“To step into Isle Royale is to leave behind one’s own self and one’s world and to begin a new exploration into the nature of life.”
                                   -Napier Shelton, Superior Wilderness 1997

Isle Royale National Park, which has been set aside as a national park since 1940, was designated as a Biosphere Reserve on February 17, 1981. It is part of a program designed to protect examples of the different ecosystems of the world and to encourage research. It was chosen for its unspoiled nature and represents the northern lake forest biome.

An Isle Royale personal journey can only begin when one crosses a substantial portion of Lake Superior’s northwest section. Once there, one finds a living laboratory, a rugged northwoods wilderness, a road-less backcountry of wild creatures, second growth forests, refreshing lakes and rugged scenic shores. This Island gem houses the highest backcountry overnight use per acre of any national park and at the same time it is one of the least visited.

We hope your experience will be a memorable and rewarding exploration into the nature of life. An exploration that will foster a strong wilderness ethic, leading to the desire to promote stewardship. These personal connections will serve to preserve and protect Isle Royale National Park for future generations.

Numerous Outdoor (even underwater) Activities Await at Isle Royale!

Activities and Things to Do at Isle Royale:

Canoe and Kayaking is a favorite on the freshwater lakes and rivers here. Ryan Island on Isle Royale’s Siskiwit Lake is the largest island on the largest lake on the largest island on the largest freshwater lake in the world.

With numerous lakes, bays and islands, Isle Royale National Park provides many miles of waterways for the experienced canoeist and kayaker. Lake Superior is well known for its cold temperatures, fog, and sudden squalls that can generate waves that could easily swamp a canoe. This along with scarce outer shore landing sites adds to the potential danger. Small, open vessels are discouraged from entering these cold treacherous Lake Superior waters and are encouraged to use the numerous miles of waterways that the inland lakes provide. Canoeists and kayakers should be familiar with weather patterns and consult the Marine Forecast at ranger stations and visitor centers before embarking. Be prepared to adjust your schedule to the weather. A portable marine radio is recommended.

Campers are Welcome - But You Must have a Permit!

Camping Permits

A backcountry permit is required when staying overnight, at a campground, dock, or at anchor. Permits are issued on board the Ranger III and at the Rock Harbor and Windigo Visitor Centers. Camping for parties of 6 or less is on a first-come, first-served basis and sites cannot be reserved. Canoe only sites are limited to two nights stay, for parties of six or less. The entire shore of Lake Whittlesey, Wood Lake, Intermediate Lake and Siskiwit Lake, and designated zones along Lake Superior, are open to camping with a one night stay limit per location. Camping on offshore islands is limited to designated campsites. Groups (7-10 people) must stay at designated “group campsites”, and must get backcountry permits in advance. Shoreline camping is not open to groups.

Transportation

The transportation services can transport your canoe or kayak. For reservations, fees, and schedules, click here. Make your reservations in advance, especially during the busy season, mid-July through mid-August. The Voyageur II from Grand Portage, Minnesota circumnavigates the island in a clockwise fashion, offering drop-off and pick-up services at several campgrounds.

Hiking and Walking is probably the favorite land activity at Isle Royale:

If you only have a few hours to spend on Isle Royale, day hiking is an excellent way to get into the backcountry for solitude and exploration. There are a number of short hikes available, from a 1-mile jaunt near Windigo to a 4-mile loop out to Scoville Point near Rock Harbor. Whichever hike you decide to take, be sure to bring a daypack with water, snacks, raingear, and a first aid kit. Be sure to wear sturdy boots or tennis shoes that are broken in. Some hikes are ranger-led, check the program schedule at the visitor centers.

The Favorite Underwater Activity at Isle Royale is clear: Scuba Diving!

Scuba Diving

Lake Superior maintains a variety of shipwrecks in outstanding condition for exploration and photography. These sunken vessels are protected by the National Park Service as cultural treasures to be enjoyed by you, the experienced scuba diver. In order to preserve fragile Isle Royale offers exciting scuba diving opportunities. Here the cold waters of Lake natural and cultural resources, the inland lakes, all land-associated underwater cultural sites and the Passage Island small boat cove are closed to diving.

Weather

Lake Superior’s rough weather is well known. Follow forecasts given regularly over marine radio and keep a least one person aboard your boat whenever divers are in the water.

Temperature

Water is cold at all times. At the surface, water temperature rarely reaches 55 degrees Fahrenheit. Below 50 feet, divers can expect 34-37 degrees Fahrenheit temperatures. Protect yourself; a full wet suit is necessary and a dry suit is recommended.

