Isle Royale
National Park

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Wolves and moose, the wild North Woods forest, everchanging weather and a cool climate, and the crystal clear waters and rugged shoreline of Lake Superior characterize Isle Royale National Park's. This wilderness archipelago is 45 miles long and nine miles wide at it's widest point. The park encompasses a total area of 850 square miles including submerged lands which extends four and a half miles out into Lake Superior. The archipelago is composed of many parallel ridges resulting from ancient lava flows which were tilted and glaciated.  Isle Royale has 165 miles of scenic hiking trails and 36 campgrounds for backpackers and recreational boaters. There is excellent fishing, historic lighthouses and shipwrecks, ancient copper mining sites, and plenty of spots to observe wildlife. Roadless Isle Royale is accessible only by boat or float plane.  Isle Royale is relatively untouched by direct outside influences and serves as a living laboratory and Unites States Biosphere Reserve.

VISITATION:

Highest from mid-July through the third week of August (expect to share campsites); lowest in April, May, September, and October.
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Visitors to this page.

 

LOCATION:

Isle Royale is located in Lake Superior about 20 miles southeast of Grand Portage, Minnesota, and about 53 miles north of Copper Harbor, Michigan.  Headquarters for Isle Royale National Park during the summer is  located on Mott Island, one of numerous islands associated with the Isle Royale archipelago.  During the winter, headquarters is located in Houghton, Michigan, on the Keweenaw Peninsula.
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ADDRESS:

Isle Royale National Park
800 East Lakeshore Drive
Houghton, MI 49931

TELEPHONE AND EMAIL:

Phone: (906) 482-0984

For general information, ISRO_ParkInfo@nps.gov

For Ranger III reservations, ISRO_Ranger3Reserve@nps.gov

For Group Camping Reservations, ISRO_GroupReserve@nps.gov

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OPERATING SEASON:

Open April 16 to October 31, with full transportation services mid-June to Labor Day; reduced transportation services in the spring and fall.. Closed November 1 to April 15.

 

The park administrative headquarters/visitor center in Houghton, Michigan is open year-round.
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CLIMATE, RECOMMENDED CLOTHING:

Lake Superior weather is cool throughout the operating season.  Dense fog in spring, sunny with temperatures rarely exceeding 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Thunderstorms and rain occur throughout the season. Weather and rough seas may delay departures to and from the island. Bring plenty of warm clothing, even in August. A jacket is a must for the ferry trip to the island or if boating around the island.   Check the immediate weather forecast.
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DIRECTIONS

Winter headquarters for Isle Royale National Park is located in Houghton, Michigan, in the state's Upper Peninsula.  During the summer, visitors can reach Isle Royale via ferries departing from Houghton, Michigan; Copper Harbor, Michigan; or Grand Portage, Minnesota.  A Seaplane service operates out of Houghton, Michigan.  Isle Royale can also be accessed by private boat and private seaplane.
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TRANSPORTATION:

 

There are no roads on Isle Royale; no vehicles are allowed on the island.

 

To Park:

From Houghton, MI (M.V. RANGER III): 6 hours one way, 165 feet, 125-passenger vessel, early June through mid-September service to and from Rock Harbor, reservations: (906) 482-0984, email "ISRO_Ranger3Reserve@nps.gov," or write to:

Isle Royale National Park 800 East Lakeshore Drive Houghton, MI 49931-1869

From Houghton, MI (Seaplane Service): 1/2 hour one way, on-demand air service mid-May through September service to Rock Harbor and Windigo.   For reservations from May through September, call (906) 482-8850 or write:
Isle Royale Seaplane Service,  P. O. Box 366,  Houghton, MI 49931-0366
For winter reservations, call (715) 526-5103.

From Copper Harbor, MI (M.V. ISLE ROYALE QUEEN III): 4 1/2 hours one way, 81 feet, 100-passenger vessel mid-May through September service to and from Rock Harbor, see their home page.  Reservations: (906) 289-4437 or write:

The Royale Line Box 24 Copper Harbor, MI 49918-0024

From Grand Portage, MN (M.V. VOYAGEUR II):
1 3/4 hours one way to Windigo, 6 1/4 hours one way to Rock Harbor, 63 feet., 48-passenger vessel, mid-May through October service to ports around island including Rock Harbor, see their home page.  Reservations: (715) 392-5551 or write to:

Grand Portage-Isle Royale Transportation Line, Inc.
1507 N. First Street
Superior, WI 54880-1146

From Grand Portage, MN (M.V. WENONAH):
3 hours one way, 65 feet, 149-passenger vessel June through Labor Day service to and from Windigo. For reservations, see above.

