Gaylord Nelson Wilderness
In 2004, 80% of the land area of Wisconsin's Apostle Islands National Lakeshore was designated as federally protected wilderness. The new Wilderness area–Wisconsin's largest by far–honors former Wisconsin Governor, U.S. Senator, and founder of Earth Day, Gaylord Nelson. Although many of the 22 Apostle Islands were logged, farmed, or quarried in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, most of them (21 of the 22 are included in Apostle Islands National Lakeshore) are currently wild and primitive. Hidden within the forests, however, are occasional signs of the islands' human past–encouraging reminders of the regenerative powers of nature.
Description from Wilderness Connect (wilderness.net).
| Designation | Wilderness |
| Managed by | National Park Service |
| State | Wisconsin |
| Size | 33,500 acres |
| Designated | 2004, by Congress |
| Center point | 46.94° N, 90.58° W |
| Night sky | About as dark as the ground gets (Black Marble reading 8) |
Boundary map
Boundary, simplified to about 0.005 degrees Federal campground
The outline is the agency boundary simplified for display, so small parcels and inholdings may not show. The agency page has the authoritative map.
Weather by month
Large units span more than one climate. The station stands in for the center point, and the outer parts of the boundary can be warmer or colder.
Where to camp
None of the 1 federal campground within ten miles sits inside the boundary. Nearest first. Distances are from the campground point to the boundary edge, from the Campsite Atlas index.
Fire nearby
- WildfireRedhouse
44 mi from the center point · 22 acres
- WildfireBlack River
47 mi from the center point · 362 acres · 90% contained
Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge, and is measured from the center of a boundary that may be many miles across. Check the agency page for closures.
Explore
Nearby on the other atlases
- under 0.1 miManitou Camp ↗Apostle Islands National Lakeshore, WI
- under 0.1 miHadland Fishing Camp ↗La Pointe, WI
- 0.1 miRocky Island Historic District ↗La Pointe, WI
- 2.8 miHokenson Fishing Dock ↗Bayfield, WI
- 3.2 miShaw Farm ↗Bayfield, WI
- 3.3 miSevona Cabin ↗Bayfield, WI
- 3.8 miMarquette (shipwreck) ↗La Pointe, WI
- 4.4 miBass Island Brownstone Company Quarry ↗La Pointe, WI
Landmarks are listed first, then by distance from the boundary.
Guidebooks for Wisconsin
We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.
- Explorer's Guide 50 Hikes on and Around the North Country Trail - Michigan and WisconsinThomas Funke, 2016Find at Bookshop.org
Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
How big is Gaylord Nelson Wilderness?
33,500 acres.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Who manages Gaylord Nelson Wilderness?
The National Park Service.
Source: Wilderness Connect
What state is Gaylord Nelson Wilderness in?
Wisconsin.
Source: Wilderness Connect
When was Gaylord Nelson Wilderness designated?
Congress designated it in 2004.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Can I camp at Gaylord Nelson Wilderness?
Camping inside a wilderness is usually allowed away from roads, with no facilities, and the managing agency page has the permit rules. The federal campgrounds within ten miles are listed under Where to camp.
Source: Where to camp
How do I get to Gaylord Nelson Wilderness?
A point inside the boundary is at 46.937° N, 90.583° W. Apostle Islands National Lakeshore is adjacent. The official page carries directions and the office address.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Is there a fire near Gaylord Nelson Wilderness right now?
2 active incidents within 50 miles as of 2026-11-01, the nearest Redhouse at 44 miles. Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge.
Source: Fire nearby
Which national parks are near Gaylord Nelson Wilderness?
Apostle Islands National Lakeshore (adjacent). Park Atlas has fees, hours and alerts for each.
Source: Nearby on the other atlases
Are there historic places near Gaylord Nelson Wilderness?
The National Register has 17 listings within 15 miles, including Manitou Camp and Hadland Fishing Camp.
Source: Register Atlas
Sources
- Boundary, name, acreage, designation year, states and description: Wilderness Connect.
- Campgrounds: the Campsite Atlas index of federal campgrounds, matched to this boundary at build time.
- Trailheads and sites: the Forest Service Recreation Opportunities layer, points inside the boundary.
- Night sky: NASA Black Marble (VIIRS, 2016 composite) sampled at zoom 6 around the center point.
- Weather, alerts, air quality, river flow and earthquakes load live in your browser from NWS, AirNow, USGS and iNaturalist when you open the page.