20 Expert Tips We Wished We Knew Before Going to Isle Royale National Park

After backpacking nearly 90 miles (145 km) around the entire island of Isle Royale National Park, we learned so many Isle Royale tips that we wanted to share with anyone thinking about visiting this remote park. We learned about not only what to do on the island, how to deal with its remote location but also tons of recommendations about getting there as well.

Our trip to this remote national park would’ve been so much better had we known these expert Isle Royale tips before we planned our adventure. However, there was so little we could find online about visiting Isle Royale from people who’d actually been to this park. Use these expert tips gained from our experience combined with that of friendly park rangers, other visitors and ferry operators to help you with your next trip to Isle Royale.

Our Recommendations to Get to and From Isle Royale National Park

Here are our favorite tips for getting to Isle Royale and some of the things we wished we knew before embarking on our journey to the least visited US National Park in the lower 48 states.

Tip #1: Reserve Your Spot on the Ferry or Seaplane ASAP

Reserve your ferry or seaplane early, early, EARLY!

The ferries regularly sell out a month or more in advance. Book your seats as early as possible or you may not be able to get to Isle Royale National Park.

This national park doesn’t have a timed entry lottery like some of the busier parks like Glacier, Yellowstone, etc. Instead, public access to Isle Royale is limited by the ferry or seaplane capacity. If you don’t get a ferry or seaplane seat, you need to find someone with a private boat or seaplane.

Remember: Isle Royale National Park is a remote island in Lake Superior located about 14 miles (22 km) from the nearest mainland. You leave your car, RV, camper van, etc. on the mainland and take a ferry or seaplane to Isle Royale. No cars, vehicles, bikes are allowed on Isle Royale (plus there are no roads on the island!). You CANNOT drive to Isle Royale! Okay thanks for listening to my TED talk. 🙂

Tip #2: Be Flexible With Your Itinerary

Be flexible when planning your trip. Oftentimes the available return ferry trips don’t match up with your dates or length of time you want to spend on Isle Royale.

Consider going in the shoulder seasons of May to mid-June when there are minimal mosquitoes and lots of cute baby moose. Or visit in September when the island’s fall colors are at their peak and most of the mosquitoes have died off. Peak visitor season on Isle Royale National Park is typically July and August.

Tip #3: Pay for National Park Entrance Fees Before Leaving the Mainland

This Isle Royale tip is to save you unnecessary waiting time. Pay for national park entrance fees ahead of time to avoid waiting in long lines on the island. This is especially important if you’re coming to the island for just a day trip and have limited time on Isle Royale.

Tip #4: Day Trippers – Plan Your Itinerary Ahead of Time

Day trips – Plan your itinerary ahead of time to maximize the short amount of fun time on the island. Check out some of our favorite trip planning tools and maps for Isle Royale. Need ideas for day hikes on Isle Royale National Park? We’ve got you covered.

• Isle Royale Day Trip Ideas
• 14 Free Maps for Isle Royale National Park

Tip #5: Overnight Backcountry and Camping Visitors

Overnight trips – Purchase your entry fees, plan your campsites and your itinerary ahead of time to make the permitting process go faster. 

You can’t reserve campsites on Isle Royale National Park for groups of 6 or less. It’s more of a first-come, first-serve type deal. Luckily, the campgrounds are usually spacious and if it does get crowded, you may have to share a tentsite with another group or head to an overflow area.

Instead, come with an itinerary in mind for backcountry trips especially. The rangers will help you with picking out campgrounds and putting together an itinerary before issuing your permit.

• Backpacking Isle Royale (+9 Spectacular Backpacking Routes)
• Isle Royale Campgrounds
• Isle Royale Backcountry Permitting Process

Tip #6: Large Camping Groups of 7+ Must Reserve a Group Permit BEFORE Arriving to Isle Royale

Large groups – For groups of 7 or more planning to stay overnight in the backcountry, make sure to reserve a group permit before arriving to Isle Royale or you’ll get fined and required to leave immediately. 

Some Isle Royale campsites will be inaccessible to your group due to limited space so make sure you double-check your itinerary before reserving online. Groups cannot exceed 12 or more individuals, including trip leaders. You may be required to break up into smaller groups while hiking.

Tip # 7: Wear Warm Clothes on the Ferry + Pack a Small Bag for Food, Water

Wear warm clothes on the ferry as it can be 20-30 degrees cooler onboard versus the mainland. Lake Superior has very cold water and spray, wind and the chill from the lake can make it a chilly experience, even if you’re inside.