Visitors also travel to Isle Royale by private boat and private seaplane.

In Park:

Hiking or backpacking; personal boat, canoe, or kayak; Voyageur II shuttle service to selected ports out of Grand Portage MN; M.V. Sandy, water charter service or canoe, boat and motor rental from National Park Concessions, Inc., operated out of Rock Harbor.
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FEES, COSTS, RATES:

A user fee was initiated in 1997. This $4.00 per person per day fee helps support visitor facilities. Children 11 and under are free. Optional Individual Season Passes ($50) and Season Boat Rider Passes ($150) are available. 80% of funds collected are returned to Isle Royale National Park to fund a backlog of trail maintenance and dock repair and replacement on the island. The other 20% help mediate the backlog of building, road, and trail maintenance and other crucial projects at national parks and monuments throughout the United States. There are no other park admission or use fees.
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Transportation rates to and from the island vary according to the point of departure. Campground use is free of charge and includes tent sites and three-sided shelters when available. Fishing and water charter service, scenic boat cruises, and lodging accommodations are provided by Rock Harbor Lodge, National Park Concessions, Inc. Phone (906) 337-4993 (May-September) or (502) 773-2191 (October-April).

FACILITIES AND OPPORTUNITIES:

Acreage:

Total park acreage is 571,790 acres, of which 539,282 acres are federal and 32,508 acres are nonfederal.  Land area is 133,782 acres. 

 

132,018 acres of the land area of the park is designated wilderness.

 

Visitor Center/Exhibits:

Visitor centers are located at Rock Harbor and Windigo. Exhibits at visitor centers and at Rock Harbor Lighthouse explore local natural and cultural history topics. Other historic landmarks accessible by sightseeing cruises include Edisen Fishery, Passage Island Lighthouse, and the Minong Mine.
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Trails and Waterways:

One hundred sixty-five miles of hiking trails accessible from numerous points around the island connect all campgrounds except those accessible only by boat. Off-trail travel is permitted, but difficult because of dense vegetation, bogs, and swamps. Numerous lakes, bays and islands provide good paddling opportunities for canoes and kayaks. Overnight docking and "anchoring out" at selected areas are available for both power boats and sailboats.
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Programs/Activities:

Interpretive programs and guided walks by Park Rangers, Park Artists-in-Residence, and other affiliates are offered from mid-June through Labor Day at Rock Harbor, Windigo, and Daisy Farm. Activities include nature and historical walks, evening slide programs and campfire talks, and scenic boat cruises to different parts of the island, including a historic lighthouse and commercial fishery. These activities focus on the flora and fauna of the island along with events of the island's colorful past.
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Lodging and camping facilities:

Tent sites for one to three tents and three-sided shelters (maximum six people) are available on a first-come first-served basis. Group campsites, for parties of seven to ten people, require advance reservations. Call (906) 482-0984 or email ISRO_GroupReserve@nps.gov for group camping information and reservations. Long term campground stays are not available and limits are in effect from June 1 through Labor Day. Rock Harbor Lodge, managed by National Park Concessions, Inc. offers lodge and housekeeping rooms with private baths.   Call for lodging information at (906) 337-4993 May through September and (502) 773-2191 October through April.
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Food/supplies:

The marina at Rock Harbor Lodge is open from approximately mid-May through mid-September and offers diesel fuel, gasoline, and oil through National Park Concessions, Inc.  Docking slips can accommmodate boats up to 65 feet long.  110V A.C. power, water, and pumpout service are available.  Motor boat and canoe rentals by the half or full day or week are available.  A gift/snack shop, lodge dining room, and marina grocery store at Rock Harbor offer souvenirs and gifts, camping and fishing supplies, laundry facilities and showers.

 

A camp store with basic supplies, groceries, sandwiches, and fishing licenses is available through National Park Concessions, Inc., at Windigo, along with  showers.  Canoe rentals are available at Windigo from mid-June through Labor Day. Gasoline and oil may be purchased at Windigo from mid-May through mid-October.
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Isle Royale Natural History Association

Isle Royale Natural History Association is a non-profit organization which supports educational and research activities in the Park through the sales of educational materials and by fund-raising.  The Association operates bookstores at Rock Harbor, Windigo, and Houghton Visitor Centers.

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Other Concession/NPS-Managed Visitor Facilities and Opportunities:

The National Park Service manages and maintains two visitor contact stations, two visitor centers, 165 miles of park trails, 88 screened shelters, and docks at more than 20 locations for visitor use.   Permittees lead diving, canoeing/kayaking, and hiking adventures into the park.

