isle-royale | MI | Find park

View from above the trees looking down at Duncan Bay Narrows, trees, Lake Superior, and Canada.

Isle Royale, located in the northwestern corner of Lake Superior, offers views of the Canadian shoreline.

Isle Royale National Park is closed in winter, with the exception of a few visiting researchers.

Isle Royale is also called Minong, which means "the good place" by the Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippewa. Minong is a part of the ancestral lands of the Anishinaabe/Ojibwe peoples who have cared for these lands from time immemorial.

Moose are one of the few mammal species who have journeyed to the island.

Rock of Ages is one of four lighthouses at Isle Royale National Park.

Diverse colored Aurora Borealis in the night sky

Isle Royale National Park's dark skies make it an excellent location to enjoy nighttime phenomenon, like the Aurora Borealis.

Physical Address:

800 East Lakeshore Drive

Houghton, MI 49931

Mailing Address:

800 East Lakeshore Drive

Houghton, MI 49931

contact-details

Phone Number: 9064820984 Voice

Email Address: isro_parkinfo@nps.gov
Description:

Fees

Entrance Fees

Entrance - Per Person: $7.00

$7 per person per day to enter or remain in Isle Royale National Park. Children 15 and younger are exempt. Visiting Park Headquarters in Houghton, MI does not require a fee.

Entrance Passes

Annual Entrance - Park: $60.00

Isle Royale Season Pass: $60 valid from April 16 through October 31 of the year indicated. Pass covers fees for the pass holder and up to three adults traveling with the pass holder (four total).

Explore a rugged, isolated island far from our connected communities. Isle Royale offers adventures for backpackers, hikers, boaters, paddlers, and divers. Cross Lake Superior and make a commitment: Become a part of this island, and let it become a part of you. Find peace and refuge in island wilderness – because Isle Royale, in turn, finds refuge in us. Help Isle Royale stay wild.

park designation:National Park

Directions:

Isle Royale National Park headquarters is located in Houghton, MI. Visit the Houghton page on the Isle Royale National Park website for additional information and a map on how to access the visitor center.

For detailed directions, please visit this link.

Directions

Operating Hours:

Isle Royale National Park Open Season (April 16 through October 31)

Isle Royale National Park is open annually from April 16 to October 31. Transportation services are offered from May to September. The island and its surrounding islands are closed to all visitors from November 1 to April 15 due to extreme winter weather conditions and for the safety and protection of visitors. This closure extends 4.5 miles out into Lake Superior from the island. Park headquarters during the winter is in Houghton, Michigan. Summer headquarters is located at Mott Island on Isle Royale.

Exceptions:

Transportation Services (Offered May to September) (May 1, 2025 - September 30, 2025)

Annual Winter Closure (November 1 to April 15) (November 1, 2024 - April 15, 2025)

Weather Information:

Isle Royale National Park is a remote island wilderness in the middle of Lake Superior. Weather influences traveling to and from the island, as well as your trip once you arrive. For the most up-to-date weather information, call (906) 482-0984 or email isro_parkinfo@nps.gov prior to your trip.