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4.5
93 votes

Big Bay State Park

2402 Hagen Rd., La Pointe, Wisconsin 54850 USA

  • Independent
  • Pet Friendly
  • Not Wheelchair
    Accessible
  • Public
    Restrooms
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“Enjoy the Picturesque Bluffs!”

Big Bay State Park is in the U.S. state of Wisconsin on Madeline Island, the largest of 22 Apostle Islands in Lake Superior. The 2350 acre park has picturesque sandstone bluffs and caves and a 1.5 mi long sand beach. It encloses unique habitat types including lakeside dunes, sphagnum bogs, and old-growth forest. Bald eagles return annually to the park to nest and rear offspring. The park, established in 1963, has picnic areas with tables, grills, water and toilets; a campground with drinking water, showers and toilets; an indoor camp for nonprofit groups; an outdoor group camp; and more than 9 miles (14 km) of trails, including nature trails. The park is open year-round, though winter visitation is mostly limited to hunters, snowshoers and cross-country skiers. All vehicles are required to purchase an admission pass, though pedestrians and bicyclists may enter free. To reach the park, visitors must take a 20 minute ferry ride from Bayfield, then travel approximately 5 miles (8.0 km) north on Highway H.

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Reviews of Big Bay State Park

7 people have reviewed this location

Ratings Summary

3.3 Access
4.8 Location
4.0 Cleanliness
4.0 Site Quality
3.8 Noise

Cell Coverage

Verizon 4G/5G

Confirmed by 2 users | Last reported on August 24, 2021

AT&T 5G

Confirmed by 1 users | Last reported on June 13, 2019
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Reviewed by
Damon Brinson

  • 9 Reviews
  • 15 Helpful
July 31, 2014
Rated 4.0

The place itself is stunning. Lake Superior at its most beautiful -- sunsets, sailboats, sand, and sun. The campground is adequate. Pros: nice rangers and staff people, reasonably spaced campsites for privacy. Cons: the restrooms -- smelly, unclean, often out of order.

1 person found this review helpful

Reviewed by
leedanna

  • 129 Reviews
  • 0 Helpful
September 17, 2018
Rated

Sites are generous in size but there are only 60. Only a handful have electric. Most have sufficient shade for adequate privacy. Pit toilets throughout but only one bathhouse with flush toilets, showers situated between the two campgrounds. Only two showers/sinks and more than once, I had to wait to wash my hands. The water pump near site 12 did not seem operable. In addition to the cost of the campsite, you also have the cost of the ferry ($52 including vehicle for two people) and you will need your vehicle to get to the park. Campground was quiet on a Sunday night in September but there was a noisy drinking party on Saturday night! You can walk to Big Bay Town Park via a boardwalk but I really recommend taking a small boat tour out to explore some of the other islands, once you’ve come this far!

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leedanna would stay here again

Nightly Rate: $35.00

Days Stayed: 2

Site Number: 6

3 Access
4 Location
3 Cleanliness
4 Site Quality
3 Noise
Photo of Campendium

Reviewed by
Campendium

June 13, 2019
Rated

Nice campground with limited # of electric sites. No Sewer or campsite water. They do have several potable water stations. Dump station is available offsite at the local island commuter airport. Park staff was very welcoming and polite. Beautiful surroundings with good hiking trails. Highlight is a boardwalk trail that runs the perimeter of Big Bay and offers stunning views of Lake Superior. Access to the park is a bit of a challenge but is also part of the adventure due to the fact you can only get to the island by ferry boat. You catch the ferry at nearby Bayfield, Wi and the boat ride is about 20 minutes. The Ferry can accommodate any size RV. The cost of the ferry varies depending on the size of your rig. I have a lite camper at 22 ft and it cost me $60 one way. In La Point, I recommend a visit to Tom’s Burned Down Cafe which as the names suggests is a never rebuilt burned down cafe turned into bar. It is a great watering hole with a Key West vibe. You will see many interesting locals there. I would recommend a visit to Madeline Island and Big Bay State Park.

