Wisconsin Islands Wilderness
Three small limestone outcroppings in Lake Michigan–Gravel Island, Spider Island, and Hog Island—make up Wisconsin Islands Wilderness. These islands provide important nesting grounds for colonial birds, especially herring gulls, ring- billed gulls, and double-crested cormorants. Because human contact could easily destroy these fragile and threatened communities, the public is not permitted to set foot on the islands. Boaters are asked to stay at least a quarter-mile offshore so as not to endanger the nesting areas. Bring your binoculars if you want to take a peek. Hazardous shoals surround the Wilderness trio, which further protects the safety of the birds and preserves the wildness of the islands.
Description from Wilderness Connect (wilderness.net).
| Designation | Wilderness |
| Managed by | U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service |
| State | Wisconsin |
| Size | 29 acres |
| Designated | 1970, by Congress |
| Center point | 45.21° N, 86.98° W |
| Night sky | About as dark as the ground gets (Black Marble reading 7) |
Boundary map
Boundary, simplified to about 0.005 degrees
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
No federal campground is within ten miles of the boundary in the Campsite Atlas index. Camping inside a wilderness is usually allowed away from trails and water, with no facilities; the managing agency page has the permit and group-size rules.
Explore
Nearby on the other atlases
- 5.7 miPilot Island Light ↗Gills Rock, WI
- 6.3 miBoaz (schooner) Shipwreck ↗Liberty Grove, WI
- 6.4 miSunshine Shipwreck (Scow Schooner) ↗Liberty Grove, WI
- 6.8 miPlum island Life-Saving and Light Station ↗Washington, WI
- 6.8 miPlum Island Range Rear Light ↗Gills Rock, WI
- 7.2 miGrape Shot (schooner) Shipwreck ↗Washington, WI
- 7.2 miJischke's Meat Market ↗Sister Bay, WI
- 8.9 miCana Island Lighthouse ↗Baileys Harbor, WI
Landmarks are listed first, then by distance from the boundary.
Guidebooks for Wisconsin
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- 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 Wisconsin Islands Wilderness?
29 acres.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Who manages Wisconsin Islands Wilderness?
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Source: Wilderness Connect
What state is Wisconsin Islands Wilderness in?
Wisconsin.
Source: Wilderness Connect
When was Wisconsin Islands Wilderness designated?
Congress designated it in 1970.
Source: Wilderness Connect
How do I get to Wisconsin Islands Wilderness?
A point inside the boundary is at 45.209° N, 86.976° W. The official page carries directions and the office address.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Are there historic places near Wisconsin Islands Wilderness?
The National Register has 29 listings within 15 miles, including Pilot Island Light and Boaz (schooner) Shipwreck.
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.