With Isle Royale Backpacking Tips and Insights from the Isle Royale Guy
Isle Royale, the gem of Lake Superior, holds a special place in the hearts of many. Jon Prain, also known as “The Isle Royale Guy,” is a seasoned backpacker committed to sharing his wealth of experiences and insights into this remote and pristine national park.
One of the most captivating aspects of Isle Royale is the deep spiritual connection it fosters with nature. The tranquility and remoteness of the island allow visitors to disconnect from the chaos of everyday life and truly immerse themselves in the beauty of the surroundings.
As Prain aptly puts it, Isle Royale is a place where the barrier between humanity and nature is thin, allowing visitors to feel closer to nature and appreciate the wonders of the world around them. Every sunrise, every moose sighting, every narrow trail brings a sense of peace and connection that is unparalleled. The rugged terrain, crystal-clear waters, and abundant wildlife create a tapestry of natural beauty that leaves a lasting impact on those who visit.
Jon Prain, “The Isle Royale Guy” shared his insights on the Lake Superior Podcast. Check out the full episode to hear more!
Preparing for an Isle Royale Adventure
Before embarking on a journey to Isle Royale, it is essential to be well-prepared for the challenges that await. "Every year, I get that gear out, I check it, I test it, I work with it just to make sure it's all there and it's all working,” Prain said.
Prain emphasizes the importance of being self-sufficient and well-equipped, as the island's remoteness can pose unexpected obstacles. From unpredictable weather patterns to limited resources, visitors must anticipate and plan for all scenarios to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience.
One of the key pieces of advice Prain shares is the mantra of "less is more." Instead of rushing through the trails and focusing on checking off landmarks, taking the time to savor each moment and truly connect with nature can elevate the entire experience. By slowing down and immersing oneself in the sights and sounds of Isle Royale, visitors can gain a deeper appreciation for the island and all it has to offer.
Navigating the Isle Royale Trails and Campgrounds
Isle Royale boasts a diverse array of trails and campgrounds, each offering its unique charm and allure. “I like all the campgrounds and all the trails,” Prain says, “but they're all for different reasons and at different times.” Among Prain’s favorites are the Feldtmann loop and the Huginnin Loop, which are on the Windigo or western side of the island. He also likes hiking up by Mount Franklin and Mount Ojibwe, on the eastern or Rock harbor side.
Prain’s favorite campgrounds include Feldtmann Lake, Siskwit Bay campgrounds as well as Todd Harbor and Little Todd Harbor on the Minong Ridge trail.
“But I always want to give a warning when I mention the Minong Ridge trail,” Prain adds. “In my opinion, that's a trail that you really shouldn't go on unless you have some experience with Isle Royale, but also some really good experience camping and backpacking. Because it's very remote, it's very easy to get turned around.”
No matter where you are on the island, Prain highlights the importance of being prepared for the unexpected. From tackling challenging trails to navigating through dense undergrowth, visitors must be ready to face any obstacles that come their way. By adequately equipping oneself with the right gear and mental preparedness, every journey to Isle Royale can be a transformative and memorable experience.
Isle Royale Maps
Several excellent Isle Royale digital maps and brochure options are available from the National Park Service – including a map of cross-country camping zones, trail mileage between campgrounds, a dive site map, a Windigo guide, a Rock Harbor guide, and anchorage zones.
A map is also available in the Isle Royale Unigrid Brochure. The brochure is available in a variety of formats, including Braille, audio-only, and text-only.
Isle Royale Trail Maps
With 165 miles of trails and 36 campgrounds, an Isle Royale trail map is a must for trips longer than a day. The National Geographic Isle Royale Topographic Map (revised in 2019) is a great waterproof map that includes trails and can be purchased online.
For in-depth Isle Royale trail maps, you can check out the 184-page book Isle Royale National Park: Foot Trails & Water Routes by Jim DuFresne. A digital version of several individual trail maps from the book can be purchased in the trail guide section here.
If you’re looking to add an Isle Royale map on your phone, you might want to consider an app such as AllTrails. It incorporates trail routes and user reviews, including the top-rated trails of Isle Royale.
Gaia GPS is an alternative to AllTrails. There are more Isle Royale trails listed though far fewer user reviews.
