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National Parks | Travel Inspiration | AAA World
Isle Royale National Park

Looking for the perfect place to disconnect? May we suggest Isle Royale National Park? Found 53 miles off the northernmost tip of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, Isle Royale is an archipelago of more than 400 islands smack-dab in the middle of Lake Superior. Rock Harbor and Windigo are the towns on the main island.

 

Let’s get these details out of the way first: The park is open only between April 15 and October 31. No cars, bikes or pets are allowed on the island. Oh, and cellphone service is unreliable. The National Park Service reports that the Rock Harbor Trading Post and Windigo Store may have satellite phones available for public use. There is no public WiFi available for visitor use on island.

 

Ready to go? The only way to get to Isle Royale is by boat or seaplane. Ferry service is available from Houghton and Copper Harbor, Michigan, to Rock Harbor. Ferries also run from Grand Portage, Minnesota, to Windigo and Rock Harbor. Seaplane rides are available from Houghton, Michigan, or Grand Marais, Minnesota. It’s best to set up your transportation in advance.

 

Once there, you’ll find lodging at the Rock Harbor Lodge or rustic one-room camper cabins in Windigo—again, reservations for both are advised. Of course, if you’re heading to Isle Royale to get away from it all, you’ll be happy to know there are 36 campgrounds scattered throughout the islands.

 

One of the most remote and least-visited national parks in the US, Isle Royale entices outdoor-loving visitors with 160-plus miles of wilderness hiking trails, inland waterways, wildlife sightings, four lighthouses and sunken shipwrecks off its coasts.

 

For more on Isle Royale National Park, visit nps.gov/isro.