Air Tanks

There are no facilities for filling dive cylinders at Isle Royale. Personal compressor use is limited to designated locations and times. Once at Isle Royale, your dive permit lists regulations on compressor use.

Exploring Shipwrecks

Divers on shipwrecks can become lost in a maze of confined passages or entangled in debris, wire, and line. Darkness and silt found within wrecks can reduce visibility to zero. We recommend proper training and equipment for diving the wrecks found within the cold and often deep waters of Lake Superior.

Decompression

Cold, dark surroundings and excitement increase possibility of a decompression problem. DON’T PUSH THE STANDARD SPORT OR RECREATIONAL DIVE TABLES. Divers at Isle Royale should dive within the “no-decompression” limits. Deep dives require specific equipment and experience. Divers not so equipped or experienced for depths below 100 feet should not attempt such dives.

Illness

Diving-related illnesses, especially those requiring a recompression chamber, pose a severe threat to the life of any diver. The closest recompression chamber is in Marquette, Michigan. Diving parties should be knowledgeable in CPR and emergency procedures for accidents. Carry an adequate first-aid kit including an oxygen delivery system and know how to use them.
 
Emergencies

At the first indication of a diving illness, contact a ranger on marine radio (channel 16) or in person. Do not wait to confirm that there is a problem. Isle Royale National Park maintains procedures for treatment and evacuation of accident victims. An NPS diving team can be activated for search and rescue operations.

Help Us

Help us provide a safe, enjoyable visit for all divers. Report all scuba related accidents, near accidents, hazardous diving situations, or unusual observations to a park ranger as soon as possible. Your suggestions concerning management of underwater cultural resources are encouraged.

Dive Charters

The following companies are licensed by the National Park Service to guide SCUBA trips at Isle Royal National Park. Please contact them directly for information on rates, reservations, accommodations and schedules.

Isle Royale Charters
Minnesota 
(269) 270-8334

MN- Blackdog Diving LLC
Minnesota
507-236-2280

Superior Trips
Minnesota
(651) 635-6438

Charts and Publications

Lake Chart #14976 and publications on Isle Royale shipwrecks are available from the Isle Royale and Keweenaw Parks Association through mail order and on the island.

Diver examines shipwreck - Courtesy of National Park Service

Important: Diving Regulations

Registration

Divers must register at Houghton, Rock Harbor or Windigo Visitor Centers before diving, and return your completed copy of the registration form after your trip to a visitor center or by mail. Your diving registration helps us manage underwater sites. Canadian vessels and divers must clear customs when they enter the park.

Artifacts

Occasionally you may discover artifacts of high quality and value; Report these to a park ranger as soon as possible. Please do not remove the artifacts.

Artifacts from a shipwreck - Courtesy of National Park Service

Shipwrecks Conservation

Shipwrecks are part of the park’s cultural resources. Help us to preserve them. Federal law prohibits the removal or disturbance in any manner of underwater culture sites and associated artifacts. This includes shipwrecks or remains of ships, as well as other antiquities on the bottom lands of waters in Isle Royale National Park. Penalties include prison sentences and fines up to $10,000. Rewards up to $500 may be paid to anyone who furnishes information that leads to conviction of a criminal violation. Spear guns of any kind are prohibited.

Dive Flag

Dive sites or boats must be marked with the standard diving flag (white diagonal stripe on a red background) or alpha flag, whenever divers are in the water.

Moorings

Nine shipwreck sites are buoyed to provide a safe mooring and protect the wrecks from anchor/ tie-off damage. These secure moorings are marked by a white buoy with a blue stripe. Mooring buoys are to be used only by registered divers during actual dive operations. No more than two dive boats may use a mooring at any given time. When a mooring is provided, do not tie off or anchor. When no mooring is provided, use a diver to tie-off to a stable piece of wreckage. Do not anchor in a wreck.

Scuba diving is one of the most thrilling things you can do in the water. You are challenging the laws of physics and pushing the limits of human capability when you go scuba diving, so it's of the utmost importance that all safety regulations are followed.

Another Isle Favorite:   Interpretive Programs & Guided Tours

Rock Harbor Area Programs

Check at the visitor's center upon arrival for a complete schedule.

Island Connections

Join a park ranger for an in-depth exploration of Isle Royale’s natural and cultural history. Offered most nights in July and August, limited schedule in June and September.

Rock Harbor Reflections 

Take a leisurely afternoon hike with a park ranger to discover Rock Harbor’s special places.

Daisy Farm Area Program 

Learn about Isle Royale’s natural and cultural history at the site of a historic settlement. Check for availability of programs at the campground bulletin board.

Windigo Area Programs

Check at the visitor center upon arrival for a complete schedule.

