Permits

Isle Royale National Park requires a backcountry/camping permit from all who stay overnight in the campgrounds, at dock, or who anchor out. The permits are used to – monitor campground use, deliver emergency messages to hiking parties, find lost campers, and serves as a tool to measure backcountry use.

 

Passengers arrive at Rock Harbor

 

Individual Parties
Individual parties, 1-6 people, will receive their backcountry permit onboard the National Park Service ship, Ranger III. If using another transportation provider, you will receive your permit when you arrive on the island at Rock Harbor or Windigo. There are no fees associated with this permit.

Group Camping
Advance reservations are required for groups of seven to ten people. If your party exceeds ten, you must split into two groups, each independent and traveling on completely separate itineraries. Organizations may not have more that twenty people camping on the island at any one time and are limited to eighty people per year. For additional information on group camping click here. To make a group camping reservation, click here and submit the completed form. There is a $25 group camping processing fee for each permit issued.

Boaters
To make a request for campsites, anchorages, or dock space, click here. To pay for your User Fee of $4.00 per person per day, for anyone over the age of twelve, please have your credit card ready and call 906-482-0984. For additional information on boating Isle Royale National Park, please review the park's newspaper and boating brochure by clicking here.