Is there public transportation service between
Houghton, Michigan (where the Ranger III departs) and Copper Harbor (where
the Isle Royale Queen IV departs)?
Yes, taxi service in Houghton or Calumet can provide that transportation.
How many trips per day does the Ranger III
make to Isle Royale during peak season (May-Sept)?
The Ranger III begins carrying
visitors to Isle Royale the first week of June and makes two trips per week
to Isle Royale (every Tuesday and Friday), returning each Wednesday and Saturday
through the second week of September.
What is the scheduled time of departure from Houghton,
Michigan?
The Ranger III departs Houghton
for Isle Royale at 9:00 a.m. EDT each Tuesday and Friday through the passenger
season, but you should arrive an hour ahead of time (or more if you have boats
or extensive gear to load).
Are there any days that the Ranger III
does NOT run (holidays, etc.)?
No, the regular schedule is good all season
long.
Is it possible to see the park with day trips and ferry service from Grand Portage?
It is possible to visit Isle Royale for a day
trip using the Wenonah from Grand Portage, Minnesota or the Isle Royale
Queen IV from Copper Harbor, Michigan. Unfortunately the layover of
3 to 3.5 hours allows only a brief glimpse of the immediate area and will allow
time only for a short nature walk. To explore the backcountry, you will
need to spend multiple days. Another consideration would be to establish
a camp at Washington Creek or McCargoe Cove Campground (3 night maximum stay)
and venture out on day hikes from there. Other campgrounds accessible
by ferry offer day hiking possibilities as well. One could base camp at
Washington Creek for 3 days, then continue on the Voyageur II to McCargoe
Cove to spend another 3 days. Or do the same thing at Daisy Farm and Moskey
Basin, with either a hike or a water taxi in between.
Is there lodging in Grand Portage?
Yes. Lodging is available in Grand Portage as well
as other nearby communities.
Is it possible to bring a car on the ferry to the island?
No. Vehicles and wheeled devices are not allowed on Isle
Royale, to preserve its wilderness integrity.
Is it a drive around park?
No. You can bring a private boat to explore around Isle Royale,
or ride ferries to and around the island. You can also canoe or kayak
around or in the island. Most visitors get around by walking.
What boat trip from Michigan would you recommend?
You can travel to Isle Royale from Michigan either via the Ranger
III from Houghton or the Isle
Royale Queen IV from Copper Harbor. You can also fly.
From Minnesota, ride the Voyageur
II or Wenonah to Isle Royale.
Is white gas for camper's stoves available
when Isle Royale Resorts is closed early and late season?
The Visitor Centers at Windigo and Rock
Harbor will sell white gas from mid-May to mid-June and mid-September through
the end of September when the stores at those locations are closed.
Is there off-road biking on the Isle?
No wheeled vehicles are permitted on Isle Royale, including
bicycles or canoe portage devices. Wheelchairs are permitted.
Is taking pictures of wildlife okay?
Yes. Just be careful to keep a safe distance from moose, which can be
aggressive at times. Also, some wildlife are very sensitive to the presence
of humans and can be put in danger by approaching too closely or motorboating
near them, such as loons.
We would like to go to Isle Royale for an overnight
tent camping trip, but there are only 2 of us and I read that you only take
reservations for groups of 6 or more.
Parties of 6 or
less are not defined as "groups" on Isle Royale. They obtain
permits on the Ranger III en route to Isle Royale, or at Rock Harbor
or Windigo on Isle Royale. Groups of 7 to 10 must obtain advance reservations
and must camp in group campsites. Groups cannot be larger than 10.
How good is the possibility of not getting a campsite?
Isle Royale is busiest from mid-July through
mid-August. Campers sometimes have to double up at campsites. It
is the price we pay for not requiring advance reservations and for allowing
flexibility in your itinerary (for groups of less than 7).
Is camping free on Isle Royale?
Yes, but a $4 per person per day User
Fee is charged through the transportation service for each day you are at
Isle Royale.
Can we car camp or bicycle camp at Isle Royale?
No vehicles or wheeled devices are allowed on the island. You can camp
in your boat at an overnight dock or haul your possessions on foot to campgrounds.
Are there showers at the campsites in Isle Royale?
No. Isle Royale is a primitive wilderness experience, for the most part.
Showers are available
at Windigo and Rock Harbor, each near a campground, but most campgrounds are
not close to showers.
If campsites can be boated to, does this mean by boat, or
ferry?
The Ranger III (originating in Houghton, Michigan) and Isle Royale
Queen IV (originating in Copper Harbor, Michigan) carry visitors to and
from Rock Harbor and Windigo. The Voyageur II and Wenonah,
which originate in Grand Portage, Minnesota, carry visitors to and from Windigo.
