Commercial Aviation Note: Commercial charter flights to the island are expressly prohibited by federal law without a concession permit issued by the National Park Service, Isle Royale National Park. Royale Air Service, Inc., based in Houghton, Michigan is the only company legally authorized to provide commercial air transportation service to Isle Royale National Park.
Regulations Regarding Flights Over Isle Royale National Park
The landing of aircraft is prohibited on lands or waters administered by the National Park Service without authorization. Exceptions include: 1) when forced to land due to an emergency beyond the control of the operator; 2) at officially designated landing sites or; 3) on approved official business of the Federal Government. The boundary of the park extends 4 1/2 miles out into Lake Superior from the shoreline of Isle Royale.
Ninety-nine (99) percent of the land portion of the park is federally designated wilderness. The park requests that pilots attempt to conduct their flight operations over the open waters of Lake Superior rather than over land, in order to minimize noise disruptions to wildlife and wilderness users.
All aircraft are requested to maintain a minimum altitude of 2,000 feet above the surface. FAA Advisory Circular (AC) 91-36C, "Visual Flight Rules Near Noise-Sensitive Areas," defines the surface as: the highest terrain within 2,000 feet laterally of the flight route, or the upper-most rim of a canyon or valley.
Federal regulations also prohibit airdrops by parachute or other means of persons, cargo, or objects from aircraft within park boundaries. Exceptions include: 1) emergencies involving the safety of human life or; 2) threat of serious property loss.
Title 36, Code of Federal Regulations, Section 7.38, Isle Royale National Park
(a) Aircraft Designated Landing Areas
(1) The portion of Tobin Harbor located in the NE 1/4 of sec. 4, T. 66 N., R. 33 W; the SE 1/4 of sec. 33, T. 67 N., R. 33 W., and then the SW 1/4 of sec. 34, T. 67 N., R 33 W
Tobin Harbor Landing Zone Coordinates
East End of Landing Zone
Lat/Long: 48 09 24.21 N, 88 28 19.77 W
UTM: 0390504 E, 5334539 N
West End of Landing Zone
Lat/Long: 48 08 49.10 N, 88 29 41.06 W
UTM: 0388834 E, 5333516 N
(2) The portion of Rock Harbor located in the SE 1/4 of sec. 13, the N 1/2 of sec. 24, T. 66 N., R. 33 W., and the W 1/2 of sec. 18, T. 66 N., R. 33 W.
Rock Harbor Landing Zone Coordinates
East End of Landing Zone
Lat/Long: 48 06 55.14 N, 88 32 12.45 W
UTM: 0385585 E, 5330118 N
West End of Landing Zone
Lat/Long: 48 05 56.17 N, 88 34 11.21 W
UTM: 0383080 E, 5328350 N
(3) The portion of Washington Harbor located in the N 1/2 of sec. 32, all of sec. 29, SE 1/4 of sec. 30, and the E 1/2 of sec. 31, T. 64 N., R 38 W.
Washington Harbor Landing Zone Coordinates
East End of Landing Zone
Lat/Long: 47 54 13.18 N, 89 10 53.43 W
UTM: 0339308 E, 5309219 N
West End of Landing Zone
Lat/Long: 47 55 05.20 N, 89 09 02.73 W
UTM: 0336965 E, 5307677 N
Landing zone coordinates were all taken mid-channel on the waterways using a hand-held GPS unit. They are believed to be accurate within plus or minus 50 feet.
Isle Royale National Park is open to the public from April 15 through October 31. Aircraft landing or other public use is prohibited between November 1 and April 14.
Overnight seaplane docking is permitted only at the NE end of Washington Harbor and at Tobin Harbor immediately adjacent to the designated landing zone. Advance contact with the park is recommended.
Aviation fuel is not available at the park.
Information about the park can be obtained by writing to: Superintendent, Isle Royale National Park, 800 East Lakeshore Drive, Houghton, Michigan 49931 or by calling (906) 482-0984.