Isle Royale
FOREST · MI

Isle Royale

National Park
RANKED #43 OF 64 · COMPOSITE RANKING

The Details

A roadless island wilderness in Lake Superior where wolves and moose coexist in a classic predator-prey relationship.

STATE
MI
ESTABLISHED
1940
AREA
572k acres
ECOSYSTEM
Forest

When To Visit

Best Time To Visit

MONTH BY MONTH
BEST TIME TO GO

July–August has the warmest weather, but late June and September mean fewer bugs. Ferries run roughly late May–September.

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WEATHER
CROWDS
Weather: greatokaytough — heat, cold, snow, monsoon or closures
Crowds: quietmoderatebusy
CROWDS

Very low visitation, but ferry and seaplane seats and backcountry permits can still sell out.

WEATHER

The park closes November–mid-April. Lake Superior fog, cold water and sudden storms can delay boats, and biting flies peak in June–July.

General patterns — conditions vary by year. Check current NPS alerts and road status before you go.

How Far

Park Entrances

SET YOUR LOCATION
Every entrance is a different drive. Enter your ZIP to compare:
Houghton, MI (ferry)
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Copper Harbor, MI (ferry)
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Grand Portage, MN (ferry)
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Nearest Airports

ESTIMATED DRIVE TO THE PARK
CMX
Houghton County MemorialNEAREST
≈ 6 mi · ~5 min drive to Houghton, MI (ferry)
DIRECTIONS →
DLH
Duluth Intl
≈ 176 mi · ~3.5 hr drive to Grand Portage, MN (ferry)
DIRECTIONS →

Distances are rough estimates to the closest entrance. Check road and ferry conditions before you go.

What To Do

Top Things To Do

◆Backpack the Greenstone Ridge Trail
◆Paddle the island’s protected coves
◆Listen for loons, and maybe wolves
◆Look for moose near the water

Where To Stay

Camping

Campgrounds inside the park are booked through Recreation.gov, and many fill months ahead.

FIND CAMPSITES ON RECREATION.GOV ↗

Lodging & Nearby Towns

INSIDE THE PARK
Rock Harbor Lodge (seasonal)
GATEWAY TOWNS
HoughtonCopper HarborGrand Portage

Cool Facts & Figures

By The Numbers

#18
LARGEST OF 64
#25
OLDEST OF 64
571,790
ACRES
86
YEARS PROTECTED
◆The island is reachable only by boat or seaplane, and the park closes each winter.
◆Its wolf–moose study is the longest-running predator–prey study in the world.

Links

Plan Your Visit

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