In addition, the Voyageur II can drop off or pick up hikers at Daisy
Farm, Chippewa Harbor, Malone Bay, McCargoe Cove, and Belle Isle. A water
taxi from Rock Harbor can pick up or drop off hikers on the eastern end
of Isle Royale anywhere between Siskiwit Bay and McCargoe Cove. Private
boaters can access numerous campgrounds, including Beaver Island, Belle Isle,
Birch Island, Caribou Island, Chippewa Harbor, Daisy Farm, Duncan Bay, Duncan
Narrows, Grace Island, Hay Bay, Malone Bay, McCargoe Cove, Merritt Lane, Moskey
Basin, Rock Harbor (free on Tobin Harbor side, fee on Rock Harbor side), Siskiwit
Bay, Three Mile, Todd Harbor, Tookers Island, and Windigo. Additionally,
canoeists and kayakers can access a number of campgrounds. Lake Whittlesey,
Wood Lake, Intermediate Lake, and Lake Richie Canoe Campground are accessible
only by canoe or kayak (portages
are required).
Are there any group rates or discounts?
Group rates are available for the Ranger
III . Season
passes for the daily user fees are available, which effectively act as discounts
when visitors stay for longer periods of time at Isle Royale.
What would it cost 2 adults to stay in the park 4 days?
A user fee of $4 per person per day is charged while visiting Isle Royale.
Two adults for four days would run $32. If each of you was going to spend
13 or more days on Isle Royale or wanted to contribute to supporting Isle Royale
facilities, you could buy the optional Individual Season Pass for $50.
How do I pay the User Fee?
Most visitors pay their User Fee
before or during their boat or seaplane trip to Isle Royale, based on their
reserved travel times. Boaters have options to pay before leaving or
after arriving.
What happens with the fee if I change my itinerary
while on Isle Royale?
Campers will have to head into Windigo or Rock Harbor Visitor Centers to change
their permits, whether they are staying longer or leaving earlier. Additional
User Fees can be paid at the visitor centers.
Can I wait to pay my User Fee until returning
from my camping trip?
You will need to pay your User Fee before arriving at the island or upon arrival
at Rock Harbor or Windigo.
Please send me information about Isle Royale. How
can I get maps, access information, etc.?
We are happy to send you information. You might want to
take a good look at this website first, as it will answer the vast majority of your
questions, and you don't have to wait for us to mail you information that is already at
your fingertips, saving taxpayers some money in the process.
When planning a trip a simple 4-day outlook does
little for planning! How about some historical averages for temperature,
precipitation, and the like?
The historical weather information
is linked here.
I plan to bring a group of 7 girl scouts and
3 adult leadersto Isle Royale and hike. What do I need to know?
Groups of six or less obtain a regular camping
permit when reaching Isle Royale or while en route on the Ranger III.
Groups of seven to ten are officially classified as "groups" and must
obtain advance reservations
to camp at Isle Royale. If there are more than ten people, then you must
split into two groups with completely separate itineraries and permits while
on the island and both groups must
obtain advance permits.
Are there certain park tours that are a lot better
than others?
Which tours will fit your needs best really depend on you. How vigorous
an excursion do you want? How long do you want to be involved? Evening
programs are quite popular at Rock Harbor and Windigo as a time to learn about
Isle Royale after a day of exploring. Short talks and nature walks work
well for day visitors and those needing less strenuous activity. Guided
hikes to Passage Island and Lookout Louise are good for those with a half a
day who want to stretch their legs and work for a view and new knowledge.
What is the name of the largest island in the largest
lake on the largest island on the largest (surface area) lake in the world?
Ryan Island
How do you get to be a boat captain?
First, one must know what size of boat or ship you want to be "Captain" of.
A license to operate a commercial ship is issued by the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) following
a long and comprehensive exam (my first license exam lasted 7 days). In order to qualify
to take the exam, one must have from one-three years documented "experience" on
a similar size ship. This will be as an Ordinary and Able Bodied Seaman. One may also
qualify to take the exam by attending one of seven USCG recognized Maritime Academy's (as
I did) like Great Lakes Maritime Academy in Traverse City, Michigan. Here you will spend
three-four years in college and nine months onboard a ship as a "cadet".
After taking a Mate's and First Class Pilot's (FCP) exam (and passing), you will be issued
a license to operate, but not command, a ship. You will then, again, need to have
three-five years experience as a deck officer and FCP and then one will qualify to
"sit" for the USCG "Master Mariner" license exam. After passing, if
there is a Captain's position available, you may apply, but more likely you will continue
to build more experience until a position if offered to you.
The more education, experience, personal contacts and "good luck"
you have, the more likely you will be selected for that "Captain's"
position, perhaps even the RANGER IV!
Bill Hanrahan, Captain, USNPS RANGER III, Isle Royale National Park
Go to Virtual Visitor Center for Isle Royale National Park
Go to Home Page for Isle Royale National Park