The Most Beautiful Lake Islands in the United States
With well over a hundred thousand distinct lakes, the United States ranks among the highest in the world for total number of these fresh bodies of water (trailing only behind Russia and Canada). From the mighty Great Lakes out east, to often untouched, glacially fed alpine lakes in the west, and the swampy wetlands covering the Deep South, America's waterways don't slouch in terms of sheer diversity, either. This diversity often creates stiff competition when it comes to beauty, especially on many of the islands dotted within them.
Whether you aim to camp in a remote forest, rent a vacation cabin off the mainland, or only rest a while during a canoe trip, we have some top recommendations for you. With that, we will cover ten unique lake islands (or island chains) that consistently draw in travellers for their picturesque attributes. Better yet, many of these destinations are somewhat easy to reach, particularly if you are comfortable in a canoe or kayak.
Mackinac Island, Lake Huron
Mackinac Island rises from Lake Huron, where Michigan’s Upper and Lower Peninsulas nearly meet. The island is defined by its distinct bluffs, clear waters, and almost complete absence of cars, which keeps the setting quiet and uncluttered for visitors and residents alike. Instead, horse-drawn carriages and bicycles move along roads that trace the shoreline beneath notable natural landmarks like Arch Rock and the "Sugar Loaf."
Much of the island is preserved within Mackinac Island State Park, where a web of forested trails leads to a number of overlooks facing the Straits of Mackinac. Moreover, a collection of cool, old-timey buildings dominates its quaint downtown core, including the Grand Hotel, whose porch stretches across the bluff above the harbor and provides some of the best viewpoints in the region.
Isle Royale, Lake Superior
Isle Royale sits isolated in Lake Superior, closer to Canada than mainland Michigan, and feels like a truly wild place that is, for the most part, untouched by civilization. This 45-mile-long, narrow island is built of ancient volcanic rock, with ridges running parallel to the shoreline and dropping into Superior's cold, deep water, only furthering its isolated setting.
On land, dense boreal forest covers much of the interior, broken by inland lakes, bogs, and exposed areas of stone. And from the shoreline, Lake Superior appears vast and restless, with sudden weather shifts that reinforce the island’s often harsh conditions. Definitely come prepared with appropriate outdoor gear, regardless of when you come.
Access is limited to ferries and seaplanes, which keeps development pretty much nonexistent (besides the odd building owned by Isle Royale National Park), and visitor numbers are quite low. On the other hand, a network of marked hiking trails follows old mining routes and wildlife corridors commonly used by moose and a notable population of wolves, too.
Apostle Islands, Lake Superior
The Apostle Islands scatter across Lake Superior off northern Wisconsin, forming a wonderful landscape shaped by choppy waters, ice, and the region's iconic sandstone. The archipelago includes 21 islands, many edged by steep cliffs that have eroded over time into sea caves, arches, and steep bluffs for you to explore.
Kayaking routes wind between narrow channels and exposed headlands, offering the most popular way to explore the Apostles with launches located all along the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore. During calmer summer conditions, the water here is clear enough to reveal submerged rock shelves and other underwater points of interest, while winter transforms the caves into towering ice formations, many of which attract daring ice climbers.
Moreover, old-growth forests containing a variety of campgrounds and hiking trails cover several of the islands, interrupted only by a few historic lighthouses that once guided ships through Superior’s hazardous waters.
Wild Horse Island, Flathead Lake
Wild Horse Island sits within Flathead Lake, the largest natural freshwater lake west of the Mississippi River, at just over 190 square miles in size. The island is protected by the Wild Horse Island State Park and remains largely undeveloped, besides hosting a small boat dock. It's open grasslands roll into ponderosa pine forest, and rocky shorelines replace the usual sandy beaches you will commonly find on the other islands on this list.
What makes Wild Horse stand out even more is its populations of Bighorn sheep, mule deer, and wild horses that move freely across the terrain, often visible from hiking trails that climb to overlooks nearing 500 feet above the lake in some spots. From these high points, Flathead Lake appears intensely blue, bordered by the distant mountains of the Rockies to ultimately create an unforgettable set of scenery.
To get to Wild Horse Island, you will need to either rent a kayak (or bring your own) or book a boat tour, both of which are available at nearby communities like Dayton.
Fannette Island, Lake Tahoe
Fannette Island is, in fact, the one and only island on Lake Tahoe, rising sharply from the lake’s deep blue water. The island's granite slopes are sparsely vegetated, with exposed rock dominating the shoreline and upper ridges of its relatively tiny 91,750 square feet. It is best known for the short but steep trail that climbs to the stone remains of the "Tea House," built in the 1920s as part of the Vikingsholm estate on the mainland.
