Where is Madeline Island?

Madeline Island is the largest island in the archipelago that makes up the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore.

Located in Lake Superior just off the Bayfield Peninsula in northern Wisconsin, Madeline Island is the only island in the archipelago not included in the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore.

What are the Attractions?

This beautiful area of clear water, sandstone sea caves, secluded beaches and lagoons, and deep forests offers boating, kayaking, hiking, camping, and swimming, as well as winter attractions that include ice-fishing, cross-country skiing and other winter pursuits.

Who Lives Here?

Madeline Island is a close-knit community that is home to about three hundred hardy year-round residents.

The population swells to several thousand during the warmer seasons, when additional community members with vacation homes settle in, and day visitors — or those lucky enough to snag a rental — arrive to enjoy the island.

Island History

Madeline Island is a spiritual home for the Lake Superior Ojibwe who migrated to the area over six hundred years ago. The island, which has been under the subsequent influence of France, England and the United States has a rich history that includes fur-traders, missionaries, fishermen and other settlers, and now residents and tourists. A visit to the Madeline Island Museum, an historical jewel, is a necessary stop for those wanting to understand the island’s history.