RT Isle Royale National Park

Isle Royale National Park Travel Guide

National park consisting of Isle Royale, the fourth-largest lake island in the world, and more than 400 small adjacent islands, as well as the surrounding waters of Lake Superior

General Information

Hours:

Open seasonally from April 16 through October 31
Open 24 hours a day during the operating season
Closed to visitors November 1 through April 15

Fees:

Park Entrance Fee: $7 per person, per day
Children 15 and under: Free
Isle Royale Season Pass: $60
Federal Recreation Passes accepted (America the Beautiful, Senior, Access, Military, and others)
Transportation fees for ferry or seaplane service are additional

Pet Policy:

Pets are prohibited throughout Isle Royale National Park, including all islands, trails, campgrounds, and boats within park boundaries.

Closest cities with hotels:

Houghton, MI

Seasons:

Summer and early fall (June through September is the most popular time to visit due to ferry service, milder weather, hiking, kayaking, boating, wildlife viewing, and camping opportunities)

Location:

800 E Lakeshore Dr, Houghton, MI 49931

Website:

nps.gov/isro

How to Get There

From Houghton, MI: Travel to the Ranger III ferry terminal at 800 E Lakeshore Dr in Houghton, then board the ferry across Lake Superior to Rock Harbor on Isle Royale National Park.

Overview

Isle Royale National Park protects Isle Royale and more than 400 smaller islands in Lake Superior, part of Michigan but closer to the shores of Minnesota and Ontario. At 45 miles long, it's the largest island in Lake Superior and one of the largest in the contiguous United States.

Established in 1940 and later designated a wilderness area and UNESCO International Biosphere Reserve, the park has no roads; the only way in is by ferry, floatplane, or private boat from Michigan or Minnesota. Isle Royale is the only U.S. national park that closes completely each winter, from November through mid-April.

Wildlife and Geology

Isle Royale is famous for one of the longest-running predator-prey studies in the world, tracking its populations of timber wolves and moose. The island's ridged terrain, running southwest to northeast, was shaped by ancient lava flows and later carved by glaciers, culminating at Mount Desor, its highest point.

Recreation

The island offers about 170 miles of hiking trails, including the 40-mile Greenstone Ridge Trail spanning its length, along with canoe and kayak routes and 36 wilderness campgrounds. The park's two developed areas, Rock Harbor and Windigo, offer lodging, camp stores, and boat docks.

This article uses material from the Wikipedia article "Isle Royale National Park", which is released under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share-Alike License 3.0