"Middle Islands Passage, Isle Royale National Park, 2015." by U.S. National Park Service , public domain
![]() | Isle RoyaleVisitor Guide 2021 |
Visitor Guide to Isle Royale National Park (NP) in Michigan. Published by the National Park Service (NPS).
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Your Guide to Isle Royale National Park
www.nps.gov/isro
National Park Service
U.S. Department of the Interior
Minong, the Good Place
Not a day goes by that I don’t look to the east from Grand Portage, my eyes
searching for the familiar low outline on the horizon; and wonder how soon
before I am able to visit yet again.
Named Minong, or “the good place” by our Ojibway ancestors, this vast cluster
of islands continues to be a part of our cultural heritage The sinew that binds us
all to Minong is a deep respect and gratitude for this remarkable environment.
With the acknowledgment in 2019 of Isle Royale as a Traditional Cultural
Property of the Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, and listing on
the National Register of Historic Places, the islands now loom much closer than
the actual sixteen nautical miles from our northern shore. This designation
becomes tinder for our imaginations; beckoning us to connect with the past and
to craft new relationships with those who are its current keepers.
Through thousands and thousands of years it has
always been hard to get to Minong. For our ancestors,
land rich in resources offered the promise of copper,
food, and medicine which outweighed any hardship.
Today’s visitors seek other rewards.
Whether you arrive by water, air, or as did my greatgrandfather, by dogsled over a frozen bridge of ice, the
feeling upon landing remains much the same. Whether
new acquaintance or old friend, “The Good Place”
embraces you and invites you in.
Rick Anderson
Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippewa
Welcome to Isle Royale National Park
A dear friend of mine had a theory about National Park Service employees.
He believed that they imprint on the place they most closely identify with—
oftentimes their "first" park. Much like first love, he’d say, in terms of depth
of feeling and passion. While that was certainly true for him, I have had a
series of loving relationships with the amazing places where I have been
privileged to live and work. Last fall I began my acquaintance with “the
island” and I am excited to deepen that rapport.
As I write, it has been snowing here on the Keweenaw Peninsula for days.
When not working or skiing, I am preparing for the summer season and
for moving to the island. Winter nights offer plenty of time to pore
over maps and routes and read stories of island life. Boats, paddles,
and life jackets have been bought; our fishing poles found.
Here’s to a wonderful new relationship with Minong! Whether
you are a first-time visitor or have generational ties to the island,
I look forward to learning about your connections to this special
place as I continue to develop my own.
Denice Swanke, Superintendent
Printing courtesy of Isle
Royale and Keweenaw
Parks Association.
Treasured Island............................................2-3
Paddling, Diving, Fishing.................................9
Know Before You Go.........................................4
Visitor Centers, Programs, Lodging...............10
Printed by Christensen
Printing & Publishing
on recycled paper
using agri-based inks.
Protect Your Park..............................................5
Transportation...............................................11
Map, Campgrounds, Trails............................6-7
Contacts, Fees, Park Store..............................12
Please recycle.
Camping, Boating..............................................8
Treasured Island
One of the privileges of being an Isle Royale ranger is greeting the familiar faces of returning
visitors. The island has an intimacy that holds people close. A first visit is rarely a last.
For some, like these island devotees, Isle Royale’s landscape and waterscape soak
into their identity.
Share in their stories and deepen your connections to place.
Maintaining Memories
From the time before I could walk Isle Royale has been a part of my life. My father
was raised there. My grandfather was raised there. My great-grandfather and greatgrandmother immigrated from Norway to commercially fish on the island.
During my childhood, my father worked in Duluth and every summer he would pack
my mother, my sisters and myself into Picnic—our family boat. We would spend a
month traveling around the island: camping and visiting friends at Crystal Cove, Edisen
Fishery, Fisherman’s Home, and with family in Washington Harbor. Some of the best
days of my life have been spent cruising in Picnic.
Picnic is a 24-foot open wooden boat built in 1949. In 1980 my dad stepped through the
bottom of Picnic…and passed it down to me. Little did I know what a learning process
owning a wood boat would be.
