Isle Royale National Park
Michigan Est. 1940

Isle Royale National Park

Island Lake Forest
Plan a visit Check conditions
Established
1940
Size
571,790 acres
Visitors / yr
28.8K
Entrance
$7/day
Best season
June through September
Nearest airport
CMX Houghton County Memorial
Park Closure: Tent Camping Closed at Multiple East End Campgrounds +4 more Details Wildfire Tracker
01

Why Isle Royale is worth the trip

Michigan · Established 1940

Isle Royale is a 45-mile-long island in Lake Superior with no roads, no cars, and a long ferry or floatplane ride between you and it. Nobody wanders in by accident. It ranks among the least visited parks in the system, yet rangers like to say it is the one people most often come back to, and both facts have the same explanation.

The island runs on moose and wolves. Their predator-prey standoff has been studied continuously since 1958, the longest-running study of its kind, and 165 miles of trail let you walk straight through the dataset. Moose sightings are common. Loons own the coves. Backpack the Greenstone Ridge, paddle the inland lakes, or dive the cold-preserved shipwrecks, and plan on days, not hours. Isle Royale does not do day trips well, and that is its best quality.

02

Top things to do in Isle Royale

Where we would start, and what we would plan a day around. Read the full guide.

Isle Royale National Park
Start here

11 Things to Do at Isle Royale National Park

Read the guide
01 Become an Isle Royale Junior Ranger Junior Ranger Program · nps.gov Become an Isle Royale Junior Ranger Become an Isle Royale Junior Ranger and learn about the isolated island, the unique plants and animals found in the park, the island’s cultural... 02 Attend a Rock Harbor Ranger Program Hands-On · nps.gov Attend a Rock Harbor Ranger Program Attend a Rock Harbor ranger program at Isle Royale National Park. Learn about the isolated island, it's cultural history, and the critters who call... 03 Explore Raspberry Island Front-Country Hiking · nps.gov Explore Raspberry Island Take a leisurely walk along a boardwalk through the spruce bog on Raspberry Island accessible by private boat, vessel rental, or a tour on... 04 Greenstone Section 1: Hike from Lookout Louise to Mount Franklin Backcountry Camping · nps.gov Greenstone Section 1: Hike from Lookout Louise to Mount Franklin This secluded section of the Greenstone Ridge Trail reaches to the northeastern tip of Isle Royale. Mileage: About 5 miles
Before you go

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03

Plan your trip

Our guides for the big decisions, plus the gear, maps and lodging we would actually use for Isle Royale.

Things to Do Fun Facts

Where to stay

Gateway towns with lodging, food and outfitters.

  • Houghton, MIGateway town
  • Copper Harbor, MIGateway town
  • Beaver Island Campground 3 sites
  • Belle Isle Campground 7 sites
Compare stays near Isle Royale

Maps & guides

Carry paper. Cell service dies fast inside most parks.

Isle Royale Trails Illustrated map
Waterproof National Geographic topo of the park.
View on Amazon
Isle Royale field guide
Trail-by-trail detail and planning help in print.
View on Amazon
America the Beautiful pass
$80 a year. Covers entrance fees at more than 2,000 federal recreation sites.
Get the pass

What to bring

Field-tested picks we bring on park trips.

  • Bear Spray
    Required carry in grizzly country. Practice the quick-draw before you need it. View on REI
  • Trail Shoes
    Lightweight with good traction for maintained trails. View on REI
  • Rain Jacket
    Mountain weather turns fast. Pack a shell even on clear mornings. View on REI
  • Merino Hiking Socks
    Prevent blisters and keep your feet comfortable for miles. View on REI

Getting there

  • CMX Houghton County Memorial 5 mi
  • DLH Duluth International 220 mi
NPS Official Page Reservations Google Maps

Some links in this section are affiliate links. If you book or buy through them we earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. We only recommend what we would use ourselves.

Isle Royale map

VC Visitor Center CG Campground Nearby Park
04

When to go

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Month-by-Month Conditions

Tap any month for details

Month
High
Low
Crowds
Roads
Jan
23°
11°
Low
Closed
Feb
25°
10°
Low
Closed
Mar
34°
17°
Low
Closed
Apr
44°
28°
Low
Open
May
55°
36°
Light
Open
Jun Best
63°
43°
Peak
Open
Jul Best
69°
50°
Peak
Open
Aug Best
71°
54°
Peak
Open
Sep Best
62°
47°
Heavy
Open
Oct
52°
38°
Low
Open
Nov
39°
28°
Low
Closed
Dec
28°
18°
Low
Closed
Best months to visit Crowd level (low to peak)
05

More Isle Royale guides

06

Parks near Isle Royale

Within reach if you are building a longer trip.

Voyageurs National Park
Minnesota

Voyageurs

200 miles away
Indiana Dunes National Park
Indiana

Indiana Dunes

444 miles away
Cuyahoga Valley National Park
Ohio

Cuyahoga Valley

577 miles away
Gateway Arch National Park
Missouri

Gateway Arch

653 miles away

Worth protecting

Isle Royale belongs to all of us

Protections that took generations to win can be rolled back in a single session of Congress. We keep watch so they hold.

See what's at stake Join the fight for Michigan

Threatened Lands Map

Follow what's happening on federal lands across the country with our interactive map.

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