A retreating glacier formed Lake Superior and Isle Royale, a single large island surrounded by hundreds of smaller islands. The park’s 132,018 acres cover 850 square miles of forest and inland lakes. Among the fewer than 20 mammalian species in the park are wolves and moose. Day-trippers visit the island to take a guided tour by foot, onboard a boat or to visit the islands’ lighthouses or historic village. Overnight visitors can hike into the backcountry or paddle to a quiet campsite. Two ferries depart points in Michigan for Isle Royale. The Ranger III, leaving from Houghton, and the Isle Royale Queen IV, departing from Copper Harbor, both serve Rock Harbor, site of a lodge with a gift shop, overnight accommodations, a restaurant and marina. The park closes from November to mid-April because winter weather can be extreme.
Isle Royale has 36 campgrounds reachable on foot or by canoe or kayak. Some campsites have Adirondack-style shelters with three sides that sleep up to six campers. Tent sites fit up to three tents and six people. Daisy Farm, with a combination of 22 tent sites and shelters, is the largest campground on the island, and several campsites have a single tent spot or shelter. The maximum stay at each campground varies from one to five nights, but you can move from one campground to another. A majority of campsites are reachable by boat, canoe or kayak, though some require a portage. Sites are primitive and have pit toilets, but showers are available only at Rock Harbor and Windigo. Some campgrounds only allow cookstoves rather than open fires. From mid-July through late August, campsites fill quickly, but some sites are large enough to share with other groups.
Campers must get a permit and file an itinerary on the Ranger III or at the visitor’s centers at Windigo or Rock Harbor, but groups of fewer than six cannot make reservations -- sites are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Camping is free, but the normal daily use fee is collected by whatever transportation service you choose. Private boaters can pay their fee online or at the visitors centers. Groups larger than six must make reservations, and groups larger than 10 must split up and list different itineraries. Hikers must boil or filter backcountry water, but each campground, with the exception of Island Mine, has a source of potable water.
Evenings are cool, and rain is not out of the question, so a suitable sleeping bag, a tent fly and rain gear are necessities. The terrain is rugged, so make sure your hiking boots are broken in before heading into the woods. The National Park Service recommends campers carry a stove for cooking rather than building cooking fires. Small animals may be attracted by your food -- carry a rope and bag so you can hang your food out of their reach. Biting insects are common, especially in June and July -- use insect repellent, and make sure your tent is bug proof. Wheeled vehicles, including portage canoe wheels and bicycles are not permitted in the park. Follow “leave no trace” practices and pack out anything you pack in.