Island Insights

Join a park ranger for an in-depth exploration of Isle Royale’s natural or cultural history. Offered most nights in July and August, limited schedule in June and September.

West End Wanderers

Stroll along the trail with a park ranger to discover Windigo’s special places. Offered most afternoons in July and August.

Windigo Whispers

Listen to stories of Isle Royale’s natural or cultural history as shared by a park ranger. Offered most afternoons in July and August.

Ranger III Area Programs

The National Park's ship departing from Houghton, Michigan offers onboard interpretive and educational programs centered on the National Park Service, Isle Royale National Park, and Lake Superior.

Guided Tours

MV Sandy Tours From Rock Harbor

For all tours and programs involving the MV Sandy, obtain tickets and information at the Lodge Office. MV Sandy tours operate from early June through early September. Fare rates vary; children under 12 are half price.

Hidden Lake/Lookout Louise (Tuesday and Thursday) ($)

A 4-mile boat trip on the MV Sandy to Hidden Lake Trailhead followed by a guided 2-mile round trip hike past Hidden Lake up 320 feet to Lookout Louise. View the south shore of Canada and the north shore of Isle Royale. Return with the group or bring a lunch and water and hike 9.4 miles back to Rock Harbor. Guided by the National Park Service.

Passage Island (Monday and Friday) ($)

An 8-mile boat tour on the MV Sandy crosses one of the Isle Royale’s popular shipping lanes. The 2-mile guided round-trip hike leads to Passage Island Lighthouse and explores an area of low moose presence. Guided by the National Park Service.

North Side Cruise/Minong Mine (Wednesday) ($)

Cruise two hours each way along Isle Royale’s north shore bays, pass Blake Point and Amygdaloidal Island, with a possible stop at Belle Isle. A guide may be available to lead a 3-mile hike from McCargoe Cove to the historic Minong Mine. The hike includes difficult walking over steep piles of loose rock on an unmaintained trail. Trip may include a hike of Pine Mountain, offering excellent views of the Canadian shoreline. Bring lunch and beverage.

Edisen Fishery and Rock Harbor Lighthouse (Thursday and Saturday) ($)

Visit the historic commercial fishery with the resident fishery demonstrator (July thru August), take a quarter-mile walk to the oldest lighthouse (1855) on Isle Royale and enjoy its maritime exhibits. Guided by the National Park Service.

Captain’s Cruise (Tuesday evening) ($)

Explore with the Captain of the MV Sandy, scenic, out-of-the way destinations, such as Middle Island Passage, Lorelei Lane, Rock Harbor Lighthouse, Davidson Island, and Starvation Point.

Raspberry Island/Sunset Cruise (7-days a week) ($)

Take a walk along a boardwalk through the spruce bog on Raspberry Island followed by a cruise on the MV Sandy around Scoville and Blake Points to view features like the Canada shoreline, the site of the Monarch shipwreck, and a  Lake Superior sunset (after Aug. 15, cruise only).

What to Expect from the Weather in the Utmost Northern Part of Michigan

Lake Superior weather is cool throughout the operating season, causing dense fog in spring and summer months. The lake’s water temperature rarely exceeds 52 degrees Fahrenheit, while Island temperatures rarely exceed 80 degrees. Thunderstorms and rain occur throughout the season, causing rapid changes in wind and wave conditions. Weather and rough seas rarely delay departures to and from the island.

A Superior Wilderness - Why Isle Royale is just that: Royal!

Isle Royale’s physical isolation and primitive wilderness challenged human use for centuries; ironically today it has become the Island’s main attraction. Accessible only by boat or seaplane, visitors come to experience this island park through hiking its trails, paddling its inland waterways, exploring its rugged coast, or venturing into the depth of its shipwrecks.

In the northwestern portion of powerful Lake Superior exists a unique and remote island archipelago. Isle Royale National Park preserves 132,018 acres of land-based wilderness that was federally designated on October 20, 1976. The park consists of one large island surrounded by about 400 smaller islands, it encompasses a total area of 850 square miles including submerged land which extends 4 1/2 miles out into the largest fresh water lake in the world. Due to Isle Royale's biological and ecological uniqueness, it was designated an International Biosphere Reserve in 1980. These isolated islands have barely 20 species of mammals compared to over 40 found on the surrounding mainland. Some species have come and gone, often due to the influences of humans. The heavily forested shoreline of Isle Royale appears similar to the mainland’s landscape prior to development. Gulls, ravens, and an occasional eagle or osprey dot the skies; squirrels, toads, mice, and spiders move about the forest floor.