The last time we went to the island at the end of June, it was 80°F (27°C) on Isle Royale but about 45°F (7°C) on the ferry with lots of cold spray, wind, waves and it even snowed on us! Uffda, as they say up north.

The ferry operator will require you to arrive 30-90 minutes early to stow your gear properly. Once your gear is stowed, you cannot access it for the entirety of the Lake Superior crossing. Kind of like on an airplane, pack a small carry-on bag for the ferry like a day pack, with water, snacks, medicines, any entertainment (ex: books, phone, etc.), warm hat, gloves, down jacket and rain pants/jacket. 

• Isle Royale Packing List
• What it’s Like on the Isle Royale Ferry

Tip #8: Be Aware of Time Zone Changes

Time zone change – The entire island of Isle Royale operates on Eastern Time (EST or EDT) which can be confusing, especially leaving from Minnesota which is in the Central Time Zone (CST or CDT). Double, triple and quadruple check ferry and seaplane departure times! The ferry and seaplanes wait for no one.

Tip # 9: Pack an Extra Day of Food in Case of Bad Weather

Pack an extra day or two of food and medications in case bad weather comes up and the ferry or seaplane can’t leave the island. This is rare but it does happen occasionally.

• What’s in the Isle Royale Stores?

Tip #10: There is No Wifi / Cell Service on Isle Royale National Park

Download your audiobooks, podcasts, music and offline GPS map apps prior to leaving the mainland since there is no WiFi or cell service on the island! The ferries typically don’t have wifi either.

We hiked the entire island and the only cell service was a crappy bar or two that connected to Canadian cell service providers on top some of the ridges. Avoid roaming charges and keep your phone in airplane mode.

However, if you’re staying at the Rock Harbor Lodge, there is wifi available only for the guests. However, this wifi is only accessible in the lobby, not the rooms.

There is limited electricity on the island as most of the power is solar or diesel generators. If need to charge your devices and have a little luck and determination, you might find an extra electrical outlet near the bathrooms, general stores, restaurant, shower and laundry facilities at Rock Harbor and Windigo. There is no electricity anywhere else on the island.

• Isle Royale Cell Service and Wifi
• Best Isle Royale Safety Tips

Tip #11: Pets are NOT Allowed on Isle Royale

Leave your pets at home – you will be asked to immediately leave Isle Royale and could get fined or face legal repercussions. Dogs especially can (and have) transferred parvovirus to the island’s wolf population and killed off almost all of them.

If you have an ADA service dog, make sure you complete the service dog visitor application, get the required vet appointments and signed off permission from Isle Royale’s superintendent. Service dogs are recommended to stay at Rock Harbor and Windigo which are the ports where the ferries arrive. The interior trails of Isle Royale aren’t recommended for service dogs as wolves will prey on, injure or kill dogs of any size. 

• Isle Royale Accessibility
• Why Aren’t Pets allowed on Isle Royale?
• The World Famous Wolves of Isle Royale

Tip # 12: Bring Cash for Car Parking Fees When Returning to the Mainland

Have cash on you for parking fees upon returning to the mainland. Some ferry providers offer free day or overnight parking to visitors.

However, most ferry providers ask for a small parking fee, especially for overnight parking in their private, 24/7 surveillance secure parking lots. Make sure you understand if your ferry provider charges a parking fee.

• How to get to and from Isle Royale National Park
• Is it safe to leave my car somewhere when going to Isle Royale?

Tip #13: Be Patient on Isle Royale

Be patient, have fun and enjoy unwinding on “island time” at Isle Royale National Park. Life moves a little slower on Isle Royale, especially without cell service, wifi and limited electricity.

Tip #14: Do NOT Forget Bug Spray and a Bug Head Net (or Bug Suit)!

Pack a bug head net or bug suit and do NOT forget bug spray! Yes, the insects are really THAT BAD on Isle Royale National Park. The mosquitoes are next level insanity. Check the Isle Royale Bug Report before leaving. The stores at Windigo and Rock Harbor sell bug spray and head nets but can run out of stock.

Organic or “natural” insect repellent DOES NOT WORK ON ISLE ROYALE MOSQUITOES. Do yourself a favor and get that 100% DEET or at least 20% Picardin. Besides mosquitoes, you have biting black flies, horseflies, deer flies and more. It can be quite hellish if you’re a slow hiker during the summer on Isle Royale.

