Group Camping Lottery

About the Group Camping Lottery

The group camping lottery at Apostle Islands National Lakeshore allows groups of 8 to 21 people to secure campsites. Registration is open from February 4 to March 10, with reservations made on March 12. The lottery ensures a fair chance for all groups to access our limited group sites.

Lottery Process

1. Participants register for the camping lottery by filling out the contact form on this webpage from February 4 to March 10.
2. Lottery participants are randomly selected on March 11.
3. Lottery participants will receive an email on March 11.
4. Participants are contacted by phone by park staff on March 12 to make reservations on Recreation.gov.

Key Dates

• Lottery Registration Open: February 4 to March 10 by 4:00 PM CST
• Lottery Drawing: March 11
• Lottery Participants Notification Email: March 11
• Lottery Notification & Reservations: Participants will be contacted by park staff starting at 8:30 AM CST on March 12

Who Can Participate?

• Commercial Services: Outfitters must make reservations for the groups they lead.
• Private Groups: A nonaffiliated group that does not use the services of a paid/professional guide/outfitter while in the park.

Cost for Group Camping

• Group camping costs: $30 per night and a $10 reservation fee.

How to Register for Lottery

Click here to fill out the contact form and register.

Registration is open from February 1 until 4:00 PM CST on March 10. Only one registration is allowed per group.

Contact Form Instructions

• Enter your email address.
• Write "Group Camping Lottery" in the subject field.
• Include your name (person the reservation is for), and if you are a business, include your business name.
• In the "Your Message" field include up to two phone numbers (one is acceptable).
• Park staff will send a confirmation email that you are registered for the lottery on Thursdays during the registration window.

Reservation Day

• Contact Times: Park staff will call lottery participants from:
  • 8:30 AM to 12:00 PM CST
  • 12:30 PM to 4:00 PM CST
• Calls will continue the next day if not completed by 4:00 PM.
• If the park office is closed due to bad weather, calls will occur the next business day.

Preparation

• Have your dates, sites, and estimated group size ready.
• It's best to have a backup itinerary in case your preferred sites are unavailable.
• Payment is due at reservation. You may reserve up to three permits, with any remaining sites available after the lottery.

During the Call

• You have 5 minutes to prepare your reservation. If unprepared, you will be bypassed.
• If your phone is busy or unanswered, staff will call a second number (if provided) or wait five minutes to try again. Missing two calls will remove you from the lottery.
• You may make up to three reservations in one call. Inform staff if you wish to reserve more in the next round.

Getting Your Permit

• Print your permit online or pick it up at the Bayfield or Little Sand Bay Visitor Center. Permits can be printed 7 days before arrival.
• Each camping party must carry their permit while camping. Confirmation emails are NOT permits.
• Cancel your permit online or by calling park staff if you no longer need it.

Additional Information

Important Information to Know

• If you miss the lottery, all remaining group campsites are available for reservation after the lottery.

• Your space in the lottery is not transferable.

• If you do not answer on reservation day, a second call will be placed. If you still do not answer, you will be removed from the group camping lottery.

• Those who participate in the lottery must have 8-21 campers when they use the site

• Change fees apply even if you give the staff member the wrong dates or sites when making the reservation

• You may obtain up to three permits during each round

• It is very important for you to know that the responsibility for compliance with permit conditions applies to the applicant, group, organization, and commercial entity that utilizes each permit

• If you no longer need a permit, please cancel your permit as soon as possible either online through Recreation.gov or by calling park staff at 715-779-3398, extension 2. Those sites will then be available for others. Cancellation policy does apply.

Definition of Key Terms

• A lottery is defined as: the process used to generate a list of random names determining the order in which phone calls will be made by park staff to those wishing to obtain group camping permits.
• A round is defined as: the attempt to contact each of the participants registered for the lottery. Progressing through the entire list of names constitutes one round.
• A group is defined as any party of 8 to 21 individuals that wish to camp within the park. Groups are required to use a single group camp site for each night of camping.
• CUA is defined as Commercial Use Authorization. A CUA is required of all businesses, groups, organizations or individuals that provide guided trips and/or services for hire, compensation or reimbursement within the national lakeshore. It is the obligation of the person, business or organization providing guided services to contact the Commercial Services Manager at 715-779-9101 or e-mail us to obtain application materials for this permit. If you are uncertain of your status, call for clarification. To learn more about the Commercial Use Authorization program or to download an application please go to our Commercial Use Authorization page.
• Private Groups are nonaffiliated groups that do not use the services of a paid/professional guide while in the park. Such groups must make their own camping reservations. Such groups may still use controlled services from outfitters including equipment rental and shuttle opportunities. Accompaniment of a paid/professional guide is prohibited when in the park. An individual or group paying an outfitter to guide them in the park must not register for the lottery. Your guide service will do that for you.