From sandy dunes to calm beaches to rocky cliffs, forest-covered inlets and more, Lake Michigan has so much to offer when it comes to outdoor recreation. 

Though most of the little islands that dot the northern waters of the lake are privately owned or set aside for animal conservation, there are still a few islands that are more than ideal for a weekend getaway. Some islands have music festivals, some have haunted lighthouses, some are as off-the-grid as they come and some are criss-crossed with shoreline trails, campsites and beaches. 

Go check out these Lake Michigan Islands next time you’re planning a trip from Wisconsin, Michigan, Illinois or our luxury Chicago apartments. You’re sure to find something you like!

5 islands to explore in Lake Michigan

Beaver Island

Located in the northeastern portion of the lake, Beaver island is the largest island in Lake Michigan — large enough for a whole town, a nature reserve, two airports and several lakes! There are several places to stay, plenty of campsites, nice restaurants and some interesting historical sites to check out.

The main draw to the island is the Beaver Island Music Festival held each July in the center of the island. The weekend-long party is family-friendly and is packed with music, activities, camping and food and it’s brought over 300 music groups to the forested island in the past two decades. 

Other neat sights on the island include a 250-year-old white birch (estimated to be the oldest in Michigan) and The Big Rock which, according to the Google Maps reviews, is exactly as impressive as it sounds. Apparently, you have to see it in person to truly understand its brilliance. 

North and South Manitou Islands

Just off the coast of Glen Arbor and Leland in Michigan, these two islands may best be known from The Legend of the Sleeping Bear, an Anishinaabe story in which a mother bear crosses Lake Michigan from the shores of Wisconsin with her two young cubs. The mother reached the sandy Michigan shores, but her cubs weren’t strong enough to make it across and they drowned in the cold waters of the lake. The mother, heartbroken, waited on a bluff for her cubs to resurface, and the solitary Sleeping Bear Dune that we can see today is where the mother bear still sleeps, awaiting her cubs. The Great Spirit Manitou created two islands offshore to mark the spots where the poor cubs drowned. 

If that doesn't break your heart, we don’t know what will.

Rock Island

Rock Island is an outdoorsman’s dream. It’s remote, no vehicles are allowed and there are miles of soft, sandy beaches to explore.

Only accessible by passenger ferry from Washington Island, Rock Island State Park has shoreline and inland pack-in campsites accessible through 10+ miles of trails. A lighthouse dating back to 1858 guards the north shore, and the three old cemeteries on the island are the source of many a campfire ghost story.

As previously mentioned, no vehicles are allowed and the ferry from Washington Island is passenger-only, but visitors are welcome to take their own boats to the dock and moor them there (fees apply). Fishing is allowed (be sure to bring your own bait!) and the shallow shores are perfect for kayaking, canoeing and paddle boarding. 

Washington Island

Accessible via ferry from Northport, Washington Island is bustling with things to see and do. 

The island, only inhabited by 600 permanent residents, is remote, peaceful and scenic. Campsites, parks and beaches dot the shores and forests all over the island, and the State Natural Areas ensure visitors get to see the best natural scenery that this Wisconsin isle has to offer. 

Restaurants and lodging options line the main road through the island, too, so you’re never far from a cozy vacation room and a hot bite to eat from a local eatery.

Washington Island has several museums and historical sites that are worth the detour. The Washington Island Farm Museum, for example, is a quaint piece of island history detailing the lives of early European settlers from the 1870s onward, while the Washington Island Stavkirke is an almost identical replica of traditional Scandinavian churches!

Discover the island's boating at the Washington Island Ferry Museum, at Cactus Hill Cemetery with its unique gravestones and at the Jackson Harbor Maritime Museum showcasing shipwreck artifacts and the island’s boating history.

Chambers Island

Chambers Island is, in our opinion, one of Green Bay’s best-kept secrets. It’s just 7 miles off the coast of Fish Creek and Ephraim, but the remote location, scenic beaches, quiet parks and island views seem like an entirely different world altogether. 

This off-the-grid island has only a few residents, most of them not permanent, and is accessible by charter boat or by plane. A lighthouse built in 1868 stands on the north shore and offers great spots to picnic. Bring a bike or be prepared to walk around the island, as none of the charter boat companies carry cars and there is no transportation on the island itself. There’s really not much of anything on the island, so if you’re looking for a truly remote getaway with nothing but sun, sand and shores, then Chambers Island is your place to be!

Enjoy!

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Featured photo by Kelcie Herald on Unsplash