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Coping With Coronavirus: No Camping At Apostle Islands, Closures At El Malpais

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Published Date

April 13, 2020
Overnight camping at Apostle Islands National Lakeshore is banned through June 20 at least/NPS file

Overnight camping at Apostle Islands National Lakeshore is banned through June 20 at least/NPS file

Overnight camping at Apostle Islands National Lakeshore in Wisconsin is being banned through June 20 at least in a bid to slow the spread of coronavirus. At El Malpais National Monument in New Mexico, more visitor facilities are shutting down.

At Apostle Islands, officials hope the ban on overnight island use (8 p.m. to 8 a.m.) in the lakeshore will encourage people to stay home. The ban includes both camping and overnight docking. Day use of islands is still permitted.

“Overnight use encourages people to travel to Bayfield and to congregate around docks and camping areas, which is contrary to what local and state health authorities are recommending," said Apostle Islands Superintendent Lynne Dominy. "This change is in alignment with recent closures of recreational uses on state and other federal lands in Wisconsin.

"Following the lifting of Safer-at-Home orders, we will need time to get our staff back at work, launch our boats on the lake, assess all island docks and shorelines for winter damage, and gear-up our emergency response team before permitting overnight use on these remote islands,” said Dominy. “We cannot even consider overnight island uses until we can do these things. Due to the delay in on-boarding summer staff, the visitor centers in Bayfield and Little Sand Bay remain closed."

Apostle Islands National Lakeshore consists of 21 islands, a 12-mile-long mainland strip, and adjacent Lake Superior waters stretching a quarter-mile from the land. In 2014 Congress added the Ashland Harbor Breakwater Light to the park. Visitors can hike, paddle, sail, or cruise to experience these jewels of Lake Superior. The nine historic Light Towers, the most of any U.S. national park, shine over water and wilderness alike.

At El Malpais, beginning Tuesday the visitor center, sandstone bluffs overlook, caves, and all restrooms will be closed until further notice.

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