• A mid-afternoon veiw down the expanse of Isle Royale National Park. Photo taken from the Mount Ojibway Fire Tower.

    Isle Royale

    National Park Michigan

Directions

Regional Map

Regional Map

Isle Royale National Park is located in the northwest corner of Lake Superior. This Wilderness Island contains a road-less backcountry which prohibits the use of all wheeled vehicles and devices (except wheelchairs). Visitors traveling to this Island paradise must arrive by boat or seaplane. The transportation services depart from Houghton, Michigan, Copper Harbor, Michigan and Grand Portage, Minnesota. Vehicular parking is available at all departure locations. The transportation services are found to the right, in the highlight section. The following directions will guide you to the different departure points.

 

Michigan Departure Points

Houghton, Michigan
Vehicle: Houghton is located in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. It is 200 miles north of Green Bay, Wisconsin, 400 miles north of Chicago, Illinois, and 250 miles west of the Mackinac Bridge. Houghton is located off of US-41 at the base of the Keweenaw Peninsula.

Airplane: United provides daily flights to the Houghton County Memorial Airport, located eight miles north of Houghton on US-41. United can be reached by calling 800-864-8331, visiting their website www.United.com or call the airport office at 906-482-3970 for additional information.

Bus: Indian Trails offers daily service to Houghton, Michigan. Contact them at (800) 292-3831 or visit their website at Indiantrails.com.


Copper Harbor, Michigan
Vehicle: Copper Harbor is located at the tip of Michigan's Keweenaw Peninsula. It is located off US-41 just 52 miles north of Houghton, Michigan.

Airplane: United provides daily flights to the Houghton County Memorial Airport, located 44 miles south of Copper Harbor on US-41. United can be reached by calling 800-864-8331, visiting their website www.united.com or call the airport office at 906-482-3970 for additional information.

Bus: Unavailable


Minnesota Departure Points

Grand Portage, Minnesota
Vehicle: Grand Portage, located in Minnesota's northeastern section, is 150 mile north of Duluth, Minnesota. It is located off US-61 just 50 miles southwest of Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada.

Airplane: The closest airport, Thunder Bay International is 50 miles northeast of Grand Portage; they can be reached by calling 807-473-2600. The Duluth International Airport is found 150 miles south of Grand Portage and they can be reached by calling 218-727-2968

Bus: Greyhound offers daily service to Duluth, Minnesota; they can be reached by calling 218-722-5591 or visit their website at www.greyhound.com.

  • Voyageur II and Sea Hunter Voyageur II and Sea Hunter

    Located in Grand Portage, MN, the Voyageur II circumnavigate the island clockwise, offering pick-up and drop-off service at several of the islands campgrounds. The Sea Hunter makes same day round-trips to the southwest side of the island at Windigo. Read More

  • Ranger III Ranger III

    Located in Houghton, Michigan, the Ranger III is the largest ship owned an operated by the National Park Service and is the largest ship that travels to Isle Royale National Park. This ship supports the park's northeast end at Rock Harbor. Read More

  • Isle Royale Queen IV Isle Royale Queen IV

    The Isle Royale Queen IV is located in Copper Harbor, Michigan and services the northeast end of the Island at Rock Harbor. This boat offers same day round-trip service to the island's northeast side at Rock Harbor. Read More

  • Royale Air Service, Inc. Royale Air Service, Inc.

    Royale Air Service, departs from the Houghton County Memorial Airport. The plane provides service to both ends of the island at Windigo and Rock Harbor. They also provide inter-island transportation. Read More

Did You Know?

A dark shinning rock outcrop glistens from the rain.

The last glacier receded from this area about 10,000 years ago.  As the glaciers melted, they formed a huge lake which  permanently separated Isle Royale from the mainland.  Today, the coolness of the big lake (Lake Superior) creates a climate in which artic plant species grow.