Overview

Isle Royale is a 45-mile-long, 133,782-acre island in Lake Superior, accessible only by boat or seaplane, a northern wilderness area minimally impacted by man.

Add to trip Create accomplishment

Directions

Plan Around Overview

A good stop is not just something to read about. Once it belongs on the day, move into a saved trip and build the route around it.

Add to trip View park guide

Use this detail page to confirm that the stop is worth it, then carry that decision into a trip draft while the park context is still fresh.

Overview Details

Isle Royale is a 45-mile-long, 133,782-acre island in Lake Superior, accessible only by boat or seaplane, a northern wilderness area minimally impacted by man. Formed by glaciers, this remote island can be reached via Park Service operated ferries out of Copper Harbor and Houghton, Mich., and Portage, Minn. The trip takes about half a day, so most Isle Royale visitors spend a night or longer on-island to explore. (The park closes in winter.) The Scoville Point Trail starts near the park visitor center at Rock Harbor and traces the island's coast for four miles before looping back. Backpackers can follow the 40-mile Greenstone Ridge Trail, which includes summiting Mt. Desor, the island's 1,394-foot high point. Boat tours of nearby islands also depart Rock Harbor; a water taxi can drop campers off at the opposite (east) end of the island to facilitate a one-way hike back, which may include encounters with grey wolves or moose. Other activities include boating on the island's lakes and diving on the wrecks in the surrounding waters of Lake Superior, also considered part of the park. Established: March 3, 1931 Area: 571,790.11 acres Website: [www.nps.gov/isro](http://www.nps.gov/isro)

Difficulty

Open

Distance

N/A

Estimated time

N/A

Region

Learn About the Park