Isle Royale

Overview

Isle Royale National Park occupies a 45-mile-long island in the northwest corner of Lake Superior, accessible only by boat or seaplane. This isolation — the island is closer to Canada than to any U.S. road — makes it one of the least visited national parks in the system but one of the most deeply experienced. Visitors who make the multi-hour crossing stay for days, hiking a 165-mile trail network through boreal forest, camping on rocky shorelines, and paddling past moose feeding in quiet coves. The island is famous for the world's longest-running predator-prey study, tracking wolves and moose since 1958. After the wolf population crashed to two animals in 2018, the park translocated new wolves from the mainland, and the population has rebounded. Moose are everywhere — swimming between islands, browsing birch saplings along trails, and bedding down in campgrounds. Sighting one is virtually guaranteed on a multi-day trip. The Greenstone Ridge Trail runs 40 miles along the island's spine, connecting Rock Harbor on the east end to Windigo on the west, with shelters and campgrounds spaced a day's hike apart. The trail crosses rocky ridges with views of Lake Superior stretching to the horizon, passes through dense spruce-fir forest, and dips into harbors where pre-dawn fog lifts off the cold water. Isle Royale rewards those who commit to its pace — slow, quiet, and profoundly wild.

Things to Do

• Backpack the 40-mile Greenstone Ridge Trail
• Paddle a canoe or kayak between island harbors
• Watch moose feed in lakeside coves
• Dive the shipwrecks of Lake Superior
• Fish for lake trout and northern pike
• Hike to Lookout Louise for panoramic views
• Stay at Rock Harbor Lodge for a more comfortable visit

Wildlife

Keep an eye out for these animals during your visit:

Weather & Best Time to Visit

Cool Lake Superior climate even in summer, with highs of 60-75°F and cold nights. Rain and fog are frequent. Lake Superior water temperature rarely exceeds 55°F. The park closes in winter.