Photo:
Tony Webster / CC BY 2.0
Isle Royale is one of the most remote and least-visited national parks in the lower 48, a wild, roadless archipelago in the cold expanse of Lake Superior, famous as a living laboratory for its wolves and moose. Reached only by boat or seaplane and closed for half the year, it rewards backpackers and paddlers with deep solitude and a genuine wilderness few ever experience.
The park is a long, forested main island ringed by hundreds of smaller isles and reefs, its spine a series of parallel ridges and inland lakes left by ancient lava flows and glaciers. Boreal forest, bog and rocky Lake Superior shoreline cover it, and the wildlife is defined by its isolation, moose that swam over long ago, the wolves that followed, plus beavers, foxes and loons, but no bears or deer.
The park is open only from mid-April through October, with summer the prime and busiest window for hiking, paddling and settled (if still cool) weather. Late spring and early fall are quieter, buggier or colder respectively, and offer more solitude. From November through mid-April the park closes entirely to protect the winter wildlife study and for safety.
Getting there is part of the adventure: ferries and a seaplane run from Houghton and Copper Harbor in Michigan and Grand Portage in Minnesota, with crossings of several hours on open Lake Superior. There are no roads or vehicles on the island, so once ashore at Rock Harbor or Windigo you travel entirely on foot or by kayak, canoe or small boat.
Backpacking the island’s 165 miles of trail (the Greenstone Ridge traverse is the classic), is the signature experience, staying at designated wilderness campsites. Paddlers explore sheltered coves and inland lakes by kayak and canoe, anglers fish the lakes, and day visitors from Rock Harbor take short hikes and boat tours. Watching for moose and listening for wolves is the quiet thrill throughout.
Lake Superior is dangerously cold and its crossings can turn rough fast, so respect the water, wear a life jacket, and be ready for hypothermia. The island is remote with no stores and limited help, so carry everything and be self-sufficient. Treat all drinking water carefully, give moose a wide berth (especially cows with calves), and watch for ticks and fast-changing weather.
There is a per-person entrance fee, all overnight visitors need a camping permit, and you must book ferry or seaplane transport well ahead for the short season. Bring all food and gear. Supplies on the island are minimal. This page is a general overview, not a live conditions report; always confirm current transport schedules, conditions and permits with the National Park Service before your trip.
Set this declination on your compass, then align it to the map's north lines; it is the angle between true north and magnetic north, refreshed each year.