In past years, I have assisted the park by restoring other old boats from around the
island. While working on these boats, I felt connected to those who sailed them—in
treacherous rough waters and on glorious calm seas. Restoring vessels preserves these
memories for others to experience.
Picnic will be ready this summer to return to the island. Once again, she’ll make her
home port at Washington Island, where I’ll be working on preserving dwellings that
have been part of my family’s story since 1890, plus other buildings around the harbor
that are part of Isle Royale’s legacy. Once again she’ll ply the waters reliving memories
and making new ones.
It has been my sincere privilege and honor to be part of the preservation of history, and I
feel truly blessed and thankful for these opportunities.
Jeff Sivertson
Forging a Superior Friendship
August 30, 1982, my husband and I arrived in Grand Portage to board a charter boat bound for the park. The wilderness island
is renown as a backpacking, kayaking, fishing paradise. Our goal was different, Isle Royale’s sunken treasures—shipwrecks!
That trip opened up a whole new world for us. A few years later I would board the charter boat Superior Diver, but not as a
passenger. I was now her Captain. The island had reeled me in…hook, line, and sinker.
Early on, most of my time was spent on or in the water, a slightly different perspective than many. I was often looking back at the
island. Taking in sheer rocky cliffs, inlets and bays, lighthouses—stunning scenery everywhere.
But, below the surface there was much to
see as well. A Ford Model T aboard the
steamship America, a glass jug of curdled
milk in the freighter Emperor’s galley,
a pocket watch among the wreckage of
Glenlyon, and even a perfume bottle on the
passenger steamer George M. Cox.
I vividly remember our first dive on the
Congdon stern. The most amazing sight was a
perfect ruffled milk glass light fixture with an
intact bulb. Next to it was the shattered wall
of the galley. How was that even possible?
When back on our boat, Ron and I looked at
each other and both exclaimed “Wow! Did
you see that?”
Yes, I have hundreds of dives on Isle Royale
shipwrecks, yet I have never tired of them.
As we pull up to a dive site, gear up, and head
down; I feel like I am greeting an old friend
who still has so much more to share with me.
Captain Jacqueline Polomski
2 Your Guide To Isle Royale National Park – 2021
Finding Safe Harbor
Special places can be, like no other, the anchorage one needs to weather the worst storms—storms with the power to threaten your very
existence. While I’ve had the distinct fortune to study wolves and moose on Isle Royale for more than two decades, the lesson in this shared
story is relevant to all.
A few years back I was diagnosed with stage-four cancer. Surviving the prognosis and the treatment, required strength and serenity
marshalled from every resource available, within and without. Common advice for those in my lot includes meditating—as intensely as
possible—on a place that commands strength and serenity.
For me, that place is Isle Royale’s Washington Harbor, always calmer and safer than the vast waters of Lake Superior. I conjured the
rejuvenating, early morning light on wisps of fog over the water and up into the trees. Cool air in the nostrils. Eyes closed, absorb the
gentleness, the serenity; it is ethereal. A raven calls.
Now, I am a cancer survivor. I was fortunate to have a special connection to a particular place before I knew how important that connection
would become. The national parks enrich us in ways not easy to anticipate. All one has to do is be open to the places we experience.
Leah Vucetich
Cherish Your Connections
In an uncertain and changing world, national parks provide places of refuge and renewal. Our connections to these special places
sustain and nurture us.
Though protected as a national park and a federally-designated wilderness, Isle Royale will also find refuge in you.
Only with shared commitment and passion will Isle Royale Stay Wild.
Do you suffer from Island Topophilia?
Signs and Symptoms
•
•
•
•
•
•
Spending hours poring over maps planning your next adventure
Referring to “the island” and not specifying Isle Royale
Hearing the white-throated sparrow’s song in your sleep
Ability to pronounce “amygdaloid”
Checking webcams daily
Devoting the winter to dreaming of your park
There is no known cure for Island Topophilia...but that’s not really a bad thing, is it?
Join the community of Isle Royale enthusiasts and share your own signs and symptoms
at www.facebook.com/isleroyalenps.