There are free versions and annual paid subscription versions of both AllTrails and Gaia GPS. The paid version of both apps allows you to download the maps onto your phone. This can be particularly helpful as cell service is unreliable on Isle Royale.
Looking to Visit Isle Royale?
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It includes seasonal visitor tips, stunning pictures, and stories from Lake Superior and its five national parks.
We’ll also send you a free digital copy of our Visiting the National Parks of Lake Superior Overview.
It’s a must-read for visiting the parks - including Isle Royale
A Journey of Discovery and Connection
Prain’s insights offer a glimpse into the magic and allure of Isle Royale. Through his experiences and reflections, visitors can gain a deeper understanding of the spiritual and natural wonders that await on the island.
By embracing the challenges and embracing the beauty of Isle Royale, every traveler can embark on a journey of discovery, connection, and appreciation for the natural world.
For more Isle Royale insights, check out Jon Prain's website. The National Park Service also publishes Isle Royale’s annual Greenstone Newspaper for all you need to know about visiting the park and a special “first timer guide” .
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About The Lake Superior Podcast and NPLSF
The Lake Superior Podcast is a project of the National Parks of Lake Superior Foundation (NPLSF), the official nonprofit friends group for Lake Superior’s five national parks: Apostle Islands National Lakeshore, Grand Portage National Monument, Isle Royale National Park, Keweenaw National Historical Park, and Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore.
Funded through grants and private donations, NPLSF projects and programs ensure that these great parks and historic sites are maintained, improved, and celebrated for the enjoyment of all current and future visitors. For more information, contact us at info@nplsf.org.
Isle Royale FAQ
Isle Royale Location
Where Is Isle Royale?
Isle Royale is in the northwest of Lake Superior. It is about 15 miles (24 km) from the shore of the province of Ontario, Canada, and the adjacent state of Minnesota. It is about 56 miles (90 km) from the Michigan shore.
This map from the National Park Service shows Isle Royale’s location and the main routes to get there by ferry and/or plane:
The gateway communities nearby include Grand Portage, MN, Grand Marais, MN, Copper Harbor, MI, Houghton, MI and Thunder Bay, Ontario.
What State Is Isle Royale In?
Isle Royale is part of the U.S. state of Michigan. Though it is about 40 miles closer to the shores of Minnesota and the Canadian province of Ontario, Isle Royale is administered as part of Keweenaw County, Michigan.
How Big Is Isle Royale?
Isle Royale is 45 miles (72.4 km) long and 9 miles (14.5 km) wide, with an area of 206.73 square miles (535.4 km2). This makes it the fourth-largest lake island in the world and the third-largest island in the contiguous United States.
Isle Royale National Park is an archipelago made up of one big island and 450+ smaller islands and waters. Including submerged land, it encompasses a total area of 850 square miles.
There are 165 miles of trails and 36 campsites, with no cars allowed on the island. Trip planning can be overwhelming, particularly for first-timers. Read more of the tips for visiting Isle Royale in this article and listen to this podcast episode about backpacking Isle Royale.
What Is The Best Time to Visit Isle Royale?
Isle Royale is open annually from April 16th through October 31. The best time to visit is during the summer. July and August are also the busiest times to visit. Some prefer to visit in June and early fall when there’s generally good weather and fewer people. However, there are limited park services available for visiting in the spring (April/May/early June) and fall (September/October).
If you would like to visit in the spring or fall, it’s important to check out the National Park Service’s guides to spring and fall visits and plan accordingly. The NPS also offers important information on the current conditions at Isle Royale.
Getting To Isle Royale
How To Get To Isle Royale in 2024
You can get to Isle Royale by boat or seaplane. The ferry is the most common way to get to Isle Royale, followed by seaplane and then by personal boat.
You can reach Isle Royale from four mainland departure points: Houghton, Michigan; Copper Harbor, Michigan; Grand Portage, Minnesota and Grand Marais, Minnesota. Each location offers various transportation methods, each with its own schedules, prices, and travel durations.
This helpful map from the National Park Service offers the main travel routes and trip times for the ferries:
For all your Isle Royale transportation and trip planning needs, be sure to consult the park's annual newspaper, The Greenstone.
Note that Isle Royale, located in Michigan, is one hour ahead of Minnesota. When traveling to or from Minnesota, verify the time zone indicated on ferry and seaplane schedules for departures and arrivals.
