Snapshot Planning Your VisitWhen we visited the park We visited this park the last weekend of September on a day trip plan. We traveled on The Voyager II for about two hours to reach the island. The company that runs this route is Isle Royale Boats, and they work out of Grand Portage, MN. The trip was easy and safe as we made our way to and from the island. We had about four hours on the island to explore, then made the return trip that afternoon. The fall is the only time of the year this company runs these day trips, otherwise, you need to plan for overnight accommodations or multiple carriers to get you to and from the island. Isle Royale Line, INC runs day trips out of Cooper Harbor, MI. It was a cool morning when we headed out, but as the sun warmed everything up, the fog lifted, and it was low 60s by the time we left. Make sure you bring layers for this trip! This was a great way to explore this island for the first time, giving us an idea of what to expect for a longer trip next time.  weather-us.com Things to Consider 1. The first thing to know is, this trip will required extensive planning and flexibility. There are limited options for accessing the island, and when you are there, you have limited lodging and amenities. Plan to pack extra stuff to account for flexibility and weather preventing planned travel schedules. 2. There are no vehicles on the island, so plan to walk and/or hike between different locations. It is beautiful and remote, so be prepared before you head out. 3. No cell service! Bring first aid, extra water, and meals because some times things don't go as planned. 4. There is wildlife to be cautious of on the island. There is a strong population of moose and wolves here. Be respectful and responsible, and you will be fine. 5. This is a sacred place to the indigenous population. Be respectful while visiting the island.  How to Get There There are a couple of ways to get to the island, but all of them require some well-thought-out planning and early reservations. There will also be some significant costs involved with a trip to this national park. When you are on the island, you travel by foot to destinations. By Boat Minnesota Grand Portage - Isle Royale Transportation Line This is the company we used to get us to the island. The captain and mates were wonderful. They entertained our kids for part of the way with coloring, stories, and showing them how the boat works. They also showed the kids the quarters for those that sleep on the boat. It was a great way to spend a 2 hour boat ride to Windigo (about 4 hours on the island). For the day trip ticket, it cost about $100. It will cost you about $90 to get to Windigo, and $113 to get to Rock Harbor for a one-way ticket. Other items you bring, may have additional costs. Michigan NPS The park service operates their own boat, Ranger III, out of Houghton, MI. It runs on specific dates only, so check the website to see availability for your trip. It will cost about $80 for an adult to take a one-way trip and $40 for children to take a one-way trip to Rock Harbor or Windigo. This trip takes about 6 hours to reach the island, and requires an overnight reservation on the island. Isle Royale Line, INC Located in Copper Harbor, MI, this company takes day trips, one way trips, or round trips to Rock Harbor on Isle Royale National Park. It is about a 3 hour and 45 minute boat ride, one way to the island and will cost $160 for a round trip ticket for those 16+ and $115 dollars, round trip for 15 and younger. Additional items may cost extra. This gives you about 2 hours of hiking time on the island. By Sea Plane Isle Royale Seaplanes The only company that offers flights to Isle Royale is Isle Royale Seaplanes. They travel to both Windigo and Rock Harbor, depending on schedules. These flights operate out of Hubbell, MI or Grand Marais, MN. It will cost between $236-$452 per person, depending on your departure and destination. Bringing Your Own Boat You are also able to drive to the Rock Harbor with your own boat. There are permits and requirements if you bring your own transportation. Please check the NPS website for those directions. Additional Maps Provided by the Park Where to Stay Rock Harbor Rock Harbor Lodge The lodge books quickly, so plan well in advanced. There are transitional rooms and housekeeping cabins available for rent. Rock Harbor Campground This 20-site campground (11 tent and 9 shelter/lean-to) is located in Rock Harbor on the northeast end of Isle Royale, off of the Rock Harbor and Tobin Harbor Trails. Additional fees for boats to stay overnight at marina. Three Mile Campground This 13-site campground (5 tent and 8 shelter/lean-to) is located on Rock Harbor Channel off of the Rock Harbor and Mount Franklin Trails. Boats can overnight at dock. Windigo Windigo Camper Cabins These cabins book early, so plan ahead accordingly. These cabins offer a little more comfort, but have limited amenities for your stay. They have a bunk bed and futon available for sleeping., while in Windigo. Washington Creek Campground This 19 site-campground (5 tent and 10 shelter/lean-to) is located along Washington Creek near Windigo on the southwest end of Isle Royale, off of the Feldtmann Lake, Minong, and