2021 – Your Guide To Isle Royale National Park 3
Know Before You Go
4
Lake Superior and the island’s wilderness present challenges and hazards to the inexperienced or ill-prepared. Keep a
conservative trip plan. Be self-sufficient. Bring more than you need in case of unexpected delays. Bring a first aid kit, a supply
of any needed medications, and clothing appropriate for the time of year and planned activities.
Wilderness is not Immune to COVID-19
Drinking Water
Face masks are required in buildings and outdoors when social distance
cannot be maintainced. This includes docks and campgrounds.
Potable water is only available in Rock Harbor and Windigo. Early and
late season visitors should plan for no potable water anywhere on-island.
Social distance from those not in your party.
Lake Superior and interior park waters should be considered non-potable.
Practice backcountry hygiene. Wash hands often with soap and water for
20 seconds or use hand sanitizer. Use soap at least 50 steps awayfrom any
water source.
Emergencies
Basic emergency services are available on the island, but contacting
rangers can be difficult. Emergency response and evacuation take time,
requiring you to rely on your own skills and equipment. Most private
boaters have radios and may be able to contact rangers in an emergency.
Cell phone service is unreliable; do not depend on it.
Purify Water: Use one of these methods:
•
Physical Purifier: Use one that is rated to remove viruses
•
Water Filter
(0.4 microns or finer)
+
Chemical Treatment
Use tablets or bleach
•
Water Filter
(0.4 microns or finer)
+
UV Treatment
Use a UV purifier
•
Boil: At a rolling boil for at least one minute
To contact the park in an emergency: 440-546-5945
Play it Safe
Watch the Weather
On the Trail
Weather and lake conditions can deteriorate quickly and unexpectedly. Fog
and waves can create dangerous conditions for boaters and paddlers.
Watch Your Step! The footing is often uneven. Roots and rocks can
trip the unwary hiker. When wet, trails are muddy; roots, rocks, and
boardwalks are extremely slippery.
Hypothermia can occur any time, especially near Lake Superior. Best
defense: Stay warm and dry. Dress in layers and don raingear before you get
wet. Shivering, apathy, and coordination loss indicate mild hypothermia. If
someone shows these signs, warm and dry the person, add more layers, climb
in a sleeping bag, and sip warm liquids.
Dehydration
Drink plenty of water. When dehydrated, you tire more quickly, do not think
clearly, and are more prone to fall. Dehydration is a factor in most medical
problems experienced in the park.
Water is scarce between campgrounds, especially along ridges. Carry a
minimum two quarts of water per person; drink and refill whenever near
water sources. In hot weather start hiking early and travel at a slower pace. In
cold weather dehydration occurs as people do not feel thirsty and drink less.
Watch for mild signs of dehydration: thirst, fatigue, headache, and dizziness.
Severe dehydration includes: nausea and reduced or no sweating.
Stay on the Path: As you travel, you may encounter obstructions. Go over
or under downed trees, through puddles and mud. Skirting obstructions
widens or creates new trails, impacting habitat.
Wheeled vehicles (except for non-motorized wheelchairs) or other
mechanical transportation are not allowed outside developed areas at
Rock Harbor and Windigo. This includes bicycles and portaging devices.
Plan Conservatively: Many people underestimate hiking travel times
and overestimate their abilities. Plan shorter, realistic travel days; don’t
turn your wilderness experience into a forced march.
Be Kind to Your Feet: Wear sturdy, well-broken-in boots. Address hot
spots and small blisters right away, before they become problems. Pamper
your feet after hiking: Soak them in a lake and wear comfy shoes in camp.
Toxic Water Alert
Algal blooms have occurred in interior lakes. Blue-green algae can
be toxic and purifying does not remove toxins from the water. Avoid
drinking, swimming, and fishing if water has a cloudy blue cast or looks
like “pea soup.” If algal blooms occur, advisories will be posted.
Share the Space
Show Respect. Observe, photograph, and enjoy park wildlife from a safe and respectful distance. If an animal changes its
behavior, you are too close. It is illegal to feed, touch, tease, or intentionally disturb wildlife, their homes, nests, or activities.