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Accessibility:

Isle Royale is largely a wilderness area. When planning a visit, recognize the wilderness mandate of the park and that there are topographic, vegetative, and physical obstacles that might require you to have assistance. The park is perhaps ideal for the adept mobility impaired person that can experience the wilderness resource via canoe or sea kayak. For information about access, contact the park at (906) 482-0984.
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Special Needs:

Shelters are available on a first-come, first-serve basis and fires are prohibited. At most sites a self-contained fuel stove is imperative. Cooking stove and lantern fuel can only be transported in small quantities, such as in fuel flasks, by the passenger ferry boats, or must be purchased at the marina store in Rock Harbor or Windigo (or visitor centers in shoulder seasons). U.S. citizens returning from Canada and Canadian visitors to the island must clear U.S. Customs. No pets are allowed in the park including those aboard private vessels.
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RECOMMENDED ACTIVITIES/PARK USE:

Take a sightseeing hike to view Lake Superior panorama and abundant wildlife including moose and fox; hike scenic trails or take a sightseeing cruise to beautiful spots on the island including historic lighthouses; explore abandoned copper mines; visit a historic commercial fishery still in operation; catch a native lake trout on a fishing charter while trolling along one of Isle Royale's reefs; enjoy hospitality, food and service at the Rock Harbor Lodge Dining Room.
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RESERVATIONS/PERMITS:

Camping reservations are not available for shelters or campsites for parties of six or fewer persons. Campsites are available on a first-come, first-served basis for all individual parties. Reservations are required for groups, which are parties of seven to ten persons.  Email "ISRO_GroupReserve@nps.gov" for reservations.  Groups must follow an established itinerary and camp only in group tent sites (shelters are not available for group use). Individual camping parties must obtain their free camping permit upon arrival on the island or Rock Harbor and Windigo. This includes backpackers, kayakers and canoeists, boaters and fisherman. 
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Lodging reservations can be made year-round for Rock Harbor Lodge rooms or housekeeping cabins. Reservations can be made by contacting Rock Harbor Lodge, (906) 337-4993, summer or (502) 773-2191, winter. Transportation via the Ranger III, Isle Royale Queen III, Isle Royale Seaplane, Voyageur II, or Wenonah also requires advanced reservation, especially for the months of July and August. Transportation reservations can be made by calling the numbers listed above under TRANSPORTATION. A Michigan State Fishing License is required for fishing Lake Superior waters. No license is required to fish  in the park's inland lakes, but Michigan size and catch limits apply..
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BASIC VISIT RECOMMENDATIONS:

Any visit to Isle Royale will require substantial planning.  Reservations need to be made on a passenger ferry or seaplane to reach and return from the island, or visitors will need to pilot their own boat or seaplane to the island.  Equipment choices will depend on whether or not the visit will include backpacking, canoeing, kayaking, power boating, using lodging facilities, and other options.  Timing of the visit will correspond with more crowded (late-July through August) or less crowded (April through early July and September through October) periods. 
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VISITOR IMPACTS:

At Isle Royale National Park, emphasis is placed on low impact camping and following leave-no-trace principles to preserve the fragile environment and not disturb the abundance of wildlife. Fires are prohibited in most areas, making self-contained stoves a necessity. Trash should be carried out in all areas of the park and not buried, burned, or put into pit toilets. Quiet hours (10:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m., EDT) are enforced and feeding or disturbing wildlife is prohibited. Dogs, cats, and other pets are not allowed within park boundaries; neither are firearms and fireworks. Information regarding additional rules and regulations is available by contacting park headquarters.
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ADJACENT VISITOR ATTRACTIONS:

Adjacent visitor attractions in Michigan and Minnesota abound.  In Michigan, Keweenaw National Historic Park in Calumet and numerous state parks like Porcupine Mountains Wilderness, McLain, and Fort Wilkins are nearby.  Houghton is the home of Michigan Technological University. 

 

On the Minnesota side, Grand Portage National Monument , the famed Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, and Canada's Quetico Provincial Park in Ontario are close by.  Many fine Minnesota state parks and forests dot the north shore.  To find our more, contact local chamger of commerce offices.

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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

Write to:
Isle Royale National Park, 800 East Lakeshore Drive, Houghton, MI 49931 or call (906) 482-0984.
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Last Updated: Tuesday, May 25, 1999  3:30 PM
http://www.nps.gov/isro/index.htm

We welcome your comments and suggestions to editor: Smitty Parratt