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This reviewer would stay here again

Nightly Rate: $30.00

Days Stayed: 2

Site Number: 45

3 Access
5 Location
3 Cleanliness
4 Site Quality
4 Noise

Cell Coverage Rating

Verizon 4G

AT&T

Photo of Campendium

Reviewed by
Campendium

August 24, 2021
Rated

The highlight of this park is clearly the Lagoon/Boardwalk. Simply beautiful. Hard to imagine the beautiful soft sand and warm calm waters on Superior. The area was like somebody had perfectly landscaped the whole thing. And the crowds are limited because of the limited parking...perfect!

The campsites were OK, but quite small and offered some but not a lot of privacy. Some electric, some not. Overall the park was well maintained by the city. The hosts were helpful upon check in and usually around for ice and firewood. Beware of the firewood though. The price is $5 an armful. It was so wet they should have been paying the campers to take it! Not good. There are other places around to get it.

We were there on some clear nights and the stars are simply incredible!

As you drive around the island you will see many junk yards. Not sure why that is but sure wish the city would do something. It was the same way on our last visit about 10 years ago. Some things never change.

Loris grocery store is a joke. Be sure to do your shopping before hopping on the ferry.

No cell service except the WIFI at the office.

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This reviewer would stay here again

Nightly Rate: $40.00

Days Stayed: 5

Site Number: 36

4 Access
5 Location
5 Cleanliness
3 Site Quality
5 Noise

Cell Coverage Rating

Verizon

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Reviewed by
Campendium

July 01, 2022
Rated

We travel with our dogs, but we always mind them and follow the rules. That said, I had to ask the camp host to get his dog to stop his incessant barking one afternoon since it was tethered in front of their camper. Tethering usually ain’t even allowed in campgrounds? It was weird. There were also other dogs off leash off course which results in peeps having to yell at their dog to ‘come back’ or ‘get out of there!’ while the dog is wondering off into someone else’s campsite or dog’s space. Would be a lot easier and peaceful just to use a leash. Beautiful shoreline thought, just be well prepared for biting flies.

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This reviewer would stay here again
3 Access
5 Location
5 Cleanliness
5 Site Quality
3 Noise

Reviewed by
julzmattson

  • 1 Review
  • 0 Helpful
June 30, 2016
Rated 5.0

Beautiful day and gorgeous beach. Fun walk with the kids.

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Reviewed by
peachikita

  • 8 Reviews
  • 2 Helpful
January 26, 2015
Rated 5.0

There's so much to do here and it's absolutely gorgeous! We visited in late fall and there had been a lot of rain already, so we weren't able to stay as long as we would have liked (temperatures dropped, storms rolled in, and our site was already partially under water). We'll definitely be back.

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Big Bay State Park

2402 Hagen Rd.
La Pointe, Wisconsin
54850 USA
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  • Unavailable
    Parking
  • Check
    Pets Allowed
  • Check
    Restrooms
  • Unknown
    Wifi
  • Unavailable
    Wheelchair Accessible
  • Unknown
    Credit Cards Accepted
Affiliation
State park or forest
Last Nightly Rate
35.0
Lowest Nightly Rate
20.0
Max Stay
14
  • Unavailable
    Fifty Amp
  • Unavailable
    Full Hookup
  • Unavailable
    Pull Through
  • Check
    Tent Sites
  • Unavailable
    Dump Station
  • Unavailable
    Big Rigs
  • Unavailable
    Open Seasonally
  • Unavailable
    Age Restricted
  • Check
    Boondock
  • Unavailable
    Cabin Sites
  • Unavailable
    Dispersed Sites
  • Check
    Firewood
  • Unavailable
    Fulltime Residents
  • Unavailable
    Group Tent Sites
  • Unavailable
    Laundry
  • Unavailable
    Mobile Homes
  • Check
    Permit Required
  • Check
    Potable Water
  • Unavailable
    Propane
  • Check
    Public Water
  • Unavailable
    Pull Through RV Sites
  • Check
    Reservations
  • Unavailable
    Sewer Hookup
  • Check
    Showers
  • Check
    Standard Tent Sites
  • Unavailable
    Water Hookup
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