Loons are especially susceptible to disturbance, and may abandon their shoreline nests when approached too closely. From May through July 15
(loon nesting season) visitors must stay at least 150' away from small islands and from nests along the shore. If a loon cries out, you are too close.
Moose are large and potentially dangerous animals. Always give them wide berth. If you encounter a moose, step behind a tree and wait for the moose
to move on. Throughout the spring and summer, female moose are rearing young and are very protective. Never get between a cow and her calf.
During fall rut, bull moose are often aggressive.
Wolves are rarely encountered. Respect them by keeping your distance and ending any encounters quickly. Report wolf sightings to a ranger.
Insects
Expect mosquitos and black flies
to peak in June or July. During wet
summers, mosquitos continue
into August. Bring repellent,
netting, or other skin barriers.
Dry summers often result in an
abundance of wasps. Bring an
epinephrine kit if allergic to stings.
4 Your Guide To Isle Royale National Park – 2021
Pets
Dogs, cats, and other mammals
are not allowed, including pets
on boats within park boundaries,
which extend 4.5 miles into Lake
Superior from the outermost land
areas of the park. Visitors bringing
pets to the park will be required
to leave immediately. Pets disturb
wildlife and can transmit diseases.
Special conditions apply to service
dogs. Visit www.nps.gov/isro/
planyourvisit/service-dogs.htm.
Protect Your Park
Minimize your impact to protect the park’s wilderness
character for use and enjoyment by all.
Help Isle Royale Stay Wild
Adventure, simple living, and solitude are important components of an Isle
Royale visit. To ensure these experiences, visitors should be familiar with
skills and habits that foster a Leave No Trace ethic. Visit www.lnt.org.
Leave What You Find
Removing, possessing, or disturbing park resources is prohibited. Antlers,
plants, driftwood, cultural or archeological objects, rocks/minerals
including those in Lake Superior must be left where found. Fishing and
picking small quantities of berries/mushrooms for consumption are
allowed.
Graffiti and the building of cairns (rock piles) mars the park for other
visitors. Leave the park as you find it.
Quiet, Please
Most visitors come to Isle Royale to hear the sounds of nature in a wild
setting. Be aware of your volume so others may enjoy peace and solitude.
5
Park Regulations
The regulations of Isle Royale National Park are intended to protect park
resources and appropriate visitor experiences. Regulations place strong
emphasis on preserving wilderness character and values. Visitors are
responsible for adhering to park regulations.
For detailed information on park regulations visit
www.nps.gov/isro/learn/management/lawsandpolicies.htm.
No Drone Zone: Launching, landing, or operating unmanned aircraft on
lands and waters of the park is prohibited.
Weapons, Traps, & Nets: The use or possession of weapons, traps, and
nets is prohibited. Weapons include any implements designed to discharge
a projectile or missile in the air or water and include slingshots, blowguns,
and bows and arrows. Fireworks are prohibited.
Exception: Possession of firearms within the park is regulated by Michigan
law. The discharge of firearms within park boundaries is prohibited.
Marijuana Prohibited: While recreational and medical marijuana are now
legal in many states, marijuana remains illegal on federal lands including
Isle Royale National Park.
Quiet Hours are between 10:00 pm and 6:00 am eastern time. If people in
adjacent campsites can hear your activities, you are being too loud.
Zebra Mussels Not Welcome
Audible use of electronic devices such as stereos, televisions, radios,
cellphones, and tablets is not permitted except in the developed areas
of Rock Harbor and Windigo, and in Lake Superior waters outside of
designated quiet/no wake zones.
Portable Generators are prohibited in most areas of the park.
Minimize Use of Fires
Campfires are permitted at a handful of campgrounds (see page 6). A
backpacking stove is highly recommended. A metal fire ring or grate
is provided where campfires are allowed; never build your own ring.
Use Dead and Down Wood no bigger around than your wrist. Do not
break branches or strip bark from standing trees, live or dead. Trash
has no place in a backcountry fire. Do not import firewood; insects and
pathogens from infected wood could devastate Isle Royale’s forests.