Ferries to Isle Royale
Ferries are the best option for visitors planning to bring canoes or kayaks. The ferries begin operating on different dates starting in mid-May. Note that there are no cars allowed on Isle Royale.
There are four ferry options:
Voyageur II goes between Grand Portage, MN, and various points on Isle Royale (2 hours to Windigo).
Isle Royale Queen IV operates between Copper Harbor, MI, and Rock Harbor on the northeast end of Isle Royale National Park (3.5 hours).
Ranger III travels to and from Houghton, MN, heading to either Rock Harbor or Windigo on Isle Royale (6 hours).
Sea Hunter III journeys between Grand Portage, MN, and Windigo, MI on the southwest end of the island (1.5 hours).
How Long is the Ferry Ride to Isle Royale?
Travel times on the ferries range from 1.5 to 7 hours one-way, depending on the departure and arrival points plus weather. In contrast, the seaplane service offers one-way travel times of 25-45 minutes.
Inclement weather on Lake Superior can cause delays or cancellations of transportation services.
Seaplanes to Isle Royale
Traveling by seaplane is more expensive than traveling by ferry, but it is faster and can offer amazing views of the island and Lake Superior.
Isle Royale Seaplanes generally operates from mid-May through mid-September. Travel delays can occur due to inclement weather. They depart from Grand Marais, Minnesota, and Torch Lake Seaplane Base near Houghton, Michigan. Planes land at either Rock Harbor or Windigo on Isle Royale.
You can learn more about traveling to Isle Royale by seaplane in an interview with Tomás Sowles, Chief Pilot of Isle Royale Seaplanes on the Lake Superior Podcast.
Isle Royale By Private Boat
If you plan to take a private boat, the National Park Service has an excellent boating guide to Isle Royale. Visitors are not allowed on the island from November 1 through April 15 and park services are limited in the spring and fall.
What is the Cheapest Way to Get to Isle Royale
The least expensive way to visit Isle Royale is to take a day trip aboard Sea Hunter III from Grand Portage, MN to Windigo. It is 1:30 each way and offers 4 hours on the island. In 2024, the round trip price is $102 for adults and $96 for children. This does not include park fees.
For overnight stays, expect to pay at least $160 round trip for adult ferry rides and at least $80 for children.
Check here for more information on prices and additional fees for bringing excess equipment, kayaks, bikes, canoes, etc.
Places To Stay On Isle Royale
While day trips are possible, several hours on the island is simply not enough to get the full Isle Royale experience. The average Isle Royale visit is 3.5 days while the average visit to a national park in the US is about 4 hours.
The majority of park-goers decide to set up camp at one of the park's 36 campgrounds (permits are required). Learn more about camping on Isle Royale.
There are alternatives to camping. You can stay in a room or cabin at the Rock Harbor Lodge or rent a camper cabin in Washington Harber. You could get discounted rates off-peak. They do book up so make sure you reserve in advance.
If you come by private boat, you can also dock your boat and sleep there for the night (permits are required).
Does anyone live on Isle Royale?
No one lives year round on Isle Royale. Park Service staff live on the island May through October. Isle Royale's remoteness and harsh climate have always made it a difficult place to live. Isle Royale's prehistoric record began about 4,500 years ago in the Archaic stage. There has been a continuous record of human habitation, albeit limited, on the island up until the 1930's.
Things To Do In Isle Royale National Park
Due to its isolation, Isle Royale is the least-visited national park in the contiguous United States. But there’s still an abundance of activities to enjoy!
Hiking Isle Royale
Learn all about hiking on Isle Royale in The Lake Superior Podcast interview with “The Isle Royale Guy”.
Canoeing, Kayaking and Boating Isle Royale
Isle Royale is a dream destination for canoeing and kayaking, boasting extensive waterways, including inland lakes, bays, and islands. You can bring your own canoes and kayaks on one of several ferry options.
Isle Royale is popular with big lake motorsailers, cruisers and cabin catamarans as well as motor yachts, trawlers and flying bridge cruisers. There are docks throughout the park that are accessible to outside boats though permits are required for overnight visitors.
During the operational season of Isle Royale Resorts, you can rent canoes and kayaks at both Rock Harbor and Windigo, ready to embark on your water adventure. Contact Isle Royale Resorts for more information about rentals and check out the NPS page on kayaking and canoeing.