Greenstone Ridge Trails. The Windigo Visitor Center, Windigo Store, and Windigo Comfort Station are all accessible from the campground. Boats can stay at Windigo Dock (average depth at dock 4'-20') or stay and walk .3 miles to campground. Huginnin Cove Campground This 5 site-campground is located at Huginnin Cove, on the north shore of Isle Royale National Park, off of the West and East Huginnin Cove Trails. Camping - Trail Accessible There are 36 campgrounds on the island, that are first-come, first-serve. You are required to pay the entrance fee, but no additional costs. Each campground has different resources, so use the link above to read about camping and hiking on the island. Most people hike from campsite to campsite, averaging 6-7 miles a day. There are additional fees for groups of six or more, and if permits are required. Lane Cove Campground Daisy Farm Campground Moskey Basin Campground Chippewa Harbor Campground Lake Richie Campground East Chickenbone Campground West Chickenbone Campground McCargoe Cove Campground Todd Harbor Campground Hatchet Lake Campground Little Todd Campground North Desor Campground South Lake Desor Campground Island Mine Campground Siskiwit Bay Campground Feldtmann Lake Campground   What We Did We visited the island the first weekend in October, on a day trip. They only offer these trips in the fall, usually timing it with the changing of the leaves. Honestly, it was probably the best way to experience the island for the first time with very little kids. After disembarking the 2-hour ride from Grand Portage to Windigo, the park ranger met us on the pier and gave us a brief orientation to the island. This is where they used a very effective call-and-response strategy to make sure people are paying attention. We still use it with our kids at home when we want their attention. When she was giving us directions and information about the island, she would say, "Isle Royale is so wild," and the group would respond with "How wild is it?" and then she would repeat it with the fact after. Our favorite fact was, "Isle Royale is so wild, it is one of the least visited national parks, but the most revisited national park." After the orientation, we had about 3.5 hours to explore the park at our leisure. The one requirement is that you check-in at the visitor center and show your America the Beautiful pass, purchased day pass, or pay for a park pass. They have the log from the boat, so they just confirm that everyone is present. This was also when we picked up our kids' junior ranger books. We made sure to complete the required activities in the hours we were there, and then before we boarded the boat back to Minnesota, we had them complete their Junior Ranger Pledge. We get to keep the activity books, and they are awarded a Junior Ranger Badge. We don't have them for every park we have been to, but we definitely wanted one for Isle Royale. This is something magical about this place. The next thing we did after that was head towards Washington Creek Campground. We spoke with one of the mates on the boat, and asked where our best chances of seeing a moose would be. That was our main objective on this trip, seeing one of the famous Isle Royale Moose. They said that sometimes you can find moose by the len-tos in this campground along the creek. Because it was off season, we had the campground to ourselves, and found a great spot to have a picnic lunch. We walked along the campground, and decided that if we returned for an overnight on the island, site 13 here would be the best one to stay at. We walked along Washington Creek, and saw a lot of birds, but never came across Moose. I should also say, my expectations were very low, we are not a quiet group. After lunch, we headed back towards the marina. We had about 1.5 hours remaining and decided to hike part of the Nature Trail, which connects to the Feldtmann Trail. This was a beautiful hike, partly along the shores of Lake Superior, and partly into the wooded area around Windigo. We hiked for about 30 minutes, then turned around and headed back to the boat. It was an easy hike, with a little upward hiking, but nothing steep. We headed back to the Mariana, and had about twenty minutes to use bathrooms, fill water bottles, and board the boat. The time went way too fast on this beautiful day, and it left us with a taste for more of this island. Where this fit in our Road Trip This was the last thing we did on our North Shore road trip. We had to drive almost to the border of Canada to get to Grand Portage, MN. We stopped along the way at some of our favorite spots on the North Shore. If you haven't been to the North Shore before, add it to your list! This is one of my favorite places to visit, and we try to make a weekend a year work. NPS App and All Trails Maps I highly recommend using the National Park Service (NPS) App, as well as the All Trails App for hiking. There is limited service in the park, so planning ahead is helpful. These two apps allow you to download sights, maps, and trails so that you can access information anywhere. The NPS app also links to the full National Parks Website, with a plethora of information.
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