Surprise!!!
3000 of my best friends
are here to par-teee!
Be Safe With Fire: Keep your fire small and burn down to ash; be
sure the fire is completely out before leaving it.
These plankton platters
are deeelish!
Keep the Island Clean
Practice Proper Food Storage: Keep a clean camp. To protect your food
from wildlife seal it in scent-proof containers and secure. Hard-sided
containers are preferred, but using doubled zip-lock bags is appropriate.
Animals will steal unattended food and other items.
Trash: All trash and leftover food (including peels, cores, and nutshells)
must be packed out. Trash and food scraps must not be burned, buried, or
placed in outhouses. Carry a zip-lock bag for securing small pieces of trash.
Human Waste Disposal: Use outhouses. Never defecate within 100' (at
least 50 steps) of lakes, streams, or campsites. In areas without outhouses,
dig a cathole 6" to 8" deep; after use, cover with soil. Urinate on durable
surfaces, like rocks or bare soil, away from water sources and campsites.
Cookware Cleaning: Wash dishes at least 100' from water sources and
campsites. Even biodegradable soap take a long time to degrade. Use a
strainer to remove food bits and pack them out with your trash. Disperse
remaining water away from water sources and campsites.
Ah, Snap!
We've been
plucked and
captured!
Bathing: Get wet, then move at least 100' away from all water sources and
campsites to lather and rinse. Use soap sparingly, if necessary.
Going my way?
Just waiting for a
boot so I can spread
my 100,000 seeds
down your
trails...
Bull Thistles are
Bullies
Bull thistle is agressively
invasive, spreading along
trails ever further into
wilderness. The park
monitors, maps, and tries to
remove this and other target
species that outcompete
native island plants.
In 2018 several
thousand invasive
zebra mussels were
removed from
Isle Royale docks.
Due to park removal
efforts, fewer were
found in 2019. But our
work to prevent the
spread is ongoing.
What Can You Do?
Clean Before Arrival
•
Boots, gear, and vessels must be clean and
free of plants, fish, animals, dirt, and mud.
Clean During Your Trip
•
After filtering Lake Superior water, change or
clean your water filter before using it inland.
•
Non-motorized vessels and fishing gear must
be cleaned appropriately if moving inland.
Report
•
Report sightings of any invasives to a ranger.
2021 – Your Guide To Isle Royale National Park 5
6
Voyageur II
During its clockwise circumnavigation,
Voyageur II provides drop-off and
pick-up services at several locations.
See page 11.
Voyageur II
Grand Portage, MN, to Windigo
22mi/35km
2 hours one-way
Minong Trail Closure
Huginnin Cove Junction to
Hatchet Lake Junction
Opening June 15, 2021
Sea Hunter III
Grand Portage, MN, to Windigo
22mi/35km
1.5 hours one-way
Seaplane
Hancock, MI, to Windigo
61mi/98km
35-45 minutes one-way
Beaver Island
3
Belle Isle
5
Birch Island
3
Caribou Island
3
Chickenbone E
2
Chickenbone W
2
Chippewa Harbor
3
Daisy Farm
3
Desor N
2
Desor S
2
Duncan Bay
3
Duncan Narrows
3
Feldtmann Lake
2
Grace Island
3
Hatchet Lake
2
Hay Bay
3
Huginnin Cove
3
Intermediate Lake
2
Island Mine
3
Lake Richie
2
Lake Richie/Canoe
2
Lake Whittlesey
2
Lane Cove
3
Little Todd
2
Malone Bay
3
McCargoe Cove
3
Merritt Lane
3
Moskey Basin
3
Pickerel Cove
2
Rock Harbor
1*
Rock Harbor Marina
14
Siskiwit Bay
3
Three Mile
1
Tobin Harbor Dock
5
Todd Harbor
3
Tookers Island
3
Washington Creek (Windigo)
3
Windigo Dock
5
Wood Lake
2
*Rock Harbor one night stay limit in effect 6/1 - 9/15.
