Big Bay State Park Beach
La Pointe, WI
Big Bay State Park is on the east side of Madeline Island, the largest of the Apostle Islands, with a sandy swimming beach and sandstone bluffs along four miles of Lake Superior shoreline. A mile-long boardwalk runs between the barrier beach and the calm Big Bay Lagoon behind it. There's a big family campground.
Sandy beach, sandstone bluffs, and a calm lagoon all in one park, though it takes a ferry ride.
How we score beachesWalk the boardwalk nature trail between the beach and the lagoon, then paddle the calm lagoon in the afternoon.
A Wisconsin state park vehicle admission sticker is required; take the car ferry from Bayfield to reach the island.
The boardwalk is flat; short paths lead to the beach.
The Madeline Island Ferry runs frequently in summer. The sandstone bluffs are best at sunrise.
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