Big Bay State Park is a state park of Wisconsin, United States, on Madeline Island, the largest of 22 Apostle Islands in Lake Superior.[1] The 2,350-acre (951 ha) park has picturesque sandstone bluffs and caves and a 1.5-mile-long (2.4 km) 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.[2]
| Big Bay State Park | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Wisconsin's Big Bay State Park (2008) | |
  Location of Big Bay State Park in Wisconsin  Big Bay State Park (the United States) | |
| Location | Ashland, Wisconsin, United States |
| Coordinates | 46°48′0″N 90°40′22″W / 46.80000°N 90.67278°W |
| Area | 2,350 acres (9.5 km2) |
| Elevation | 643 ft (196 m) |
| Established | 1963 |
| Governing body | Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources |
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.[2]
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) east on Highway H.[2] Big Bay State Park is 1 of 3 Wisconsin State Parks that one would have the best view the Milky Way from, in regards to available Wisconsin State Parks.[3]
References
edit- ^ "Big Bay State Park". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
- ^ a b c "Big Bay State Park". Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. May 9, 2012. Retrieved June 30, 2012.
- ^ R, Mike (August 24, 2021). "State Park Bortle 2 Scale Information In The US". CosmosPNW. Retrieved January 24, 2022.
External links
edit- Big Bay State Park official website