For Immediate Release Contact: Smitty Parratt (906) 487-7154
(HOUGHTON, MI)--"Isle Royale National Park opens for the 2002 season on April 16 for private transportation. Public transportation begins to phase in on May 4," announced Superintendent Phyllis Green today. The Park and its surrounding waters remain open through October 31. In May and June, ferry transportation to the island and visitor services at the Rock Harbor and Windigo Ranger Stations on Isle Royale will become available. Check the Isle Royale website at http://www.nps.gov/isro/ or call (906) 482-0984 for further information about Isle Royale National Park.
Permits are needed for camping on Isle Royale. They can be obtained at the Houghton Visitor Center, located in Houghton, Michigan. The Visitor Center is open year-round Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. through 4:30 p.m., with extended hours from June 17 through August 17 of 8:00 a.m. through 6:00 p.m. Visitor Center staff are currently collecting user fees, selling season passes, making reservations for sailing to Isle Royale on the Ranger III, processing group reservations for groups of 7-10, and issuing backcountry permits for boaters.
The National Recreation Fee Demonstration Program begun in 1997 continues in 2002. Visitors to Isle Royale pay a $4.00 per person daily user fee. Children age 11 and under are free. Two different optional season passes are available. The $50.00 individual season pass allows the person indicated on the pass to visit Isle Royale for the entire season without paying additional user fees. The $150.00 season boat rider pass allows all riders on the permitted boat to visit Isle Royale for the entire season without paying additional user fees. Fees collected in 2001 will be utilized this season for the repair of docks and maintenance of trails; fees collected in 2002 will continue this work into next year.
While on the island, visitors can enjoy nature walks, short talks, cruises, and evening programs. Programs focus on significant park themes, including predator-prey relationships, human uses of Isle Royale, effects of pollution, geology, wilderness, and critical park and environmental issues. The Ranger Stations at Windigo and Rock Harbor will be open to provide permits and information on a part-time basis from May 16 to June 7, then open daily through Labor Day. In addition, interpretive programs at Windigo, Rock Harbor, and Daisy Farm begin on June 8 and extend through Labor Day.
On the mainland, the Ranger III offers the Keweenaw Cruise interpretive program out of Houghton on Thursday evenings from 6:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., June 20 through August 29. The cruise alternates weekly between the north and south entries to Lake Superior along the scenic Keweenaw Waterway (Portage Lake Canal). Reservations are required and can be made beginning May 1. Adults are $14.00, children 11 and under are $5.00, and infants under one year old are free (but still need a ticket and reservation). For groups of 20 or more, adults are $12.00 and children are $4.00.
The Ranger III begins its regular passenger season on May 31, providing transportation to Isle Royale from Houghton, Michigan. The first trip for the Isle Royale Queen III, departing from Copper Harbor to Rock Harbor, is May 13. The Voyageur II begins service from Grand Portage, Minnesota, on May 4. The Voyageur II circumnavigates the island dropping campers at several key wilderness entry points. The Wenonah begins daily ferry service from Grand Portage to Windigo on June 8. In March 2002 the seaplane vendor notified Park Management that they would not be providing their service in 2002. The Park is currently attempting to award a contract and has received interest from several potential seaplane vendors. At this point, a contract has not been awarded, however, Park Management is optimistic that seaplane service will be available this season. For updates, contact the Houghton Visitor Center at 906-482-0984 or by email at ISRO_ParkInfo@nps.gov.
Prior to the opening of the Isle Royale Resorts, the National Park Service will provide boat fuel at Mott Island (beginning April 25) and Windigo (beginning May 3) on a limited basis.
On May 28, a number of Rock Harbor concession services open and extend through September 6. These include housekeeping cabins, marina operations, boat gasoline and diesel fuel, boat pump-out, a store, laundry, showers, water taxis, boat and canoe rentals, and vending machines. On June 11 and extending through September 6, lodge rooms, a dining room, a snack bar, a gift shop, fishing charters, and various MV Sandy cruises will be available at Rock Harbor.
Beginning June 7 and extending through September 8, full Windigo store services will be available. These include store, boat and canoe rentals, boat gas sales (no diesel fuel) and pump-out service, laundry, showers, and vending machines.
Fishing season on Lake Superior and inland waters of Isle Royale National Park is April 16 to October 31. A Michigan State fishing license is required on Lake Superior waters. The season on inland waters of Isle Royale National Park is May 15 to October 31; a fishing license is not required, but Michigan size and possession limits apply. Coaster Brook Trout (Coasters) are a rare lake dwelling form of brook trout; the season, size limits, and catch limits for Coasters differs from the season, size, and catch limits for other fish, to provide protection for this rare species. The Coaster Brook Trout season on Lake Superior is May 1 to Labor Day. The Brook Trout season at Isle Royale on inland streams is April 28 to August 15.
Visitors to the park this year will see several maintenance projects occurring. The trail crew will be focusing on trail projects in the Feldtmann Lake, Siskiwit River, and Hatchet Lake areas. Campground work is planned at Lane Cove, Chippewa Harbor, Todd Harbor, and Little Todd this summer. Dock work is planned at Snug Harbor and Wright Island.
We appreciate your patience and understanding during these work projects. They are all part of our effort to provide better visitor services. Please be careful in work areas, and enjoy the new and upgraded facilities.
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April 5, 2002
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