Isle Royale National Park

Year Established: 1940
Annual Visitors: 26,000
Size: 571,790 Acres
State: Michigan

Best Time to Visit Isle Royale National Park

July to August

If you are planning to visit more national parks, check out our complete list of all US National Parks.

Best Experiences in Isle Royale National Park

• Stoll Trail
• Backcountry camping

A Brief History

The Ojibwe people started looking for copper in the thick woods of this 45-mile-long archipelago 4,600 years ago. In the late 19th century, western prospectors came here to find the valuable mineral. Many people had to deal with the extreme weather, which made this part of Lake Superior a graveyard for ships.

The side-wheelers and steamboats on the bottom of the lake have been saved by the cold water, making it a great place for divers. In 2021, the government made the Minong Copper Mining District on the island a National Historic Landmark to show how important mining has been for thousands of years.

Isle Royale is the least visited park in the Lower 48 states because it is far away, has a rocky coastline, fog-covered lagoons, and is hard to get to. Even though the land is in the middle of nowhere, it is full of life. There are about 600 kinds of flowering plants, 100 kinds of grasses, and carpets of blueberries. Wolves, moose, foxes, and beaver ponds live in the dense spruce and fir forests.

Isle Royale RV Camping

If you are looking for nearby RV camping options for Isle Royale National Park or in Michigan, consider checking out our other post:

• Best RV Parks in Michigan
• Best RV Resorts in Michigan

Visitor Information

Fees

The entrance fee to Isle Royale National Park will no longer be able to be paid in cash. Checks can’t be used on the island either. Customers will only be able to pay with credit cards. Children who are 15 years old or younger can get in for free.

Daily Park Passes

$7.00 per person

Seasonal Park Passes

$60.00 per group

*This pass will cover 4 adults total (including the park pass holder). Season is April 16 through October 31.

Contacting Isle Royale National Park

Visitor Centers

Houghton Visitor Center

The ferry to Isle Royale National Park, the Ranger III, leaves from this Visitor Center. If you are going to the Isle Royale on a private boat, you can get a boating permit before you leave. You can also watch a 25-minute video about the park and pay your entrance fees here. The Isle Royale Visitor Center in Houghton is a must-see if you want to go to Isle Royale or just want to learn more about this unique National Park.

Rock Harbor Visitor Center

The Rock Harbor Visitor Center is at the northeast end of Isle Royale National Park, in the town of Rock Harbor. Only by boat or seaplane can you get there. You can get help planning your trip, pay for permits and fees, and buy things at the park store.

Windigo Visitor Center

Isle Royale National Park ends in the southwest, which is where Windigo is. It can be reached by the Voyageur II, the Seahunter III, the Isle Royale Seaplanes service, or by a private boat or seaplane. Find out as much as you can about the Windigo Visitor Center’s hours and the weather before you go.