Big Bay State Park
Madeline Island in Lake Superior

Big Bay State Park is on Madeline Island, the largest of Lake Superior's 22 Apostle Islands.

A calm lake and morning sunrise make a serene vacation setting.
Photo © Dave Miess

The 2,350-acre park has a 1.5-mile beach; campground with drinking water, showers and toilets; an indoor camp for nonprofit groups; an outdoor group camp; picnic areas; and more than seven miles of hiking and nature trails with incredible views of Lake Superior.

Bayfield and Madeline Island also offer bus tours, golfing, art galleries, marinas and the old La Pointe Indian Burial Grounds - Ojibway (Chippewa) Indians were the original inhabitants of the area.

Big Bay State Park is open daily from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. Admission stickers are required for all motor vehicles.

More Information

See the links to the left and below for more information about Big Bay State Park.

How to Get There

Madeline Island Ferry boats [exit DNR] operate on regular schedules between Bayfield and La Pointe from April to December.

County Highway H loops around Madeline Island from La Pointe. To get to Big Bay State Park, take Highway H counterclockwise (Middle Road) from La Pointe about 4 miles to Hagen Road and continue east on Hagen Road about 2 miles to the park entrance. Geographical coordinates are 46° 47' 18" N, 90° 40' 25" W.

No launching facilities are available at the park, but boats can be launched at the public landing in Bayfield or at a privately operated landing on Madeline Island. (Consult the Coast Guard at Bayfield for Lake Superior navigation information).

Big Bay State Park Locator Map