Park Details
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Park Details
Location Information
Address:
Headquarters
Isle Royale National Park
800 East Lakeshore Drive
Houghton, MI 49931
Telephone:
(906) 482-0984
Transportation:
To Park:
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 operated out of Rock
Harbor.
Operating Hours/Seasons
Summer, April 16 to October 31, with full transportation services mid-June to Labor Day. Closed November 1 to April 15.
Reservations/Permits/Fees
No park admission fees. 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).
Reservations/Permits:
Camping reservations are not available for shelters or
campsites for parties of six or fewer persons. Campsites are
assigned on a first-come, first-serve basis for all individual
parties. Reservations are required for groups; parties of seven
to ten persons. Groups must follow an established itinerary and
camp only in group campsites. 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, and boaters and fisherman. Lodging reservations
should be made a least two weeks prior to trip departure for Rock
Harbor Lodge rooms or housekeeping cabins. Reservations can be
made by contacting Rock Harbor Lodge, (906) 337-4993, summer or
(502) 773-2101, winter. Transportation via the Ranger 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 for fishing park inland lakes.
Climate, Recommended Clothing
Lake Superior weather is cool throughout the year. 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.
Facilities and Opportunities
Visitor Center/Exhibits:
Visitor center located at Rock Harbor and Windigo. Exhibits
at visitor centers and at Rock Harbor Lighthouse. Other historic
landmarks accessible by sightseeing cruises include Edisen
Fishery, Passage Island Lighthouse, and the Minong Mine.
Trails, Roads:
One hundred sixty-five miles of hiking trails accessible from
numerous points around the island connect all campgrounds except
those accessible only by boat. Cross-country, off-trail travel
is permitted but difficult because of dense vegetation, bogs, and
swamps. Numerous lakes, bays and islands provide good padding
opportunities for canoes and kayaks. Overnight docking and
"anchoring out" at selected areas is available for motorized
vessels (sailboats and power boats).
Programs/Activities:
Interpretive programs and guided nature walks by park rangers
are available at Rock Harbor and Windigo from June through Labor
Day. Fishing charters and scenic boat cruises are also available
at Rock Harbor through National Park Concessions, Inc. from June
through Labor Day.
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-serve
basis. Group campsites, for parties of seven to ten people,
require advance reservations. Call (906) 482-0984 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.
Food/supplies:
The marina at Rock Harbor Lodge is open from approximately
mid-May through mid-September and offers diesel fuel, gasoline,
and oil. Boats up to 65 feet long can be accommodated, along
with 110V A.C. electrical and fresh water hook-up. A gift/snack
shop, lodge dining room, and marina grocery store at Rock Harbor
offer souvenirs and gifts, camping supplies, laundry facilities
and showers. Camp store, showers, and 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. Bookstores operated by the Isle Royale Natural History
Association are located at the Rock Harbor, Windigo, and Houghton
Visitor Centers.
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 a free brochure
on accessible facilities and services that the park offers,
contact the park at (906) 482-0984.
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 cannot be
transported by the Ranger III and must be purchased at the marina
store in Rock Harbor. U.S. citizens returning from Canada, the
Canadian visitors to the island must clear U.S. Customs. No pets
are allowed in the park including those aboard private
vessels.
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.
Visitation
Highest in late July through the third week of August; lowest
in October.
Visitor Impacts:
At Isle Royale National Park emphasis is placed on low impact
camping to preserve the fragile environment and not disturb the
abundance of wildlife. Fires are prohibited in most areas making
self-contained stoves a requirement. Trash is carried out in all
areas of the park and is not buried, burned, or put into pit
toilets. Quiet hours 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.
Special Events Programs
Interpretive programs by Park Rangers, Park Artists-in- Residence, and other affiliations are offered from mid-June through Labor Day. Activities include nature and historical walks, evening slide programs, 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.
Additional Information
Write:
Park Headquarters
Isle Royale National Park
800 East Lakeshore Drive, Houghton, MI 49931
or call (906) 482-0984.