Apostle Islands National Lakeshore
National park · Wisconsin
Established in 1970, this Lake Superior park protects 21 islands and 12 miles of mainland shoreline near Bayfield, home to the National Park System's largest collection of lighthouses. Fall boat and kayak tours thread sea caves and sandstone cliffs backed by turning birch and maple, usually peaking late September.
Don’t miss
Peak: October 8–October 12
Color builds from September 25 · mostly bare by October 30
Sampled at Apostle Islands National Lakeshore’s own coordinates and elevation (334 m) rather than a regional average.
Wisconsin is sampled at 33 weather points, then moved 1 day earlier so the model agrees with 1 published peak date from smokymountains.com. How the forecast works
When to go to Apostle Islands National Lakeshore
Good color holds through about October 19, giving you roughly 24 days from the first turn to past peak. That runs roughly 4 days earlier than the rest of Wisconsin. The elevation is 1,096 ft, which pulls the turn earlier.
Apostle Islands National Lakeshore on the map
Drag the date slider to see when color reaches this corner of Wisconsin, or tap a pin for that stop’s own peak window.
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Frequently asked
- When does Apostle Islands National Lakeshore peak in 2026?
- Peak color is predicted for October 8–October 12 (best estimate October 10). Color starts around September 25 and is mostly bare by October 30.
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