The Ecological Study of Wolves on Isle Royale, now in its 46th year, is the longest running large mammal predator-prey study on earth. Research has shown that all members of the Isle Royale wolf population have descended from a single female, which arrived during the late 1940s. This intense level of inbreeding has led to a 50% loss of genetic variability within the population today. Genetic information suggests that the island’s moose population is most closely related to moose in northwestern Minnesota…perhaps challenging the long-held idea that moose swam across the lake to reach Isle Royale. Did humans bring them here?

A venture by foot, canoe or kayak into the park's interior can transport one back thousands of years into its prehistoric past. Around 11,000 years ago, 2 miles of ice lay on top of Isle Royale, pressing it down into the earth and sculpting its topography. The same ice sheet gave birth to powerful Lake Superior as well as hundreds of inland lakes, ponds and bogs. The Greenstone Ridge, which forms the backbone of Isle Royale, is thought by many geologists to be a portion of the largest lava flow on earth.

All in all, Isle Royale is a fascinating ecosystem, responding to influences seen in very few places in all of North America or the world.

Isle Royale National Parkis significant because:

• It is a remote and primitive wilderness archipelago isolated by the size and power of Lake Superior.
• Isle Royale is world renowned for its long-term wolf/moose predator/prey study. The park offers outstanding possibilities for research in a remote, relatively simple ecosystem where overt human influences are limited.
• Park waters contain the most productive native fishery and genetically diverse trout populations in Lake Superior.

Environmental Factors

On a clear day from the Ojibway fire lookout you can see miles in every direction. The wind does not stop. The sturdy steel structure sings and creaks with each strong gust. To the west is Sargent Lake. To the north is Canada. To the South is the Rock Harbor lighthouse (circa 1855) nearly 2 miles away. Like the more modern lookout, the old light was built to warn of danger.

Inside the humble little shack atop the tower are an incongruous variety of solar powered high tech gadgets. Some carefully monitor the air quality, some record weather data. This is much more than a fire lookout; it is in fact the most isolated atmospheric monitoring station in all of the National Park Service.

The last glacier receded from this area about 10,000 years ago. As the glaciers melted, they formed a huge lake which permanently separated Isle Royale from the mainland. Today, the coolness of the big lake (Lake Superior) creates a climate in which artic plant species grow.    

Directions to Isle Royale National Park

Isle Royale National Park is located in the northwest corner of Lake Superior. This Wilderness Island contains a road-less backcountry which prohibits the use of all wheeled vehicles and devices (except wheelchairs). Visitors traveling to this Island paradise must arrive by boat or seaplane.

Public Transportation

The transportation services depart from Houghton, Michigan, Copper Harbor, Michigan and Grand Portage, Minnesota.  Vehicular parking is available at all departure locations.  The transportation services are found to the right, in the highlight section. The following directions will guide you to the different departure points.

Michigan Departure Points

Houghton, Michigan

Vehicle: Houghton is located in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. It is 200 miles north of Green Bay, Wisconsin, 400 miles north of Chicago, Illinois, and 250 miles west of the Mackinac Bridge. Houghton is located off of US-41 at the base of the Keweenaw Peninsula.

Airplane: Northwest provides daily flights to the Houghton County Memorial Airport, located eight miles north of Houghton on US-41.  Northwest can be reached by calling 800-225-2525, visiting their website www.nwa.com or call the airport office at 906-482-3970 for additional information.

Bus:  Greyhound offers daily service to Houghton, Michigan. Contact Greyhound at (906) 483-0093 or visit their website at www.greyhound.com.

Copper Harbor, Michigan

Vehicle: Copper Harbor is located at the tip of Michigan’s Keweenaw Peninsula. It is located off US-41 just 52 miles north of Houghton, Michigan.

Airplane: Northwest provides daily flights to the Houghton County Memorial Airport, located 44 miles south of Copper Harbor on US-41. Northwest can be reached by calling 800-225-2525, visiting their website www.nwa.com or call the airport office at 906-482-3970 for additional information.

Bus: Unavailable

Minnesota Departure Points

Grand Portage, Minnesota

Vehicle:  Grand Portage, located in Minnesota’s northeastern section, is 150 mile north of Duluth, Minnesota. It is located off US-61 just 50 miles southwest of Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada.

Airplane: The closest airport, Thunder Bay International is 50 miles northeast of Grand Portage; they can be reached by calling 807-473-2600. The Duluth International Airport is found 150 miles south of Grand Portage and they can be reached by calling 218-727-2968

Bus:  Greyhound offers daily service to Duluth, Minnesota; they can be reached by calling 218-722-5591 or visit their website at www.greyhound.com.  Bus service between Grand Portage and Duluth or Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada is provided by Happy Times Tours. They can be reach at 800-473-5955 or visit their website at www.httours.com.

Location