[Brent85]

Has anyone been there, and is it worth visiting? It's the least visited national park, but also very secluded, and only a boat or plane will get you there.

Isle Royale National Park Photo Gallery

Isle Royale National Park Pictures - US National Parks stock photos, fine art prints by QTL

[MittenDweller82]

The park is WELL worth the visit, I went back in 98, and the method of getting there is the same today. There are 2 places you can take a boat to the Island, one is in Houghton/Hancock, the other is at Copper Harbor, which is the way I went. Either way (unless you fly across) it is about a 4 hour ride in some huge waves if there is any wind. Despite that you will never visit another place like it on Earth. There are Lodges on the Island, or you can hike in the back country. There is nothing motorized allowed on the Island, it is very very quite at night. The best way to spend your time is on foot, there is a 40 mile trail going from Rock Harbor, which is at the north end of the Island, that goes south to Tobin Harbor at the other end of the Island. Be prepared for many mosquitoes, there are wolf and moose on the Island but rarely spotted. You can also take tours around the Island on boat that pull into small coves where old copper mining sites once were, very interesting and worth the extra expense. More people visit Yellowstone in a day than visit Isle Royal in a year. My advice is to go during late August, it will be in the 50's and 60's on the Island and usually sunny. You can find lots of info on the governments park service site. It is well worth the trip and the money. Have fun!

[tym2retyr]

Sociologist said it very well. I have been to the island four times, and would go back in a heartbeat. I too left for the island out of Copper Harbor. Going there puts you in a whole different world altogether. You get the same feeling as if you were one of the first explorers to the new world. The air is crisp and clean, water is ice cold, and seeing the wildlife is awesome. My means of travel there has been by sea kayak. Being able to get to the outlying islands that the normal hiker can't get to provides even more for you to see. Keep in mind the equipment you take is extremely important. Water filter is an absolute must as there isn't any well water except at Rock Harbor or Windigo. We filtered all of ours right out of Superior and it was good and cold. We spent seven days on the island and freeze dried food was our best friend. I would strongly advise that if you are thinking of going......DO! You won't regret it(providing the weather holds)Out of the four times I have been there it has rained ony twice, and that was at night. The shelters located throughout the island are really nice to spend the night in and they are first come first serve. Take some real good bug dope too. The skeeters are nasty at certin times of the year, and if you are near the water the stable flies bite hard. At night you can see the northern lights quite well, and if your lucky you can hear the cry of a wolf in the distance. Loons will lull you to sleep at night, and the smells of the forest are awesome. I could go on and on about this place, but you have to go there and see it for yourself.

[Brent85]

Thanks guys. It sounds awesome, I hope to go this year. Seeing the northern lights, hearing loons and wolfs sounds fun. I've been to Copper harbor and love that area, infact I like it better than some places i've been like the smoky mountains. There's waterfalls all over and it's nice driving up brockway mountain. Plus all the little pasty shops. That's what I want people to think of, when they think of Michigan....the northwestern part of the U.P.

[suydam]

I've been. Isle Royale is a great place. Try to get away from Rock Harbor (where the Houghton and Copper Harbor boats drop you off) as it's actually pretty crowded all the time (at least by my standards).

Isle Royale is one of the least visited national parks...but the stretch from Rock Harbor to Daisy Farm is pretty much overrun with campers all the time. There were even drunk redneck power boaters when we were there. It was pretty annoying. Once we got away from that part of the park it was incredibly beautiful and secluded.

[Bhaalspawn]

I'd love to go, too, but the reason why it's the least-visited national park is because it is so danged unaccessible, which is also part of its charm. At most parks, you can spend the night in a motel, drive into the park, park at a trailhead, and go hiking. At Isle Royale you'll need carry camping gear on your back and whatnot.

Here are two YouTube videos that I found:


YouTube - Isle Royale

YouTube - Isle Royale

[tym2retyr]

Bhaalspawn I read somewhere that the park service wants to get rid of the lodge and cabins in Rock Harbor. If that is indeed true it would be a good idea to plan a trip there before it happens. If your not into the long hikes across the island you can stay at the lodge, eat a sit down meal, and still take day trips to see what the island has to offer.

Brent85 I too love Copper Harbor. I like it so mush up there we bought a building lot just north of Eagle Harbor on Lake Bailey. And if you haven't ever stopped at the Jam Pot in Eagle Harbor you should. The monks there make the best fruitcake in the world. Even a dyed in the wool hater of fruit cake would have to admit it was the best. If I had to fault that area for something it would have to be its such a long drive to get there.

[Brent85]

It's been six years since I've been there....because it's so far away.