6 Your Guide To Isle Royale National Park – 2021
0
1
1
1
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7
1
1
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0
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0
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4
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CR - Fires in community ring only
S - Self-contained stoves only
W - Treated water supply
F - Campfire rings or standing grills provided
Sh
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Campgrounds
C
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es
Grand Marais, MN, to Windigo
57mi/91km
30 minutes one-way
2' – 5'
13'
5'
10'
–
–
7'
9'
–
–
6'
6'
–
2' – 4'
–
3' – 7'
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
3' – 6'
7'
8'
8'
–
–
3' – 12'
2' – 6'
9'
3' – 8'
2'
7'
–
4' – 20'
–
yes
yes
no
yes
–
–
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–
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–
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–
Canoe Portages
Distance•Elevation Change•Comment
Malone Bay - Siskiwit Lake
0.3 mile, 40’ Gradual Slope
Siskiwit Lake - Intermediate Lake
0.4 mile, 40’ Gradual ups and downs
Intermediate Lake - Lake Richie
0.6 mile, 120’ Hilly and wooded
Wood Lake - Lake Whittlesey
0.6 mile, 80’ Rolling
Lake Whittlesey - Chippewa Harbor
0.6 mile, 140’ Steep grades and rocky
Chippewa Harbor - Lake Richie
1.2 miles, 160’ Hilly
Moskey Basin - Lake Richie
2.0 miles, 120’ Gradual but long
Lake Richie - Lake LeSage
0.6 mile, 100’ Steep grades, wet
Lake LeSage - Lake Livermore
0.4 mile, 80’ Steep grades, wet
Lake Livermore - Chickenbone Lake
0.2 mile, 40’ Steep but short
Chickenbone Lake -McCargoe Cove
1.2 miles, 80’ Hilly
Pickerel Cove
0.1 mile, 10’ Short and sweet
Lane Cove - Stockly Bay
0.1 mile, 8’ Short and sweet
Five Finger Bay - Duncan Bay
0.2 mile, 8’ Short and sweet
Duncan Bay - Tobin Harbor
0.8 mile, 175’ Extremely steep
Tobin Harbor - Rock Harbor
0.2 mile, 40’ Gradual up and down
7
Rock Harbor Lodge
Water Taxi
Provides drop-off and pick-up services
between Rock Harbor and McCargoe
Cove on the north shore and Rock
Harbor and Malone Bay on the south
shore. See page 10.
Rock Harbor Dock Closure
Fall 2021: Rock Harbor Ranger III dock
will be closed for expansion and repairs
starting 9/11.
Isle Royale Queen IV
Copper Harbor, MI, to Rock Harbor
56mi/90km
3.75 hours one-way
Ranger III
Houghton, MI, to Rock Harbor
73mi/118km
6 hours one-way
Seaplane
Hancock, MI, to Rock Harbor
71mi/114km
35-45 minutes one-way
Grand Marais, MN, to Rock
Harbor
90mi/145km
45 minutes one-way
Little Todd
Malone Bay
Rock Harbor
Siskiwit Bay
Three Mile
35.8
9.3
30.3
21.3
5.0
10.9
15.6
19.6
2.3
7.3
13.3
25.7
10.5
8.7
27.1
Chickenbone E
1.8
-
7.9
7.9
19.8
15.0
