Isle Royale National Park covers 571,790 acres in Michigan. It became a national park on April 3, 1940, the 25th of today’s 64 parks to get that title. It recorded 29,091 recreation visits in 2025, the 60th most of the 63 parks with a 2025 count.
Today at Isle Royale
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Alerts: National Park Service, checked hourly. Forecast: National Weather Service, for the middle of the park. Always confirm on the official park site before you set out.
In the park service’s words
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.
From the National Park Service (public domain).
Entrance fee and passes
The standard entrance pass is $7 per person. Per person, per day.
Here the fee is charged per person. An America the Beautiful pass covers the pass holder plus three more adults.
Entrance is free for U.S. residents on the 2026 fee-free days.
Best time to visit
- Best time to visit Isle Royale: June and September. The weather is at its most comfortable then, and crowds are lighter than at the peak.
- Busiest month: August, with about 8,931 visits in a typical recent year. That is 2.7 times as many as September.
- Quietest month: January (0 visits), when weather or closures keep most people away.
Bar height: visitors that month, compared with the busiest month. Temperatures: average daily high and low (°F); rain and snow: monthly averages. Best marks the months we suggest.
More detail: the best time to visit Isle Royale, month by month.
Plan your visit
- Best time to visit: crowds and weather month by month
- Itinerary: a ready-made day
- Things to do: 6 hikes and 35 other activities
- Camping, RVs and lodging: 36 campgrounds, 1 lodges
- Getting there: closest airport Houghton County Memorial Airport (60 mi)
- Know before you go: safety, what to pack and what to leave at home
Popular hikes
- Explore Raspberry Island (2 to 6 Hours): Take a leisurely walk along a boardwalk through the spruce bog on Raspberry Island accessible by private boat, vessel rental, or a tour on the MV SANDY from Rock Harbor on Isle Royale’s east end.
- Walk the Windigo Nature Trail (1 to 2 Hours): Walk the Windigo Nature Trail and immerse yourself in the deciduous forest on the western end of Isle Royale.
- Stoll Memorial Trail (Scoville Point) (1 to 6 Hours): The Albert Stoll Jr. Memorial Trail is a relatively easy hiking trail that captures the majesty of Lake Superior and engages with the wilderness character of Isle Royale National Park.
- Hike to Minong Ridge Overlook (2 to 6 Hours): Hike to the Minong Ridge Overlook and enjoy views of Isle Royale's west end, Lake Superior, and the Canadian shoreline to the north.
- Hike to Grace Creek Overlook (2 to 4 Hours): Grace Creek Overlook offers scenic views of Grace Creek, Grace Harbor, and Lake Superior.
Webcams
- Windigo Webcam
- Mott Island Southwest Webcam
- Middle Islands Passage Webcam
- Greenstone Ridge Northeast Webcam
- North Shore Webcam
- Tobin Harbor Webcam
- Rock Harbor Webcam
- Greenstone Ridge Southwest Webcam
Weather, in the park service’s words
The park service says:
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.
From the National Park Service (public domain).
Nearby national parks
- Voyageurs (Minnesota): about 201 miles in a straight line
- Indiana Dunes (Indiana): about 451 miles in a straight line
- Cuyahoga Valley (Ohio): about 585 miles in a straight line
- Gateway Arch (Missouri): about 659 miles in a straight line
There is no road from Isle Royale to another national park; you fly or take a boat between them.
Sources
Last checked 1 November 2026.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to enter Isle Royale National Park?
The standard entrance pass is $7 per person. Per person, per day.
What state is Isle Royale National Park in?
Michigan.
When did Isle Royale become a national park?
April 3, 1940.
How many people visit Isle Royale?
29,091 recreation visits were counted in 2025.
When is the best time to visit Isle Royale?
June and September. August is the busiest month and September the quietest while the park is fully open.
