Isle Royale Boating     

Welcome to Isle Royale National Park! Boaters have been coming to Isle Royale to enjoy the clean clear waters, the protected harbors and bays, the dramatic shorelines, and the excellent fishing for more than 100 years. Many Isle Royale boaters make repeat trips to the island, and some can trace their island connections back for generations. Even first-time visitors can feel keen appreciation for the resources and values of this one-of-a-kind maritime park.

People come to Isle Royale for different reasons. Boaters, backpackers, scuba divers, lodge guests, paddlers, fishermen and sailors all seek their own experience. The challenge for the National Park Service is to provide these differing visitor groups with recreational opportunities which are compatible with the preservation of park resources and the needs of different users.

Isle Royale National Park is by law a protected area. Ninety-nine percent of the land area of the park is designated Federal wilderness. The park boundary extends 4.5 miles out into Lake Superior from the outermost land areas of the park. The designation ensures that this Lake Superior gem will remain mostly undeveloped and preserved in its natural state. Legally, wilderness designation places restrictions on the kinds of activities which can occur within the park. The National Park Service is mandated to protect not only the natural and cultural resources of Isle Royale but the sometimes less tangible wilderness character. Some activities which would be acceptable in a mainland port or campground may be inappropriate in a wilderness area.

To help you enjoy your stay, read this information, which is also available in hard copy by mail or at any of our visitor centers.  Keep one in your boat's glove compartment or tackle box. Much of the information is useful anywhere on Lake Superior. Please have a safe and enjoyable visit to Isle Royale National Park. If you have a question, suggestion, or need assistance, please contact a ranger; they are here to assist you and to protect park resources.

Dock Accessibility

Please plan to leave dock space at the following docks to allow the 63' ferry boat Voyageur II access to load and unload passengers. The schedule is listed below. Times are approximate and are given in Eastern Daylight Time.

The lodge tour boat, MV Sandy, also stops at several Rock Harbor area docks and McCargoe Cove. Dock space is reserved for the Sandy at the following docks and times.

Commercial Nets

You may see gill nets set in the Rock Harbor area, placed by the National Park Service's fisherman at the Edisen Fishery. This demonstration fishery is established as a cultural exhibit preserving the rich history of commercial fishing at Isle Royale. Please do not damage the nets. Cut nets can continue to catch and unnecessarily kill fish. Do not troll or motor between net buoys.

The fish caught at the Edisen fishery provide valuable data used by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources to monitor fish populations. If you would like to know more about Isle Royale commercial fishing or the fish monitoring program, weekly fishery tours are given during the summer months.

Do You Know These Flags?

DIVER DOWN FLAG

This flag, a white bar through a red rectangle, may be flown from a vessel or a float and signifies that divers are below and caution is required. Vessels must maintain a no wake speed within 200' of a diver down flag. Establish and maintain communications with dive boats displaying a flag before approaching.

ALPHA FLAG

This flag is a rectangle with the mast side white and the other side blue with a notch cut from it.  Vessel has personnel and/or equipment in water and is unable to maneuver. Do not approach; maintain a safe distance of at least 200 feet around vessel. Watch for divers.

NOTE: Shipwreck mooring buoys are for divers' use only.

DIVERS: A permit is required before diving. Check at the Rock Harbor or Windigo Ranger Station. You must fly the Diver Down or Alpha flag while diving. All wrecks and artifacts are protected by Federal law. Do not remove anything. The shipwreck America is closed for diving between 12 noon and 2 p.m. EDT. Portable compressors may only be operated at public docks located at Windigo, Rock Harbor and Malone Bay and only at specified times. Please consult the park's Scuba Diving brochure for additional information.

VHF Telephone Calls

There are no public telephones within Isle Royale National Park. VHF Radio/Telephone calls can be made via marine radio on Channels 87 (Copper Harbor, MI) and 85 or 26 (Thunder Bay, Ontario). All calls must be charged to a credit card.

Procedure: On Channel 87, key hand microphone for 20 seconds. You will hear an operator answer. For Channels 85 or 26, hail "Thunder Bay Coast Guard" and inform them that you wish to make a marine telephone call.