34.4
7.9
29.1
19.9
3.6
12.7
16.2
18.2
2.7
5.9
14.8
24.3
12.5
9.3
25.7
Chickenbone W
9.3
7.9
-
9.7
27.3
22.5
42.0
15.2
36.4
27.2
4.3
16.6
22.6
25.7
10.6
6.2
16.8
31.6
14.1
17.3
33.0
Chippewa Harbor
6.1
7.9
9.7
-
26.0
22.5
41.9
15.4
37.3
27.4
5.8
6.9
21.5
27.2
8.2
3.9
7.1
31.8
4.4
14.9
33.2
Daisy Farm
19.6
19.8
27.3
26.0
-
20.0
21.4
12.3
14.4
18.6
23.0
30.8
5.7
23.2
18.0
25.3
33.1
23.0
30.4
11.4
12.6
Desor N
16.4
15.0
22.5
22.5
20.0
-
20.1
8.1
14.7
5.5
18.2
27.3
15.5
10.8
17.7
20.5
29.4
9.9
26.7
11.8
11.3
Desor S
35.8
34.4
42.0
41.9
21.4
20.1
-
27.6
12.8
14.6
37.8
46.7
26.1
30.3
37.1
40.1
49.0
10.3
46.3
31.8
8.8
Feldtmann Lake
9.3
7.9
15.2
15.4
12.3
8.1
27.6
-
25.7
13.0
11.1
20.2
7.8
11.3
10.7
13.4
22.3
17.4
19.8
4.1
18.8
Hatchet Lake
30.3
29.1
36.4
37.3
14.4
14.7
12.8
25.7
-
10.0
32.3
41.2
19.1
24.9
31.8
34.6
44.4
14.4
41.7
24.8
4.0
Huginnin Cove
21.3
19.9
27.2
27.4
18.6
5.5
14.6
13.0
10.0
-
23.1
32.2
20.4
15.7
22.6
25.4
34.3
4.4
31.6
16.7
6.6
Island Mine
5.0
3.6
4.3
5.8
23.0
18.2
37.8
11.1
32.3
23.1
-
12.7
18.5
21.4
6.3
2.3
12.9
27.5
10.2
13.0
28.9
Lake Richie
10.9
12.7
16.6
6.9
30.8
27.3
46.7
20.2
41.2
32.2
12.7
-
26.5
30.5
13.0
10.8
6.9
36.6
4.6
19.5
38.3
Lane Cove
15.6
16.2
22.6
21.5
5.7
15.5
26.1
7.8
19.1
20.4
18.5
26.5
-
18.7
13.5
22.1
28.6
24.8
25.9
7.0
17.3
Little Todd
19.6
18.2
25.7
27.2
23.2
10.8
30.3
11.3
24.9
15.7
21.4
30.5
18.7
-
20.9
23.7
34.3
20.1
31.6
15.0
21.5
Malone Bay
2.3
2.7
10.6
8.2
18.0
17.7
37.1
10.7
31.8
22.6
6.3
13.0
13.5
20.9
-
8.4
15.3
27.0
12.6
6.7
28.4
McCargoe Cove
7.3
5.9
6.2
3.9
25.3
20.5
40.1
13.4
34.6
25.4
2.3
10.8
22.1
23.7
8.4
-
11.0
29.8
8.3
15.1
31.0
Moskey Basin
13.3
14.8
16.8
7.1
33.1
29.4
49.0
22.3
44.4
34.3
12.9
6.9
28.6
34.3
15.3
11.0
-
38.7
2.7
22.2
40.1
Rock Harbor
25.7
24.3
31.6
31.8
23.0
9.9
10.3
17.4
14.4
4.4
27.5
36.6
24.8
20.1
27.0
29.8
38.7
-
36.0
21.1
11.0
Siskiwit Bay
10.5
12.5
14.1
4.4
30.4
26.7
46.3
19.8
41.7
31.6
10.2
4.6
25.9
31.6
12.6
8.3
2.7
36.0
-
19.5
37.8
Three Mile
8.7
9.3
17.3
14.9
11.4
11.8
31.8
4.1
24.8
16.7
13.0
19.5
7.0
15.0
6.7
15.1
22.2
21.1
19.5
-
23.0
Todd Harbor
27.1
25.7
33.0
33.2
12.6
11.3
8.8
18.8
4.0
6.6
28.9
38.3
17.3
21.5
28.4
31.0
40.1
11.0
37.8
23.0
-
Washington Creek
Moskey Basin
Chippewa
Harbor
Chickenbone E
Washington
Creek -Windigo
Lane Cove
16.4
Todd Harbor
Island Mine
19.6
McCargoe Cove
Huginnin Cove
6.1
Lake Richie
Feldtmann Lake
9.3
Hatchet Lake
Desor S
1.8
Daisy Farm
-
Chickenbone W
Desor N
Trail
Trail Mileages
Mileage Between Campgrounds
2021 – Your Guide To Isle Royale National Park 7
Things to Do
8
Hiking
Boating
Miles of trail wind through forests and hug the shoreline, climb
steeply to ridgetop views, and descend into wetlands. Ninetynine percent of the park’s land base is designated wilderness
that beckons you to explore.
