Isle Royale National Park - Plan Your Visit

Isle Royale National Park by National Parks Service

Operating Hours Seasons

Isle Royale National Park is one of the few national parks to close during the winter. The Island is closed November 1 and will reopen on April 16. The closure is due to the extreme winter weather conditions, for the protection of wildlife, and for the safety and protection of visitors. The Park Headquarters for the winter is located in Houghton, Michigan, the summer headquarters is located at Mott Island on Isle Royale National Park.

Getting There

Plane

Regular seaplane service is provided by the Royale Air Service based out of the Houghton County Airport. They can be reached by calling toll-free 877-359-4753, or emailing RoyaleAirService@aol.com, or write Royale Air Service, Inc., P.O. Box 15184, Duluth, Minnesota 55815

Car

Houghton, Michigan

Houghton is located in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. It is 200 miles north of Green Bay, Wisconsin, 400 miles north of Chicago, Illinois, and 250 miles west of the Mackinac Bridge. Houghton is located off of US-41 at the base of the Keweenaw Peninsula.

Copper Harbor, Michigan

Copper Harbor is located at the tip of Michigan’s Keweenaw Peninsula. It is located off US-41 just 52 miles north of Houghton, Michigan.

Grand Portage, Minnesota

Grand Portage, located in Minnesota’s northeastern section, is 150 mile north of Duluth, Minnesota. It is located off US-61 just 50 miles southwest of Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada.

Public Transportation

Isle Royale National Park is located in the northwest corner of Lake Superior. This Wilderness Island contains a road-less backcountry which prohibits the use of all wheeled vehicles and devices (except wheelchairs). Visitors traveling to this Island paradise must arrive by boat or seaplane. The transportation services depart from Houghton, Michigan, Copper Harbor, Michigan and Grand Portage, Minnesota. Vehicular parking is available at all departure locations. The transportation services are found to the right, in the highlight section. The following directions will guide you to the different departure points.