Customs

All vessels (U.S. or Canadian) arriving from Canada must clear U.S. Customs. Customs service is only available at Rock Harbor and Windigo Ranger Stations and is only good for Isle Royale National Park.

Useful Radio Frequencies

Here is a list of some radio frequencies you may find useful while cruising Lake Superior. Ranger stations at Mott Island and Windigo monitor channel 16 during normal business hours. The National Park Service uses Channel 68 as the park's working channel.

All of the channels listed above are for public use. Use of some marine channels is restricted. If in doubt, use only channels you know are open for public communication.

User Fee

Visitors to Isle Royale are required to pay a $4 per person per day User Fee. Children 11 and under are exempt from the fee. Boaters have the option of either paying the daily fee or purchasing one of two optional passes.

The $150.00 Season Boat Rider Pass is valid from April 16 to October 31 of the year indicated. This pass covers the User Fee for all persons on board who are following the boat's itinerary, when affixed to the private boat. The $50.00 Individual Season Pass, valid for the same time period, covers the User Fee for the person whose signature appears on the pass.

The optional season passes can be purchased in person at the Houghton Visitor Center, at the Rock Harbor or Windigo Ranger Stations, or at the USFS Gunflint Ranger Station in Grand Marais, Minnesota. Passes may also be purchased by calling the park's Houghton office at (906) 482-0984; faxing at (906) 482-8753; or by writing to: Isle Royale National Park, 800 East Lakeshore Drive, Houghton, Michigan 49931.  Make checks payable to the "Department of the Interior, NPS", VISA, MasterCard, Discover, and American Express are also accepted. When requesting the Individual Season Pass, please include the recipient's full name, address, and telephone number. When requesting the Season Boat Rider Pass, please include the owner's name, address, telephone number, boat registration number, length, make, color, type of craft, and name of the boat if applicable.

Fishing at Isle Royale    

Lake Superior Waters: The Michigan Department of Natural Resources regulates fishing within the Lake Superior waters of Isle Royale National Park. A Michigan fishing license is required and all Michigan size and catch limits apply.

Inland Lakes and Streams: No fishing license is required to fish the inland lakes and streams of the park. Only artificial bait and lures may be used. No living or dead minnows, worms, leaches, insects, fish eggs, or food may be used. Michigan open seasons, size and possession limits apply with the exception of park-specific restrictions for brook trout. Check with a ranger for additional information.

All fish in your possession count toward your limit, regardless of where and when you caught them. All fish in your possession must be measurable and identifiable by species. This requirement will be met by leaving the head and skin on.

Keep in mind that the larger (usually 28 inches or more) fish are the ones that produce offspring. Leaving the larger fish and taking those smaller than 28 inches helps ensure that there will be plenty of fish in the future. These smaller fish are also better-tasting, so consider taking pictures of the large fish, then carefully releasing them. Instead of killing trophy fish, please consider modern graphite mounts.

Please help to conserve the outstanding fishery at Isle Royale. Catch and release, while encouraged, can be very stressful on fish, especially those brought up from depth or which have been hooked on the gills. The park encourages fisherman to catch only what they plan to keep or eat and then stop fishing and enjoy the many other attractions of Isle Royale.

A permit from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is required to ship fish on a commercial vessel. The permit is good for a daily possession limit only and may only be used once a year. Fish must be claimed by someone at the end destination and cannot be stored. Permits may be obtained by mail or phone from the Michigan DNR. Fish may not be transported in coolers of boats riding on the deck of the Ranger III. Ask the ship's purser how to transport fish properly.

Help keep docks and campgrounds clean by following these guidelines for fish cleaning:

• At Rock Harbor, use the fish cleaning station.
• At Windigo, bag your fish remains and put them in trash cans.
• Other areas:

• Clean fish at least 100' away from docks and campsites
• Cut fish remains (skeletons and heads, too) into small pieces (4" or smaller).
• Place the remains on shore at least 100' away from the docks and campgrounds, between the waterline and the vegetation. OR
• Dump remains in deep (50' or deeper) waters of Lake Superior, outside of protected bays or harbors.

Please resist the temptation to throw pieces of fish remains to the gulls. Often these pieces end up rotting in shallow water. One purpose of these guidelines is to prevent stinking fish remains from ending up on the lake bottom near campgrounds and docks. Finally, please do not clean fish directly on the docks. Thoroughly scrub up and rinse away all blood and slime from any on-shore surfaces.