Hundreds of islands and surrounding Lake Superior waters
are within the boundaries of the park. Numerous docks and
countless anchorages provide access for power and sailboats.
Camping
Thirty-six campgrounds are scattered throughout the
park. Campsites are accessible only by foot or watercraft.
All campgrounds have tent sites, outhouses, and are near a
water source. Many of the campgrounds located on the Lake
Superior shoreline offer docks, shelters, and picnic tables.
Camping Permits are required for all overnight stays at campgrounds,
cross-country sites, docks, or at anchor.
Group Camping (seven or more people)
Advance reservations are required for any group or organization, including
families and friends traveling together, bringing seven or more people to the
island (see below).
Small-party Camping (six or fewer people)
All small-party campsites contain either tent sites or a three-sided shelter.
Shelters and tent sites for individual small parties are available first come, first
served. Expect crowded campsites from mid-July through mid-September.
Expect to have conversations about sharing tent sites.
How to Select a Campsite During COVID-19
1. At a campground, camp at a designated tent site or occupy a shelter.
2. When all campground sites are occupied, share a tent site if social
distancing can be maintained.
3. When all campground sites are occupied and there are no viable tent sites
to share, use the identified overflow group campsite (if present).
4. When options 1-3 are full, camp outside of campground per crosscountry camping regulations and zone map.
Shelters: Shelters may not be reserved and may not be used solely for cooking
or gear storage. To minimize damage to vegetation, tents and hammocks
may not be erected outside shelters; tents may be used inside shelters. Using
nails, staples, tacks, and/or tape to attach items to shelters is prohibited.
Hammocks: In campgrounds, hammocks may only be used within the
existing impacted area of designated tent sites and not in the surrounding
trees. Hammocks may not be hung at shelter sites or inside shelters.
Permissible hammock locations may not be available; plan on bringing a tent.
Choose trees with care; many cannot support a hammock. Hammock use
must not damage trees.
Cross-Country Camping zones have changed in 2021.
Terrain and vegetation make off-trail hiking and camping difficult.
Visit www.nps.gov/isro/planyourvisit/cross-country-camping.htm.
Plan Ahead: All boaters should make themselves familiar with information
in the Isle Royale Boating Guide. Visit www.nps.gov/isro/planyourvisit/
boating-guide.htm.
Lake Superior offers challenging and often dangerous weather: fog, high
winds, waves, and thunderstorms. Combine rocky reefs and limited safe
harbors with Isle Royale’s remoteness, and it pays for you, your crew, and
your boat to be shipshape.
Prevent the Spread of Invasive Species: Vessel owners are legally
responsible for invasive species decontamination prior to entering park
waters (extending 4.5 miles into Lake Superior from the outermost
land areas of the park). Learn how to decontaminate your vessel at
stopaquatichitchhikers.org/prevention.
Day Use: Boaters visiting the park or park waters for the day are required to
pay entrance fees (see page 12) and are encouraged to fill out a day permit at
Windigo, Rock Harbor, or Houghton. Call (906) 482-0984.
Overnight Stays: Boaters staying overnight at anchor, at docks, or in
campgrounds must obtain a permit
Obtaining a Permit: It is recommended for boaters to permit ahead of their
trip. Call (906) 482-0984.
Restricted Water Activities:
•
Water skiing and personal watercraft including vessels referred to as Jet
Skis, Waverunners, or Sea-doos are prohibited in all park waters.
•
Vessels with motors (even if not in use) are prohibited on interior lakes
and streams.
Quiet/No Wake Zones: These zones promote quality visitor experience by
providing relatively tranquil, natural marine surroundings. Within the zone,
vessels must not exceed 5 mph or create a wake in excess of surrounding
seas. Consult www.nps