Introducing Isle Royale National Park
Totally free of vehicles and roads, Isle Royale National Park (www.nps.gov/isro; user fee per day $4; mid-Apr–Oct), a 210-sq-mile island in Lake Superior, is certainly the place to go for peace and quiet. It gets fewer visitors in a year than Yellowstone National Park gets in a day, which means the packs of wolves and moose creeping through the forest are all yours to spot and howl along with.
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The island is laced with 165 miles of hiking trails that connect dozens of campgrounds along Superior and inland lakes. You must be totally prepared for this wilderness adventure, with a tent, camping stove, sleeping bags, food and water filter. Or say ‘to hell with that crap, ’ and shell out the dough for the Rock Harbor Lodge (906-337-4993; www.isleroyaleresort.com; r/cottage $209-239). The park headquarters (906-482-0984; 800 E Lakeshore Dr; 8am-6pm Mon-Fri, 11am-6pm Sat Jun & Jul, 8am-4:30pm Mon-Fri Aug-May) in Houghton can provide information.
From the dock outside the headquarters in Houghton, the Ranger III (906-482-0984) departs at 9am on Tuesday and Friday for the six-hour boat trip (one way adult/child 7-12 $56/20) to Rock Harbor, at the east end of the island. Royale Air Service (877-359-4753; www.royaleairservice.com) offers a quicker trip, flying from Houghton County Airport to Rock Harbor in 30 minutes (one way $180). Or head 50 miles up the Keweenaw Peninsula to Copper Harbor (a beautiful drive) and jump on the Isle Royale Queen (906-289-4437; www.isleroyale.com) for the 8am three-hour crossing (one way adult/child under 12 $62/31). Days of departure vary, so call for the schedule. You also can access Isle Royale from Grand Portage, Minnesota. Bringing a kayak or canoe on the ferry costs an additional $20.
Last updated: Feb 17, 2009
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