Apostle Islands National Lakeshore is a National Lakeshore in Wisconsin. This guide combines the park's official information with computed sunrise, sunset and Milky Way times, satellite climate data and 10 photo locations inside or next to the park.
Best photo spots in Apostle Islands
We matched 10 named overlooks, waterfalls, peaks and other features to Apostle Islands. Each has its own page with sun directions and a monthly golden hour table.
Lighthouses (9)
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LighthouseWilderness Areas (1)
Sunrise, sunset & golden hour
At Apostle Islands the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 53° (NE) at the June solstice and 125° (SE) in late December. Sunset moves from 307° (NW) in June to 236° (SW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 66° in summer but only 20° in winter.
| Month (15th) | Sunrise | Golden hour ends | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Sunset az. | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7:45 AM | 8:34 AM | 3:52 PM | 4:41 PM | 239° | 8h 56m |
| February | 7:08 AM | 7:51 AM | 4:44 PM | 5:27 PM | 252° | 10h 19m |
| March | 7:17 AM | 7:57 AM | 6:28 PM | 7:08 PM | 268° | 11h 52m |
| April | 6:16 AM | 6:56 AM | 7:10 PM | 7:51 PM | 286° | 13h 35m |
| May | 5:28 AM | 6:13 AM | 7:47 PM | 8:31 PM | 300° | 15h 03m |
| June | 5:08 AM | 5:55 AM | 8:13 PM | 9:00 PM | 307° | 15h 52m |
| July | 5:24 AM | 6:10 AM | 8:09 PM | 8:55 PM | 304° | 15h 31m |
| August | 6:01 AM | 6:43 AM | 7:33 PM | 8:15 PM | 292° | 14h 15m |
| September | 6:41 AM | 7:21 AM | 6:36 PM | 7:17 PM | 275° | 12h 35m |
| October | 7:21 AM | 8:03 AM | 5:35 PM | 6:17 PM | 258° | 10h 56m |
| November | 7:07 AM | 7:53 AM | 3:43 PM | 4:30 PM | 243° | 9h 23m |
| December | 7:42 AM | 8:34 AM | 3:23 PM | 4:15 PM | 236° | 8h 33m |
Computed for the park's reference point (46.9624, -90.6605); large parks span several minutes of difference.
Milky Way & dark skies
From Apostle Islands, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from April through August. June gives the longest window (about 2.2 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 14° above the southern horizon. Our light-pollution model puts the sky at about Bortle 1 (excellent dark-sky site), which is excellent for astrophotography.
| Month | Core visible (15th) | Hours | Max altitude |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| February | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| March | 5:31 AM – 5:31 AM | 0.0 | 11° |
| April | 3:24 AM – 4:14 AM | 0.8 | 13° |
| May | 1:31 AM – 3:01 AM | 1.5 | 14° |
| June | 11:56 PM – 2:06 AM | 2.2 | 14° |
| July | 11:31 PM – 1:01 AM | 1.5 | 14° |
| August | 10:18 PM – 10:58 PM | 0.7 | 13° |
| September | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| October | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| November | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| December | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
1 Estimated Bortle 1 — Excellent dark-sky site. The Milky Way casts faint shadows; zodiacal light and airglow are obvious.
Weather & best time to visit
Lake Superior is renowned for its cold temperatures, rough seas, fog, and sudden squalls. Boaters and paddlers should monitor marine weather forecasts and be constantly alert to changing conditions. Average daytime high temperatures range from 60 degrees Fahrenheit in May, to the upper 80s in mid-summer, to the mid-60s in September. Average lows vary from 40 degrees in May, to the upper 50s in mid-summer, to 50 degrees in September. Average water temperatures in May and June are only in the 40s.
Weather overview: National Park Service.
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show July as the clearest month (about 58% average cloud cover) and December as the cloudiest (76%). July is the warmest month and January the coldest, which matters for gear, snow access and how long batteries last at night.
Average cloud cover (%)
Average high (°F)
Photography permits, drones & fees
Permits. Under federal law (54 U.S.C. 100905), still photography in National Park Service areas needs a permit only when it (1) takes place where members of the public are not allowed, (2) uses models, sets or props that are not part of the location's natural or cultural resources or administrative facilities, or (3) would cause the park to incur additional administrative costs to monitor the activity. Ordinary visitor and most landscape photography needs no permit. Commercial filming rules are separate and have changed in recent years — confirm current requirements with the park before a paid shoot.
Drones. Launching, landing or operating unmanned aircraft (drones) is prohibited in National Park Service units under a 2014 Superintendent's closure (36 CFR 1.5), except where a park has issued specific written approval. Flying from outside the boundary over park land can also violate park rules and disturb wildlife.
Getting there
Apostle Islands National Lakeshore is located in northern Wisconsin along the shores of Lake Superior. The Lakeshore has several entrance points, with much of its area accessible primarily by water.
Directions: National Park Service.
Activities
- Boating
- Motorized Boating
- Sailing
- Boat Tour
- Camping
- Backcountry Camping
- Canoe or Kayak Camping
- Group Camping
- Fishing
- Freshwater Fishing
- Guided Tours
- Boat Tour
- Hiking
- Hunting and Gathering
- Hunting
- Paddling
- Canoe or Kayak Camping
- Kayaking
- Junior Ranger Program
- SCUBA Diving
- Snowshoeing
- Swimming
- Freshwater Swimming
- Wildlife Watching
Nearby parks
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WI/MN