Best Things to Do at Isle Royale National Park
Robert DeckerDive into the heart of adventure at Isle Royale National Park—a hidden gem cradled by the cool embrace of Earth’s largest freshwater titan, Lake Superior. Ancient volcanic rock foundations give rise to lush forests teeming with wildlife, making Isle Royale feel like an island oasis floating quietly in the middle of the lake.
Why people love Isle Royale: It’s remote, uncrowded, and wildly beautiful—built for solitude, long hikes, and “we have the whole place to ourselves” moments.
Isle Royale at a Glance
- Best for: backpackers, day hikers, anglers, wildlife watchers, divers, lighthouse lovers
- Vibe: quiet, remote, true wilderness
- Getting there: ferry (most common) or seaplane
- Season: generally open mid-April to late October
A Quick Note From the Artist
My name is Rob Decker, and I’m a photographer and graphic artist with a passion for America’s National Parks. My work reflects the beauty and wilderness of Isle Royale—as well as my commitment to its history, ecology, and preservation. Through my art and advocacy, I aim to inspire appreciation and stewardship of these precious landscapes.
Planning Tip
The only other way to reach the island is by seaplane. Because Isle Royale is so remote, most visitors plan ahead and build their trip around ferry schedules and the seasonal window.
How to Get to Isle Royale
🚢 Take a Ferry Ride
There are several ferries taking nature lovers to the island. Here are the highlights:
- Ranger III: Transports visitors from Houghton’s Portage Canal and cruises beneath the world’s largest lift bridge, passing dramatic shoreline and the towering lighthouses of the Keweenaw Peninsula.
- Voyageur II: Seasonal service with spectacular wilderness views from the water—also a key mode of transport for backpackers traveling between Windigo, Daisy Farm, McCargoe Cove, and Rock Harbor.
- Isle Royale Queen IV: Leaves Copper Harbor for Rock Harbor in about 3 hours.
- MV Sandy: Guided trips with National Park rangers, narration, and (often) the chance to disembark for ranger-led hikes. Tours leave from the Rock Harbor Lodge dock to destinations such as Hidden Lake, the Edisen Fishery, Raspberry Island, and Rock Harbor Lighthouse.
Fun fact: Isle Royale is known for an unusually high number of return visitors—people come once, then immediately start dreaming about the next trip.
Top Things To Do on Isle Royale
🥾 Hiking on Isle Royale National Park
The crown jewel of Isle Royale is the Greenstone Ridge Trail, which runs roughly 43 miles across the island. It climbs up from Lake Superior to the east at Lookout Louise, curves west across exposed ridgelines and deep woods, passes pristine lakes, and crosses swamps before dropping back toward Lake Superior near Windigo on the island’s west end.
Greenstone Ridge Trail (Quick Breakdown)
- Distance: ~43 miles
- Time: typically 3–5 days for the full backpacking trip
- Best for: true wilderness hiking
- Short on time? Hike a section for a few hours and still get epic views
Shorter trails (minutes to a couple hours) include:
- Tobin Harbor Trail
- Stoll Trail
- Minong Ridge Overlook (spectacular views)
Good to know: Isle Royale has roughly 165 miles of hiking trails—and since there are no roads, hiking is one of the primary ways to get around.
🗼 Tour a Lighthouse
Isle Royale features three lighthouses:
- Menagerie Island Light
- Rock Harbor Light
- Passage Island Light
Rock Harbor’s beloved white tower and black lantern is a popular stop. It’s Isle Royale’s oldest lighthouse, and maritime exhibits are led by the National Park Service (often with a stop at nearby Edisen Fishery).
The Menagerie Island Lighthouse (built in 1875) features unique rock and red sandstone, with a white octagonal tower and keeper’s quarters. It remains a working lighthouse today—though it’s not open to the public. You can walk the grounds, but it’s only accessible via private boat.
The Passage Island Lighthouse (built in 1872) is near the eastern end of the island and is featured on a popular boat tour out of Rock Harbor. An 8-mile cruise aboard the MV Sandy takes you to Passage Island, followed by an NPS-guided 2-mile round-trip hike to the stone lighthouse.
🤿 Scuba Diving
For experienced divers: Isle Royale’s ten major shipwrecks span seventy years and showcase the evolution of Great Lakes maritime transportation—from wooden side-paddle steamers to massive steel freighters. Protected by the National Park Service, these vessels can be explored by experienced divers.
🦌 Get to Know the Locals
Since Isle Royale is so remote, the only “locals” you’re likely to run into are wildlife—especially the majestic moose, the star of the show. Moose can be found all over the island, and some even frequent campgrounds and lodges.
Moose are affectionately referred to as the “hippopotamus of the north country,” and their affinity for water makes sightings more likely. Wolves have also called the island home since 1948, though they’re much less noticeable and often only appear at night.
Other species you may encounter include beaver, river otter, red fox, mink, snowshoe hare, snakes, and many bird species.
🎣 Fishing at Isle Royale National Park
Fishing has a long history here, where Native Americans first fished these waters. With over 100 inland lakes across Isle Royale, no permits are required to fish the lakes. Common catches include freshwater coasters, northern pike, trout, walleye, and perch. If you want to fish Lake Superior, a permit is required.
Rob Decker is a photographer and graphic artist who had the rare privilege of studying under Ansel Adams in Yosemite National Park when he was just 19 years old. Now, Rob is on a journey to explore and photograph all 63 of America’s National Parks. He’s creating WPA-style posters to help people celebrate their own national park adventures — as well as encourage others to get out and explore!
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