Isle Royale National Park is unique in that it consists solely of islands – the main Isle Royale and 200 smaller islands that surround it. These were formed from ancient lava flows. The entire park sits in the middle of Lake Superior and even though it’s only 20 miles from Minnesota’s coastline, it’s considered part of Upper Michigan, 56 miles to the south.
Isle Royale National Park
Due to its isolation (the park is only accessible by seaplane or boat), the park has no roads and almost no development. The park is also home to moose, wolves, loons, beaver, fox, and other small mammals and birds.
Nearest major city: Houghton, Michigan
Famous for: Hiking; kayaking, ancient copper mines; the population of free roaming wolves and moose
Park Hours: Open mid-April through October 31. Park headquarters is in Houghton.
Admission: $4/person per day or season pass $50/person
Families with young kids will like: Wolf and moose spotting; fishing Lake Superior
Families with teenagers will like: Kayaking the islands; visiting the lighthouses
Other park highlights: Experienced scuba divers will enjoy searching through the shipwrecks that lie in the waters of Lake Superior. Hikers will enjoy visiting some of the ancient copper mining areas, some of which date back thousands of years.
Easy site seeing: Ranger-led small hikes; boating tours of the islands (additional fees)
Best hotel in the park: Rock Harbor Lodge is the only non-camping lodging option in the park. It is open mid-May until mid-September, with peak season July 4 until season close. Rates start at $225/night for non-peak and $250 for peak season.
Best campground in the park: There are 36 backcountry sites for camping within the park, which is by permit only. These are very rustic with no running water and pit toilets. Solo campers are not charged a fee for their use, but groups of 7 or more are charged a one-time $25 fee to process the permits.
Other Lodging Options: Houghton offers a larger variety of lodging options from hotels to campgrounds.
Best months to visit for weather: Autumn is the best time to visit, both for the weather and for the colors of the fall foliage.
Best months to visit to avoid crowds: May, before school lets out for summer.
Getting There:
- Flying – Houghton County Memorial Airport is serviced by Delta regional flights. Green Bay, Wisconsin (200 miles south) is the nearest major airport for more flight options
- Bus – Greyhound services Houghton.
A boat or float plane are the only ways to directly access Isle Royale National Park. Vendors for both can be found in Houghton. The float plane round trips are roughly $290/person. Round-trip ferry service (cars must be left at the dock) averages $50-$60/person, with equipment such as kayaks incurring additional fees for transport.
More info can be found at the always helpful NPS.gov site: Isle Royale National Park
[Photo courtesy NPS]
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