Regulations and Wilderness Protection

The regulations of Isle Royale National Park are designed to protect park resources and visitor experiences. Regulations place strong emphasis on preserving wilderness character. Visitors are responsible for adhering to park regulations. A complete list of regulations is available at any ranger station.

Isle Royale National Park is under the exclusive jurisdiction of the United States.   Park rangers are legally responsible for the enforcement of all park regulations, US Coast Guard marine safety regulations, the criminal laws of the United States, and applicable laws of the State of Michigan. The Michigan DNR, US Coast Guard, and US Customs Service may, at times, have officers in the park to enforce laws and regulations.

Low Impact Camping: Low-impact camping practices are an essential part of preserving the wilderness character of Isle Royale. Please practice 'Leave No Trace' principles. Take time to pick up and pack out everything you bring to the island. Twist ties, candy wrappers, and cigarette butts are easy to overlook, so check your camp thoroughly. Do not wash dishes or bathe in lakes and streams. Take water in a pot away from the water source in order to wash anything. Dispose of soapy water in the soil 100' away from lakes and streams. Please do not do anything which would change the landscape, such as digging or trenching around tents.

Pets: Dogs, cats and other pets may not be brought within park boundaries, nor may pets be kept on board boats. Visitors bringing pets to the island will be required to leave immediately. Isle Royale is a wildlife sanctuary; pets disturb and can transmit lethal diseases to wildlife.

Quiet Hours: People come to the island to escape the noise and clamor of everyday life. Maybe that's why you came. Most people want to listen to the natural sounds of the park or even turn in early. Try to be as quiet as possible, especially in the evening or early morning. Vessel generators may only be operated between the hours of 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. EDT. Quiet hours are from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. EDT. During this time, if anybody can hear you or your group, you're being too loud. Take care not to slam shelter and outhouse doors. Remember how well sound carries over water; even a simple conversation can be heard a long way away. Use of portable radios and TVs are discouraged at Isle Royale. If you use such devices, please keep the volume as low as possible.

Fires: Campfires are permitted at only a handful of park campgrounds. Where permitted, fires must be built in established metal grates using dead and down wood. Cutting standing trees (dead or alive) or branches on standing trees is prohibited.

Alcohol Ban: Open containers of alcohol are prohibited in campgrounds, on docks, and aboard docked vessels at both Siskiwit Bay and McCargoe Cove.

Wildlife: Some park wildlife (ducks, gulls, fox, or otter) may act tame. Do not feed or touch these animals. They are wild and may injure you. Wildlife that becomes habituated to humans may have to be destroyed, so don't encourage this kind of animal behavior.

Wilderness Waters: Motorized vessels (including dinghies) are not allowed on inland lakes or streams. Use only paddles and oars to explore these waterways. Water skiing and jet skiing is prohibited anywhere within park boundaries.

Trash: Garbage removal is a big problem for the park. All Isle Royale garbage must be hauled off the island and back to the mainland. This is expensive and takes away from other park services, like dock maintenance. You can help. Please take your garbage back to the mainland and dispose of it properly. Do not burn or bury trash. Uneaten food is trash too. Don't leave it behind for animals to get into.

Docking, Anchoring, and Camping

All dock space and individual campsites (including all shelters) are available on a first-come, first-served basis. They may not be reserved or held for others prior to their arrival. From mid-July to the end of August, expect to find crowded conditions at docks and campgrounds. Boaters who are already set up at a campsite and who have a valid camping permit must be given priority access to space at the dock. Observe consecutive night stay limits for each campground, in effect from June 1 through Labor Day. Campground shelter sites may not be used solely for cooking or storage; please occupy them only if you intend to sleep there. Be gentle with shelter screens and doors.

The Group Campsites, found in many of the larger campgrounds, are available by reservation for groups of 7 to 10 people. If you set up camp in a Group Campsite without a reservation, you will have to move when a group with a reservation arrives.

Permits: Permits are required for all overnight camping, including anchoring out. Permits may be obtained at either the Windigo or Rock Harbor Ranger Stations.