From the 150-foot-tall summit, views stretch across the aptly named Emerald Bay and into the open expanse of Lake Tahoe and the Sierra Nevada Mountains beyond, making it a top-tier spot for landscape photographers. Although small in size and sort of lacking a variety of other recreational activities, Fannete is a unique stop (and a must-visit according to many locals) for anyone boating around Tahoe.
Antelope Island, Great Salt Lake
Stretching the definition of what an island is, Antelope Island is actually connected to the mainland by a dry, walkable expanse when water levels are low. It juts up from the Great Salt Lake as a broad, rugged mass, and is dominated by rolling hills and the steep spine of one of the Wasatch Range’s western outliers, with few trees and wide views in every direction. Still, herds of plains bison, pronghorn, and mule deer move across its grasslands, giving it a reputation as a hot spot for wildlife viewing. To add to its alien-like scenery, the surrounding water often shifts color from pale green to silver, caused by the extremely high mineral content of the Great Salt Lake.
A quick drive north of Salt Lake City, Antelope Island State Park is an all-around great destination for those in need of an afternoon escape into the wild, boasting a number of historical sites and other recreation areas on top of everything else it offers.
Grand Island, Lake Superior
At 73,000 acres, Grand Island lies just offshore from Munising in Lake Superior, and, like the Apostle Islands, stands out visually with its towering sandstone cliffs and dense northern woodlands. The island’s southern shoreline rises abruptly from the water in vertical walls streaked with mineral stains, arches, and sea caves carved over eons by waves and ice. Conversely, old-growth hardwoods and pine cover the rolling inland terrain, cut by a series of wetlands and small lakes, the biggest of all being Echo Lake. That's right, a lake inside an island inside a lake!
With no permanent residents and limited access, Grand Island feels like a truly wild place. However, a convenient loop road and trail system does circle the island, making it easy to get to the many local beaches, campgrounds, and other attractions.
You can also check out the Shipwreck Bermuda, submerged within Grand Island's Murray Bay since 1870, via a glass-bottom boat tour based out of Munising. Scuba divers also frequent the site, with its fairly shallow depth and relatively accessible location near the mainland.
Lake George Islands, Lake George
The Lake George Islands form a scattered chain of more than 170 islands within Lake George in upstate New York. These islands vary widely in size, from forested landmasses with rocky shorelines to small, sparsely covered outcrops barely rising above the water. Many sit within Lake George Islands State Park, keeping them undeveloped and accessible only by boat. Shallow coves and granite points define the numerous different shorelines, while the surrounding peaks of the Adirondacks frame long, uninterrupted views in all directions.
Some islands hold remnants of historic camps and stone foundations of former military installations, displaying the region's storied past that heavily featured in events like the French Indian War. In modern times, countless water-side campsites are located on many of Lake George's islands as well, giving you the option to spend the night after paddling around in this magnificent summer vacation destination.
Champlain Islands, Lake Champlain
Like Lake George, this large, history-filled lake boasts numerous remarkable islands within. The Champlain Islands stretch mainly across the northern end of Lake Champlain between the states of New York and Vermont, a lot of which contain farmland, small villages, and gently sloping shorelines that are perfect for camping and cottaging.
Stone barns, historic homes, and narrow dirt roads give the landscape a very lived-in feel shaped by centuries of settlement, which exactly describes Lake Champlain, having been mentioned by European accounts dating back to the early 1600s! On the natural side of things, views extend across open water toward the Green Mountains to the east and the Adirondacks to the west, both being especially striking when colorful fall foliage really pops later in the year.
South Bass Island, Lake Erie
At the western end of Lake Erie in Ohio rests South Bass Island, best known for housing the community of Put-in-Bay, having a handful of long pebble beaches, and a collection of vineyards and pristine wooded patches covering the interior. It even has its own little state park in the form of South Bass Island State Park, where cabin rentals, public docks, and a campground can be used. Furthermore, landmarks like the Perry’s Victory and International Peace Memorial rise above the busy downtown harbor, creating a clear focal point visible from miles out on the lake.
Lake Erie’s relatively warm, shallow water also gives the island calmer conditions than the upper Great Lakes, often producing glassy surfaces suitable for a number of craft, big and small. The result is a lake island that feels cozy, welcoming, and distinctly Midwestern rather than rugged or remote.
Explore America's Amazing Lake Islands Today
With tens of thousands of other lake-dwelling islands across the United States, this list is merely a starting point for those who want to check out some of the country's most remote and untouched landscapes. From quiet hiking areas and backcountry campsites accessible only by canoe to old-timey island towns bursting with history and more, these ten destinations are perfect for an escape from big city life at just about any time of the year.
