but 
the sites on the bay on the north side have beach landings. At Presque Isle on 
Stockton, the campsites are filled quickly by passengers off the excursion 
boat; this is the only area you cannot reserve a specific site.

There are some car campsites on the mainland at Washburn, Little Sand Bay, and 
at Dalrymple Campground a little north of Bayfield. All these are first-come, 
first-served, and are usually crowded in the summer.

Some of the sites have solar-powered water pumps nearby, but I still recommend 
taking a water filter. Several islands have bears, Oak being one of the more 
notorious islands for that, but most sites now have bear boxes. I think all the 
official sites have pit toilets and fire pits.

All the islands are beautiful, especially on warm, sunny days with puffy 
cumulus clouds. However, there are also some interesting sea caves to explore 
on the east side of Squaw Bay, at Swallow Point on Sand Island, and -- the best 
of all -- on Devils Island. If you can get a permit for Devils Island, you 
really should visit the caves at sunrise or sunset, which are the only times 
the sun shines into them.

Hope this helps. Let me know if you have any more questions.

Chuck Holst

Ps: If you have a GPS, I can supply you with a set of waypoints for the 
Apostles, especially if you use Waypoint+.
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