Stockton Island Watercraft Campsite B

🛶 Your Gateway to Wilderness: Stockton Island Watercraft Campsite B

For Wisconsin’s seasoned outdoor enthusiasts and groups seeking a truly immersive wilderness experience, **Stockton Island Watercraft Campsite B** offers a unique and memorable base camp within the breathtaking **Apostle Islands National Lakeshore**. This is not your typical drive-up campground; it is a remote, boat-in-only destination on one of the largest and most ecologically diverse of the Apostle Islands. Campsite B is specifically designated as an accessible group site, catering to larger parties of 8 to 21 people who require accommodation for mobility impairments, making it a thoughtfully designed option for inclusive adventures on Lake Superior.

Stockton Island is celebrated for its famous "singing sands" at Julian Bay, extensive hiking trails, and a rich abundance of natural features, including bogs, lagoons, and diverse wildlife—notably its resident black bear population. Camping here means fully embracing the Leave No Trace ethic and being self-sufficient, all while surrounded by the unparalleled beauty of a National Lakeshore. Campsite B, located in the peaceful Quarry Bay area, provides the necessary structure for group camping while maintaining that vital sense of island solitude.

🗺️ Location and Accessibility

Stockton Island is approximately 14 miles from Bayfield, Wisconsin, the primary mainland gateway to the Apostle Islands. As an island campsite, **Stockton Island Watercraft Campsite B** is **only accessible by watercraft**. This includes private boat, sailboat, sea kayak, or the commercial camper shuttle service that operates from Bayfield during the peak summer season (typically late June through Labor Day). There is **NO** car, RV, or drive-up tent camping available on Stockton Island.

The specific location is:

Stockton Island, WI 54850, USA

Campsite B is one of two group sites located at **Quarry Bay**. Access to the site is facilitated by a dock at Quarry Bay where visitors can tie up, or by anchoring/beaching in the bay. The National Park Service has specifically developed this site with accessibility in mind, featuring a boardwalk that leads from the dock area to the campsite and nearby facilities, ensuring a safer and easier path for visitors with mobility challenges. You must have an advance camping permit reservation from the National Park Service to use this site.

🛠️ Services Offered

As a designated wilderness experience within a National Park Service unit, the services offered at Stockton Island are intentionally rustic and focused on safety, environmental protection, and essential needs. Campers must be fully prepared to bring all necessary supplies, including food, water, and waste management tools.

Services and amenities specific to the designated campsites include:

• Designated Group Campsite: Accommodates a large group size of 8 to 21 people.

• Accessible Features: Campsite B is one of the designated accessible group sites on Stockton Island, featuring a raised, wooden accessible platform for tent setup and a boardwalk connecting to the dock and toilet facility.

• Bear-Resistant Food Locker: Mandatory for securing all food, toiletries, and cooking materials due to the resident black bear population on the island.

• Vault Toilet (Privy): Accessible vault toilet facilities are located near the campsite.

• Picnic Table: A group-sized accessible picnic table is provided at the site.

• Fire Ring: A designated fire receptacle for campfires (fire restrictions and rules apply; firewood must be collected from dead and downed wood only).

• Potable Water: Potable water is generally **not** available at Quarry Bay. Campers must be prepared to carry in all their water or use lake water and treat it (boiling, filtering, or chemical treatment) before consumption.

• Overnight Docking: Available at the nearby Quarry Bay dock on a first-come, first-served basis for a fee, or anchoring is permitted in the bay.

🌟 Features and Highlights

The primary draw of camping at Stockton Island Watercraft Campsite B is the opportunity to stay in a designated group location while enjoying the unique natural features of the island. It is the perfect location for organizations, scouting groups, or large families from Wisconsin seeking a remote but managed wilderness outing.

Key features and highlights of Stockton Island and the Quarry Bay area:

• Accessible Group Setup: The site’s accessible design, including the raised wooden tent platform and boardwalk access, ensures that the remote wilderness experience is available to a wider range of visitors.

• Proximity to Island Trails: The Quarry Bay area offers direct access to a network of Stockton Island’s approximately 14 miles of hiking trails, leading to attractions like Julian Bay and the island’s interior bogs and lagoons.

• Julian Bay’s "Singing Sands": A short hike from Quarry Bay is Julian Bay, famed for its unique quartz sand that emits a distinct squeaking or “singing” sound when walked upon in certain conditions.

• Rich Ecosystem: Stockton Island boasts one of the most diverse ecological systems in the entire National Lakeshore, featuring mixed pine forests, wetlands, and open meadows, providing excellent opportunities for birdwatching and nature photography.

• Black Bear Viewing/Safety: The island is known for having a significant black bear population. This adds to the rugged wilderness experience but necessitates strict adherence to food storage regulations, with bear lockers provided at the site.

• Quarry Bay Dock: Provides a relatively protected landing point from Lake Superior’s often unpredictable waters, making it a safer entry/exit point for private boaters and the commercial shuttle.

📞 Contact Information

Since Stockton Island Watercraft Campsite B is operated by the National Park Service (NPS) as part of the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore, all communication, reservations, and permitting are managed through the NPS headquarters and the official reservation system.

Address (Island Location - For Reference Only):

Stockton Island, WI 54850, USA

For Permits and General Information (Apostle Islands National Lakeshore Headquarters):

Phone: (715) 779-3397 (Park Headquarters)

Note: Reservations for all camping in the Apostle Islands, including this specific group site, are required and must be made in advance through the Recreation.gov platform.

✨ What is Worth Choosing Stockton Island Watercraft Campsite B

For Wisconsin groups seeking an unparalleled **accessible wilderness adventure**, choosing Stockton Island Watercraft Campsite B is highly recommended. The primary value proposition of this particular site is the combination of **group capacity** and **accessibility**. It allows large parties of up to 21 people to share a meaningful, immersive experience on a remote Apostle Island, while the specially constructed accessible features—the boardwalk, raised platform, and accessible picnic area—ensure that visitors with mobility issues are not excluded from this extraordinary environment.

You are choosing an experience that is deeply rooted in the solitude and natural splendor of Lake Superior. This campsite provides the fundamental amenities (toilet, fire ring, bear locker) that allow a group to focus on exploration—hiking to the "singing sands," kayaking the shoreline, and experiencing the incredible night skies. It’s an ideal option for anyone in the Wisconsin area ready to trade the convenience of a roadside park for the genuine, rewarding challenge of a National Lakeshore island getaway, with the peace of mind that comes from a dedicated group and accessible infrastructure.