Also make sure after the sun sets that you’re inside your tent, hammock with bug net attachment or four-sided shelter. After spending 3 months hiking the Florida Trail, we can say without a doubt that the Isle Royale mosquitoes are as bad as (or worse than) the mosquitoes in the Everglades. Our shirts are still blood-stained from Isle Royale National Park mosquitoes!

We wished that we treated our clothes with permethrin spray before leaving the mainland to deter mosquitoes and biting flies. 

• What do the stores on Isle Royale sell?
• What are the Isle Royale campgrounds like?
• Best time of year to visit Isle Royale

Tip # 15: Bring 2 to 3 Liters of Water With You Hiking on Isle Royale

Have at least 2 to 3 liters of water capacity in your pack and a means to filter water from the backcountry if you’re going on longer hikes. It can get extremely hot on the ridges with long water carries of 10 miles or more. The dark greenstone rocks radiate heat back at you and without a breeze, it can feel like you’re walking through an oven.

The only public potable water on the island is located at Rock Harbor and Windigo from faucets near the docks, in the campgrounds and bathrooms.

• Windigo Amenities
• Rock Harbor Amenities
• Best water treatment method for Isle Royale

Tip # 16: Wear Lots of Sun Protection

Bring sunshirts, sun hats, sunglasses and sun gloves to avoid sunburn. Minong Ridge and Greenstone Ridge are very exposed with little shade and minimal breezes so be prepared for some intense sunshine. 

Tip # 17: Mosquitoes are Worse at Interior Lakes vs. Lake Superior Campsites

Mosquitoes are worse at the campsites on the interior island lakes versus on the Lake Superior facing campsites. The campgrounds on Lake Superior are generally cooler, breezier and during the day have fewer mosquitoes than the campsites at the island’s interior.

At night you definitely want to be in your tent or 4-sided shelter. After having survived three months on the Florida Trail, I can vouch and say the mosquitoes in Isle Royale were about as awful as the ones in the Everglades. 

Tip # 18: Bring a First Aid Kit & Be Prepared for Delayed Backcountry Rescues

Bring a solid first aid kit and know how to use it, especially if you are hiking in the backcountry. Isle Royale is so rugged and remote that the park rangers warn backpackers that rescues and evacuations can take many hours or even days.

A Personal Locator Beacon or satellite phone is an excellent piece of gear to have for a backpacking trip since there is no cell service anywhere on the island. 

• Isle Royale Camping Gear List

Tip #19: Report Wolf Signs and Sightings to Rangers

If you see wolves, or any signs of wolves, make sure to report it to the rangers at Windigo and Rock Harbor. Isle Royale is home to one of the most scientifically important predator-prey studies in the world and biologists encourage hikers to report sightings to help with the study.

Look at you, citizen-scientist!

• All About Isle Royale Wildlife
• Expert Tips for Wildlife Photography on Isle Royale

Tip #20: Schedule in Some Extra Time on Isle Royale

Finally, take your time on exploring Isle Royale National Park. Almost everyone we met said that they wished they had more time on the island because it was so beautiful and peaceful. Instead of big mileage days, take some time to set up camp early and enjoy the beaches.

Bonus Tips!

Tip # 21: Take Dramamine 1 Hour Before the Ferry

If you’re prone to seasickness like I am, make sure to take dramamine or some other anti-emetic before leaving on the ferry. Lake Superior can be rough waters and dramamine is a great way to brave the crossing. Keep in mind that the ferries will cancel their crossing if the water is too rough and dangerous.

Tip # 22: Watch Out for Moose and Wolves (Even in the Busy Ferry Dock Areas!)

The Isle Royale moose population has varied from 500 to 2400 individuals over the years. That’s a lot of moose for one island, ranging from about 2 to 12 moose per square mile. Be wary when you get up to go to the bathroom at night!

One of our friends woke up to a moose standing over his tent in the Washington Harbor campground. He said he zipped up his tent, prayed to the forest gods he wouldn’t get stomped on and waited until the morning to go to pee.

While we were hiking on Isle Royale, we were only a 5 minute walk from Rock Harbor marina when we saw a moose eating in the forest, about 15 feet (5 m) from us.

Wolves are less common than moose but that doesn’t mean you won’t see one! We met a park ranger whose friend was hanging up the flag in Windigo and a wolf came by to check her out. She also had to throw her water bottle at a wolf that wouldn’t leave her alone while hiking near Windigo.

Enjoy Your Time on Isle Royale

Well, we hope that helped you out with planning your trip to Isle Royale National Park. Enjoy the unique beauty and wilderness and we’ll see you out there!

Happy Trailcations y’all!