Presque Isle Bay
Apostle Islands, WI
Presque Isle Bay is the sandy harbor side of the spit on Stockton Island, home to one of the few ranger stations in Apostle Islands National Lakeshore, a dock, and a campground. Boats anchor in the bay overnight. The beach is calm and sandy, with Julian Bay a short walk across the spit.
A sheltered island harbor beach with camping, though it takes a boat to get there.
How we score beachesCamp here and walk to Julian Bay at sunrise, before the day boats arrive.
Boat-only access; take a water taxi or private boat to Stockton Island.
The dock sits right at the beach.
The campground and ranger station are busiest in July and August. Calm summer evenings bring sailboats into the bay.
More Great Lakes beaches

Sleeping Bear Dunes Beach
Empire, MI · Great Lakes
Freshwater Lake Michigan surf below towering sand dunes, some over 400 feet tall, with water clear enough to rival a coastline and a hike back up the dune to burn it off.
New Buffalo City Beach
New Buffalo, MI · Great Lakes
New Buffalo City Beach is the first real Lake Michigan beach you hit crossing from Indiana, a wide stretch of sand at the end of Whittaker Street beside the harbor and the Galien River channel. Chicago weekenders fill it in summer. The town's shops and restaurants are a five minute walk back up the street.
Warren Dunes State Park
Sawyer, MI · Great Lakes
Warren Dunes State Park in Sawyer has roughly three miles of Lake Michigan shoreline and some of the tallest dunes in southwest Michigan. Tower Hill rises about 260 feet above the lake, and climbing it and running back down is a rite of passage. On a hot July Saturday the beach feels like a small city.
