One-Of-A-Kind Base Camp Experience
Wilderness Inquiry’s Apostle Islands Base Camp, located a few hundred yards from Lake Superior’s Little Sand Bay in northern Wisconsin, is likely the Midwest’s most accessible, near-wilderness camping facility. Universal design creates an environment that is usable by all people.
Our proactive approach aims to be inclusive of diverse users, including those with disabilities, by considering a wide range of needs and supports in the design. The setting provides a great balance between providing some of the amenities that create a calming and safe camping experience with a low-level of development to facilitate a more rustic, near-wilderness vibe.
Five Separate Group Camps
Small group campsites include 6-8 platform tent pads for groups of 12-18 people. Each site is separated from each other to create an intimate setting for our participants to get to know one another and to grow together around a campfire or while preparing meals in a rustic camp kitchen. Each site has running water and an electrical outlet.
All Necessary Gear Provided
In addition to a large fleet of custom kayaks, our fully stocked warehouse has everything participants need for a safe and enjoyable experience exploring and sea kayaking on Lake Superior, North America’s largest inland lake. Every size wetsuit, life jacket, and spray skirt. Tents, pads, cots, and even extra sleeping bags for a comfortable night’s sleep. Camp stoves, cookware, marshmallow roasting sticks, and coffee pots to fuel everyone up for the day’s adventure. To ensure equipment isn’t a barrier, if you don’t have something on the packing list, we have many items available to loan.
Near-Wilderness Experience
About 75% of the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore is designated as a wilderness area — including 21 of the 22 islands. To honor that aesthetic, we maintain most of our 40-acre Base Camp property in its natural, undeveloped state so participants can experience the resonant hoot of an owl, the earthy scent of a coniferous forest, and the glimmer of a night sky filled with stars. Cars park away from group camps to help participants unplug from civilization. But, we also provide low-impact, composting vault toilets and rustic, open-air hot showers to ensure participants have a few creature comforts during their adventure.
Accessible Amenities for All Adventurers
Our Apostle Islands Base Camp has many amenities designed to support people of all ages, abilities, backgrounds, and identities.
Tent platforms
for increased comfort and ease of transfer between wheelchairs and tents
Large, open-air showers
with individual screening for privacy; accessible shower benches; and hand-held showerheads
Composting vault toilets
Single-user, composting vault toilets for privacy, with grab bars
Tabletop extensions
to provide comfort and space for wheelchair users
Raised boardwalks
to make rolling over low areas or between sites accessible for wheelchairs and people with mobility issues
Accessible, woodsy pathway
between our Base Camp and the National Park Service property and visitor center at Little Sand Bay
Small-dimension gravel
on trails and campsites to provide accessible surfaces for wheelchairs and walkers
Custom-designed kayaks
with larger cockpits and spray skirts, as well as room to transport a wheelchair or walker if needed
Guide ropes
and other campsite supports for participants with no or low vision