As a convenience to boaters with a Season Boat Rider Pass, the Houghton Visitor Center will provide boaters the option of obtaining a camping permit by regular mail, e-mail, or by fax. When using this service, boaters must submit their request at least two weeks in advance of their trip to the park. Boaters without a Season Boat Rider Pass, or Individual Season Passes for all members on board, may obtain camping permits in person at the Houghton Visitor Center no more than 48 hours in advance of intended departure. Since user fees are non-refundable, boaters concerned about weather or mechanical problems may prefer to pay at Windigo or Rock Harbor.

Docks: Generally, only docks which adjoin campgrounds are open for overnight use. The Rock Harbor Marina provides nightly slip rentals with utility service hook-ups. Overnight docking is not permitted at the small boat cove at Passage Island, Raspberry Island dock, Hidden Lake dock, or the Edisen fishery. Several private docks are located throughout the park; please observe posted docking restrictions. Anchoring out is allowed and encouraged; check with a ranger or other boaters for information on good anchorage locations.

Please consult the park's Greenstone newspaper for more information on campgrounds and docks.

Fueling, Pump-Out, and Repair

There are no commercial boat repair facilities within the park. Among the services provided at Isle Royale, fuel is sold from Mid-May to Mid-September at Rock Harbor and Mid-June to early September at Windigo. Diesel fuel is only available at Rock Harbor. Early and late season service may be obtained at Windigo and Mott Island if personnel are available. Head pump-out service is available at Windigo and Rock Harbor when the concession operation is open. Federal regulations prohibit the discharge of any waste, including gray water, into park waters. Vessels carrying spare fuel in portable containers must use legally approved containers. Fuel may not be stored on docks.

Safety

Boating at Isle Royale can be challenging and treacherous. Consider the following ideas to help you plan a safe trip.

Charts: All boaters at Isle Royale should have Great Lakes Chart #14976, This chart shows the island, underwater features, and navigational aids. There are many reefs and shoals around the island, many just below the surface or barely protruding and not visible when conditions are rough.  The bottom comes up abruptly in many places.  Charts are sold at Rock Harbor, Windigo, and Houghton Visitor Centers and by mail order, 1-800-678-6925.

Float Plan: It's a good idea to leave a trip float plan with someone. The plan should include your itinerary, a complete boat description, a list of all passenger names and their home phone numbers, and an emergency phone number to call should your party become overdue.

Required Equipment: Vessel equipment must meet US Coast Guard and Michigan requirements. Brochures on equipment requirements are available from most Coast Guard stations and DNR offices. Be sure all equipment is in good condition. New Michigan state laws require that children under six years wear a Type I or II personal flotation device (PFD) when on an open boat deck, Also, all boats must carry wearable PFDs for each person. As cold as Lake Superior is, wearing your PFD is always a smart idea.

No-wake areas: Boaters are legally responsible for any damage caused by the wake of their boats. Observe no-wake buoys. Practice caution and courtesy near all docks. Be alert for canoes and kayaks and make no wake when passing them.

Emergencies: Report any emergency to the nearest ranger station or the US Coast Guard via marine radio. Friends or family on the mainland with an emergency message should contact park headquarters in Houghton Monday through Friday between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. EDT at (906) 482-0984. After hours and weekends, assistance may be obtained by calling the Windigo Ranger Station at (906) 337-4994 or your nearest USCG office. NPS personnel may also be reached through the Houghton Police Department at (906) 482-2121.

Weather Information

Severe weather (high winds, wind shifts, fog, etc.) can set in with little or no warning. Listen to updated weather broadcasts. NOAA broadcasts continuous weather forecasts or check weather online. Weather broadcasts can be heard on channel 26 or weather stations 2, 3 and 4 from both US and Canadian stations. Many boaters find that Canadian forecasts from Thunder Bay can be more accurate for Isle Royale.

A marine weather forecast (MAFOR) can include a five-digit code, as explained below.   MAFOR code example: "1 1 6 0 4" means that the weather forecast is for Lake Superior waters (1), the first three hours of the forecast period (1), west winds are predicted (6) at 0 to 10 knots (0) with fog(4).

Last Updated: Thursday, March 21, 2005 1:29 PM
http://www.nps.gov/isro/boating.htm