Big Bay State Park
- Status
- Open (per official listing)Daily 6 a.m. – 11 p.m.
- Entrance fee
- Statewide rule — see below
- Day-use reservations
- None mentioned
- Dogs
- Dogs allowed8-ft leash
- Camping
- 60 campsites
- Official site
- dnr.wisconsin.gov(715) 747-6425
Official page last checked Oct 29, 2026. How we keep this current
Current alerts 1
Partial closure Big Bay SP Campground Closed (Sept. 8, 2026 through June 2027)The campground and beach parking lot at Big Bay State Park will be closed from Sept. 8, 2026 through approximately June 30, 2027 due to construction… (more)
The campground and beach parking lot at Big Bay State Park will be closed from Sept. 8, 2026 through approximately June 30, 2027 due to construction projects at the park. Limited parking will be available at the park office and the point picnic area. Impact: High.
Posted by the park 2026-08-03. Official alert
Overview
Big Bay State Park is a 2,514-acre park in Ashland County, about 17 miles northeast of Ashland.
Visitors come for canoeing and kayaking, hunting in season, boating, swimming, and fishing. For overnight stays there are 60 campsites (tent sites).
Hours
Park, gate, office and facility hours are listed separately because they often differ. Alerts above override normal hours.
| Facility | Days | Hours | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Park | Daily | 6 a.m. – 11 p.m. | — |
| Daily | 6 a.m. – 11 p.m. | — |
Official wording
Open 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. year-round. The park is open year-round from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Source: official park page, checked Oct 29, 2026. Times are local to the park (America/Chicago).
Fees and passes
Per vehicle, resident vs nonresident pricing: a vehicle admission pass is required on all motor vehicles stopping in state parks, forests and recreation areas (daily $13 WI / $16 out-of-state; annual $28 / $50; rates effective Aug. 19, 2025). State trails use a per-person trail pass for certain uses. Heritage Hill SP charges a per-person admission instead.
Statewide fee rule from Wisconsin's park system; this park’s page doesn’t list its own fees.
Wisconsin park passes
- 12-month vehicle admission pass (Wisconsin plates) — $28. All Wisconsin state parks, forests and recreation areas for 12 months Details
- 12-month vehicle admission pass (out-of-state plates) — $50. Same, nonresident vehicles Details
- 12-month pass, Wisconsin residents 65+ — $13. Resident senior vehicles Details
- 12-month reduced-rate pass (additional household vehicle) — $15.50 resident / $32.50 nonresident. Additional vehicles at the same household address; bought with a full-price pass Details
- Daily vehicle admission pass — $13 resident / $3 resident 65+ / $16 nonresident Details
From the Wisconsin state guide. Confirm which passes this park accepts.
Reservations
- Day use
- No day-use reservation requirement mentioned
- Camping
- Required
- Booking system
- Wisconsin State Park System reservations (Camis 'Going to Camp')
- Phone
- 1-888-947-2757
Winter Camping: During winter, Big Bay State Park has five plowed campsites (sites 26, 27, 28, 29 and 30) available by reservation only; all sites have electric hook-ups and camping fees apply.
We link to the official booking system rather than showing live availability, which changes minute to minute.
Pets
Dogs allowed · leash up to 8 feet
Pet owners are reminded that pets must be on a leash no longer than 8 feet and attended to at all times while visiting the park.
Service animals are generally permitted where pets are not. Check with the park for specific areas.
Camping
| Campground or site type | Sites | Hookups / features | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Family campground There are 21 sites that have electrical hookups. Showers and flush toilets are centrally located in the campground. Pet owners are reminded that pets must be on a leash no longer than 8 feet and attended to at all times while visiting the park.
Seven sites are walk-in sites, with these sites about 100 to 400 feet from the parking area, depending on the site.
• Campground map
Campers must set up camping units on the designated tent pad. Wheeled campers and vehicles must be parked on the campsite driveway. | 60 | Electric (some sites)Showers | — |
Camping details from the park
Big Bay State Park has a total of 60 campsites.
Winter Camping: During winter, Big Bay State Park has five plowed campsites (sites 26, 27, 28, 29 and 30) available by reservation only; all sites have electric hook-ups and camping fees apply. Camping is not allowed on any other sites. The picnic table and fire ring will likely be snow-covered. A vault toilet is available near the campground entrance. The rest of the campground is closed. Campers can contact the park office to confirm if conditions allow for snowplowing.
Seasonal Water Systems Notice: At Big Bay State Park, showers and drinking water are unavailable from approximately Oct. 1 to Memorial Day weekend, depending on the weather. Campers can find water at the dump station located at the Madeline Island Airport.
Family campground: There are 21 sites that have electrical hookups. Showers and flush toilets are centrally located in the campground. Pet owners are reminded that pets must be on a leash no longer than 8 feet and attended to at all times while visiting the park.
Seven sites are walk-in sites, with these sites about 100 to 400 feet from the parking area, depending on the site.
- Campground map
Campers must set up camping units on the designated tent pad. Wheeled campers and vehicles must be parked on the campsite driveway.
Outdoor group camp: Big Bay State Park has one outdoor group camp. The group site is about a half-mile from the regular campground and has a modest view of Lake Superior. The site has its own hand pump and vault toilet.
Firewood: Firewood is available for sale at Big Bay State Park.
Don't move firewood! Due to the potential of carrying harmful tree pests and diseases, Wisconsin has restrictions on moving firewood.
From the official park page, checked Oct 29, 2026. Site counts and prices can change; confirm when booking.
Things to do
BoatingCanoeing and kayakingCampingFishingHikingHuntingPicnickingSwimming
Amenities
Facilities
- Picnic areas
Camping
- Tent camping
✓ listed by the park · ✕ the park says it is not available. Anything not shown here isn’t mentioned by the official source — that means unknown, not unavailable.
Accessibility
At Big Bay State Park, the 1.5-mile Boardwalk Trail is a flat, well-marked, accessible boardwalk with wooden benches at several points, interpretive signs and views of Lake Superior. Big Bay State Park also offers an accessible campsite and a beach wheelchair for persons with disabilities.
Official accessibility information
Conditions change. Contact the park to confirm specific accessible features before your visit.
Getting there
- Address
- 2402 Hagen Rd.
La Pointe, WI 54850 - Nearest town
- Ashland — about 17 mi northeast (straight line)
- Coordinates
- 46.7881, -90.6734
- Phone
- (715) 747-6425
Google Maps directionsApple MapsOfficial park map (PDF)
Directions from the park
Big Bay State Park is located on Madeleine Island. Madeline Island Ferry boats operate on regular schedules between Bayfield and La Pointe. During winter, ferry service from Bayfield is available until the ferry is unable to break the ice on the lake. When ferry service is no longer available, an ice road or wind-sleds and passenger vans may be available to Madeline Island. • Get directions
Nearby state parks
Sources and freshness
- Wisconsin State Park System — park page — last checked Oct 29, 2026
- Wisconsin DNR 'Find a Park' directory (server-rendered Drupal view, ?page=0..5), filtered to /topic/parks/ property pages
- Wikidata
- USGS PAD-US 4.1 (boundary and acreage)
“Last checked” is when our system last read the official source. No change has been detected since this page was first published. Hours, fees and rules can change without notice — confirm with the park before you go. Methodology