Apostle Islands National Lakeshore Permit Guide 2026

Wisconsin · No dogs in the backcountry

By Casey Rowan, Permit Ranger

Last updated

Apostle Islands National Lakeshore in Wisconsin protects a scattering of Lake Superior islands famous for sea caves, sandstone cliffs, and paddle-in and island camping. A camping permit reserves a specific individual or zone site - or a group site - for your party during your stay. Popular island sites and summer weekends can be competitive, so it helps to plan around the reservation window.

Apostle Islands National Lakeshore issues its wilderness permits through recreation.gov, and popular passes sell out ahead of the season. Island/kayak campsites open on a rolling 30-day window, advancing each morning at 10:00 AM Eastern (7:00 AM Pacific). Group sites are the exception - reservable up to 12 months ahead. One reservation covers your whole party. Permit Ranger watches every pass here and alerts you the moment a sold-out date opens.

When permits are released

Island/kayak campsites open on a rolling 30-day window, advancing each morning at 10:00 AM Eastern (7:00 AM Pacific). Group sites are the exception - reservable up to 12 months ahead. One reservation covers your whole party.

Fees

  • Per night: $15 per night (individual and zone sites; $30 per night for group sites)

How to get a Apostle Islands National Lakeshore permit

  1. Choose your island site or camping zone and trip dates. Each reservation covers your whole party.
  2. For individual and zone sites, reservations open on a rolling 30-day window, advancing each morning at 10:00 AM Eastern (7:00 AM Pacific). Your entry date becomes bookable 30 days ahead.
  3. Group sites are the exception - they are reservable up to 12 months in advance, so plan those trips much earlier.
  4. Book on recreation.gov when your dates open, since popular island sites fill quickly for summer weekends.
  5. If a site is already reserved, keep watching - cancellations return sites to inventory. Permit Ranger can alert you the moment a sold-out Apostle Islands site reopens.

Notable trails

Top passes in this area

The most in-demand Apostle Islands National Lakeshore entry points, each with its own detail page.

Frequently asked questions

When do Apostle Islands National Lakeshore permits open?

Island/kayak campsites open on a rolling 30-day window, advancing each morning at 10:00 AM Eastern (7:00 AM Pacific). Group sites are the exception - reservable up to 12 months ahead. One reservation covers your whole party. Exact on-sale details are on the recreation.gov permit page.

What if my dates are sold out?

Cancellations open up all season. Watch the passes you want on Permit Ranger and you get an instant alert when a date you need becomes bookable.

Does Permit Ranger book the permit for me?

No. Permit Ranger alerts you the moment a watched date opens, with a direct booking link, but the booking is always yours to make on recreation.gov.

Plan ahead

Sold-out dates reopen all the time from cancellations and quota drops. Permit Ranger checks recreation.gov around the clock and alerts you the moment your dates open. It never books for you.

Browse Apostle Islands National Lakeshore passes · Book on recreation.gov