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 6–October 10
Color builds from September 28 · mostly bare by October 28
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. Wisconsin is running 6 days earlier than its own average this year. How the forecast works
When to go to Apostle Islands National Lakeshore
Good color holds through about October 17, giving you roughly 19 days from the first turn to past peak. 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 6–October 10 (best estimate October 8). Color starts around September 28 and is mostly bare by October 28.
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