Isle Royale National Park guides
11 in-depth guides to Isle Royale National Park, in reading order: what to see, how to get around, and what to know before you go. Back to the Isle Royale National Park overview.
Crossing Lake Superior by Ferry or Seaplane
Visitors reach Isle Royale National Park by ferry or seaplane, and the park's ferry is the Ranger III.
Isle Royale's Short April-to-October Season
Visitors can reach Isle Royale from April 16 through October 31 each year, and that span is the park's full operating season.
Greenstone Ridge and Mount Desor
Mount Desor is the highest point on Isle Royale, at about 1,362 feet. Dense tree cover over the top makes the summit hard to pick out from the path.
Sea Kayaking the 400-Island Archipelago
Sea kayaking Lake Superior around Isle Royale is best suited to experienced paddlers. The park is an archipelago of more than 400 islands, with Isle Royale itself the largest of them, and the island is surrounded by the open waters of the lake.
Moose and Wolves on an Island
Isle Royale sits in Lake Superior, 56 miles from the Keweenaw Peninsula, and its isolation shapes the ecosystem.
Edisen Fishery and Island Fishing Families
Edisen Fishery is a historic commercial fishery on Isle Royale, where the working life of island fishing is on display.
Lighthouses and the SS America Wreck
Ships once threaded their way through the many small islands around Isle Royale with the help of a string of lighthouses.
Ancient Copper Pits and Failed Mines
Native people from nearby Minnesota and Ontario came to Isle Royale to hunt long before it became a national park.
36 Hike-In Campgrounds and Backpacking Routes
Isle Royale has 36 campgrounds spread across the island, and each is reached by foot or by water.
Rock Harbor: Lodge, Visitor Center, and MV Sandy
Rock Harbor is the more developed area on the northeast end of Isle Royale National Park, and visitors can reach it by ferry, seaplane, or private boat.
Windigo and the Island's Western End
Windigo occupies the southwestern corner of Isle Royale, the island's western tip. You can get there by the Voyageur II or the Sea Hunter III, by Isle Royale Seaplanes, or in your own boat or seaplane.