Fishing At Isle Royale
Some of the best fishing - both on the big lake and interior island lakes - takes place at Isle Royale National Park. A paradise for fishing enthusiasts, Isle Royale National Park boasts remarkable diversity, with over 40 recorded fish species inhabiting its waters. The wide array of fish species includes lake trout, brook trout, lake whitefish, northern pike, yellow perch, walleye, salmon, rainbow smelt, cisco, lake chub, slimy sculpin, burbot, pearl dace, fathead minnow, and trout-perch.
Whether you’re casting a line in Lake Superior or the inland lakes, using a boat, canoe, kayak, or simply fishing on foot, the park offers first-rate fishing opportunities.
Ranger Programs
As a national park, educating visitors is a priority at Isle Royale. The Park Rangers are renowned experts and can be joined for a talk via a Ranger Program at both Rock Harbor and Windigo.
Isle Royale Shipwrecks
Isle Royale National Park is home to ten shipwrecks that are officially listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Learn more about scuba diving, check out a dive site map, and listen to a podcast episode about Lake Superior shipwrecks.
Isle Royale Lighthouses
There are 4 lighthouses within the national park - the Rock Harbor Light, the Isle Royale Light, the Rock of Ages Light, and the Passage Island Light.
Although no longer illuminated, the Rock Harbor Lighthouse is both the oldest lighthouse on the island and the most visited. Located at the entrance to Rock Harbor in Isle Royale National Park, visitors can explore self-guided exhibits, offering a wealth of information and insights.
Isle Royale Restaurants
While most boaters and backpackers bring their own provisions to Isle Royale, the Rock Harbor Lodge features two dining options: the Lighthouse Restaurant and the Greenstone Grill. For those in need of essentials, camp stores in both Rock Harbor and Windigo provide a selection of basic supplies. Learn more and check opening hours here.
Isle Royale Wildlife
The isolated islands are home to 18 mammal species, including wolves and moose. You might cross paths with small mammals like beavers, red foxes, snowshoe hares, minks, pine martens, and river otters.
Isle Royale is an important area for birds. Gulls and ravens can often be seen in the skies. The Sandhill Crane, Great Blue Heron, Downy Woodpecker, Snow Bunting, Double-breasted Cormorant, Winter Wren, and Ovenbird are other examples of birds that have been seen as well as Pileated Woodpecker, Loons, Bald Eagles, and Osprey.
Pets are not allowed as they disturb wildlife and can transmit diseases, though special conditions apply to service dogs.
Feeding animals on Isle Royale is illegal and unhealthy for wildlife.
On this page, the National Park Service also offers safety advice on particular animals.
It includes keeping distance from loons nesting in the spring as they may abandon their nest, being particularly careful with cow moose (no antlers) in the spring as they are extremely protective of calf moose that are born in the spring, and what to do if you see a wolf.
You can also watch this video to learn how to help Isle Royale stay wild.
Wolves and Moose of Isle Royale
The sixty-five-year predator-prey study of wolves and moose on Isle Royale serves as the foundation for a new chapter in understanding these iconic animals and their ecosystem.
Discover the fascinating world of wolves and moose on Isle Royale through an educational documentary sponsored by the National Parks of Lake Superior Foundation.
This film sheds light on the reintroduction of wolves to the island, opening up new avenues for research on the intricate predator-prey dynamics.
Learn more about the Wolf & Moose Initiative and watch the fascinating documentary.
What is the Isle Royale wolf population?
According to the most recent estimate in the summer of 2024, the wolf population on Isle Royale is 36. This is up 16% from the 2022-23 study count of 31 wolves and up 28% from the count of 28 wolves in the 2021-22 study.
What is the Isle Royale moose population?
The moose population on Isle Royale has fallen to just below 900 due to increased wolf predation of calves as well as other factors. The moose concentration is now healthier and more sustainable.
Are there bears on Isle Royale?
There are no bears on Isle Royale. There are also no coyotes, mountain lions or porcupines. Wolves have been the only island apex predators of moose and beaver since the late 1940s. Prior to both the moose and wolf populating the island, it was inhabited by caribou and lynx. Wolves generally avoid humans, but you can learn what to do from the NPS safety page if you see one.