“MIWP”
The Madeline Island Wilderness Preserve is a non-profit land trust dedicated to the protection and preservation of natural areas on Madeline Island for everyone's enjoyment. Madeline Island is adjacent to the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore on the South Shore of Lake Superior in Wisconsin, and is the only one of the Apostle Islands with lands open to private ownership. The MIWP was formed in 1987 and is one of the oldest and most successful land trusts in the State of Wisconsin.
The Madeline Island Wilderness Preserve's mission is the protection and preservation of natural areas on Madeline Island for everyone's enjoyment. "Natural Areas" include both the plants and animals in these areas. While MIWP lands are open to the public, they are private properties and subject to rules to protect their natural features.
Deer hunting is permitted during the State of Wisconsin's hunting season.
Hunting, trapping, or snaring all other animals, including bears, coyotes and wolves, is prohibited.
Biking on MIWP trails is prohibited.
Motorized vehicles are not allowed in Preserve lands.
Camping and fires are not allowed in Preserve lands.
Latest News
It was a beautiful day in the forest and the NE Trails are stunning right now. Great fall colors and the trails are dry and easily hikeable.
All the MIWP trails are in terrific condition, well marked, mowed, cleared and the fall colors are blooming.
It was a perfect day after the rain for mushroom foraging on the North End of Madeline! Expert Samantha Dobson guided the hike. 46 people attended the hike — kids of all ages tromping thru the woods!
Dr. Tom Fitz as always was delightfully informative at this Wednesday evening lecture at the museum sponsored by MIWP!
Click Read More to view pictures from the presentation.
Our Wednesday Evening Lecture at the Museum — Coastal Dynamics of Madeline Island — was very well attended and very informative! Click Read More to see pictures of some of the slides from the presentation...
We followed Florantha from a New England childhood, to early La Pointe missionary’s wife, around Cape Horn to gold rush California and the peaks of the Sierra Nevada., to Italy, etc. etc… We learned about the adventures of her children, and several other notorious and/or talented descendants, including a Nobel Prize winner! Another great Mackreth presentation! Click Read More to see pictures and short video clips for a taste of the fun!
Both shows were such fun! What great presentations! The children and adults loved the shows! Click Read More to see a few pictures, videos, and Facebook posts from the event…
What a fun presentation! We learned a lot about foxes, coyotes and wolves from the delightful Jane Weber!
Photo: Holding up cutouts to show relative sizes of fox, coyote and wolf.
We had a fun time catching up with friends, enjoyed a yummy spread — and listened to a very interesting presentation by Peter Annin re his most recent book, Purified, How Recycled Sewage is Transforming Our Water Systems! Click the image to see video and photos from the event…
Latest Instagram
Coming Events
Free and Open to the Public!
Meet at the Big Bay Town Park Pavilion.
A hike for beginners and experts alike.
You never know what we are going to see or hear!
Bring binoculars and wear good waterproof footgear.
Monarch Butterfly Conservation in a Changing World
Professor Karen S. Oberhauser, Director (retired) UW-Madison Arboretum and her students have conducted research on Monarch Butterfly ecology for almost 40 years. She is passionate about the conservation of the world’s biodiversity and building connections between humans and the natural world.
Reception: 6:00pm, hearty appetizers and wine
Program: 7:00pm
Location: Madeline Island School of Arts
Cost: $35.00/person
RSVP Deadline: Friday, May 16th, or 100-person limit. Click here to RSVP.
Free and Open to the Public!
Meet at the Capser Trail, Middle Road Trailhead, Fire #640
Leader: Samantha Dobson: naturalist, educator, forager and year-round island resident.
Learn about how to ethically and sustainably harvest early season mushrooms. Our hike leader will guide and teach about trees, edible mushrooms and how to find them. Finding mushrooms is not guaranteed but likely.
Free and open to the public!
Location: Madeline Island Museum
Have you ever encountered a black bear? Did it spark fear or wonder? Learn fascinating bear information that may cause you to rethink your relationship with bears.
Speaker: Jane Weber, retired Master Naturalist and Educator. Jane has a passion for presenting fascinating facts about Wisconsin’s wildlife, hoping to promote understanding and coexistence with our unique wildlife neighbors.
Free and open to the public!
Location: Madeline Island Museum
A journey of history, adventure, humor and beauty, turning the eyes from the lure of the exotic and far away to the importance and beauty of the close at hand, and finding a sense of place in the Apostle Islands.
Speaker: Jeff Rennicke, Executive Director, Friends of the Apostle Islands.
Free and open to the public!
Location: Madeline Island Museum
Learn about the bats of Wisconsin, and which bats call the Chequamegon Bay Area home. Explore the diversity and importance of bats and the role they play in ecosystems around the world. They are an integral and amazing part of our ecosystems and our everyday lives.
Speaker: Brian Heeringa, Wildlife Biologist Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest.
Free and open to the public!
Meet at the Burrough’s Trailhead, Fire # 3060 North Shore Road
Finding ways to connect more deeply with nature can offer us support in feeling at home within ourselves, and at home on this planet that we share with so many other beings. By slowing down and being present in the natural world, we can discover ways to feel more joy and wonder.
Leader: Joan Vorderbruggen, author and certified Forest Therapy Guide.
Free and open to the public!
Location: Madeline Island Museum
Decades of research revealed the physical, emotional, and mental health benefits derived from spending reflective time in nature. Joan Vorderbruggen will guide us into deeper connections with nature — and better health.
Leader: Joan Vorderbruggen, author and certified Forest Therapy Guide.
The Preserve & Trails—open to the public for hiking, skiing, snowshoeing, berry-picking....
The Preserve holds more than 2900 acres of forest, wetlands and trails on Madeline Island that provide plant and wildlife habitat and contribute to the natural beauty of the Island. The Preserve acquires land through purchase, donations and conservation easements.
The nature preserve lands are open to the public for hiking, berry-picking, cross-country skiing, and snowshoeing. Deer hunting is permitted during the State of Wisconsin's hunting season. Hunting, trapping, or snaring all other animals, including bears, coyotes and wolves, is prohibited. Biking on MIWP trails is prohibited. Motorized vehicles are not allowed in Preserve lands. Camping and fires are not allowed in Preserve lands.
Please take advantage of these very special places when you are on the island!
For more information about preserve lands and trails go to The Preserve & Trails.



















Preservation, Education, Advocacy—and Fun!
The MIWP is committed to preservation, education and advocacy. As a major Island land-holder, the MIWP works actively to maintain and protect the Island’s native forests from invasive species and other ecological threats. We underwrite this and several other preservation, education and trails projects on Madeline Island.
Each summer we sponsor free field trips and evening programs, open to both youth and adults, featuring the natural history of the Apostle Islands area, and highlighting issues important to the area's protection and preservation.
Just for fun, each year we select an important environmental issue as the theme for our entry in the Madeline Island 4th of July parade—often winning one of the coveted trophies awarded to exceptional parade entries!
And one of the anticipated events signaling the start of the summer season on Madeline Island: Our Annual Meeting, which is held on Memorial Day weekend, and features food, drink and an always-interesting environmental program.
We would love to have you join us for any of these, and would especially appreciate your support!