Best trails in Isle Royale National Park
The largest island in Lake Superior and one of two parks not accessible by road, Isle Royale National Park is a rarely visited destination due to its isolated location and wilderness. It has many shipwrecks, waterways, and hiking trails. The park also includes over 400 smaller islands and the waters up to 4.5 miles (7.2 km) from the island. There are only 20 mammal species and it is known for its wolf and moose relationship.
Top trails
Visitor info
$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.
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).
Join millions of people who enjoy our National Parks with the "America the Beautiful" National Park & Federal Recreational Lands Pass, otherwise known as the Interagency Annual Pass. The pass is valid for a year's worth of visits from the month of purchase at more than 2,000 federal recreation sites across the country.
No entrance pass required on these days:
Monday, January 20 — Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr.
Saturday, April 19 — First day of National Park Week
Thursday, June 19 — Juneteenth National Independence Day
Monday, August 4 — Anniversary of the Great American Outdoors Act
Saturday, September 27 — National Public Lands Day
Tuesday, November 11 — Veterans Day
The Interagency Access Pass is accepted here.
The Houghton Visitor Center and Rock Harbor Visitor Center are accessible to visitors using mobility equipment or strollers and have wheelchair accessible restrooms. Assistance is available by staff on a golf cart to access Windigo Visitor Center, as there is a very steep grade. Orientation films include closed captioning.
Audio, text, and Braille materials are available.
Many ranger-led programs at the Portage Lake District Library, Rock Harbor Auditorium, and Windigo Visitor Center are wheelchair accessible. Please contact the park in advance to make a reservation for accessibility needs.
Additional information about accessibility at Isle Royale National Park can be found on their website: https://www.nps.gov/isro/planyourvisit/accessibility.htm.
The crew on the Ranger III boat can assist with loading and unloading on the gangplanks, but please alert staff to any accessibility needs when making your reservation. The Ranger III has a wheelchair accessible grill and restrooms. The MV Sandy boat is also wheelchair accessible.
Commercial and private seaplanes and boats are also used to access the park. Please contact those services directly to ask about accessibility.
The Houghton Visitor Center and Rock Harbor Visitor Center are accessible to visitors using mobility equipment or strollers and have wheelchair accessible restrooms. Assistance is available by staff on a golf cart to access Windigo Visitor Center, as there is a very steep grade. Orientation films include closed captioning.
The Daisy Farm and Rock Harbor Campgrounds have 1 individual wheelchair accessible camping site, but the paths in these areas are not accessible and will likely require assistance.
Service animals must be on-leash throughout the park. Service dogs must have a veterinary health certificate that must be received by the park at least 2 days prior to your visit.
Trail reviews for Isle Royale National Park
Lots of trip hazards and great views moose prints and wolf prints Isle Royale national Park
This was an easy loop trail to give you a brief taste of Isle Royale hiking. I was by myself for most of the trail. Left me wanting more....
Very nice trail for our first few hours on Isle Royale
We flew into Isle Royale by seaplane and rented a canoe to paddle to the trailhead.
Another great Isle Royale trail. We took the Tobin Harbor trail out, but crossed over and took the Rock Harbor trail back. The Rock Harbor trail is definitely more difficult, but has better views, fewer bugs, and is cooler in temperature. Both routes are great. Mt Franklin had some fog so we could not see Canada, but the view was still worth the hike.
The trail is a beautiful hike through the woods! The flora is beautiful all along the way! The trail is easy to navigate, but the path has a lot of tree roots and a few rocks that make the path a bit difficult. You need to be careful of your footing! The limited access to Isle Royale makes this a fairly tough trail to get to. It is well worth the effort