Isle Royale National Park
In A Nutshell
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.
Operating Hours
Rock Harbor Visitor Center
Hours EDT:
Daily 8am to 6pmâJuly and August
Reduced schedule in May, June, and September
For updated hours call (906) 482-0984
Location:
Northeast corner of Isle Royale
Windigo Visitor Center
Hours EDT:
Daily 8am to 4:30pm â July and August
Reduced schedule in May, June, and September
For updated hours call (906) 482-0984
Location:
Southwest corner of Isle Royale
Houghton Visitor Center
Hours EDT:
Monday through Friday, 8am to 6:00pm, with reduce hours on Saturday, 11am to 6:00pm - June through July
Monday through Friday, 8am to 4:30pm, with reduce hours on Saturday, 2:00pm to 4:00pm â August through mid-September
Monday through Friday, 8am to 4:30pm â mid-September through May â closed during fall and winter holidays
Location:
East side of Houghton, Michigan's waterfront at 800 East Lakeshore Drive
Phone number: (906) 482-0984
Administrative Offices
Hours EDT: Open year round, Monday through Friday, 8am to 4:30pm â closed for federal holidays
Location: May through September, Mott Island on Isle Royaleâs southeast shore
October though April, East side of Houghton, Michiganâs waterfront at 800 East Lakeshore Drive
Phone number: (906) 482-0985
Fees & Reservations
Park Fees:
User Fee
$4 per person per day
Individual Season Pass, $50 (Optional)
This pass is valid from April 16 through October 31 of the year indicated. The pass covers the User Fee for the person whose signature appears on the pass.
Season Boat Rider Pass, $150 (Optional)
This pass is valid from April 16 through October 31 of the year indicated. The pass covers the User Fee for all persons onboard. When camping, the pass is only valid for passengers included in and following the itinerary of the vessel.
Details:
The User Fee applies to all park visitors except for children 11 and under. The transportation providers collect the user fee from their passengers. Private Boaters can pay their user fees at visitor centers in Rock Harbor, Windigo or Houghton. The Interagency Annual, Senior and Access Passes, plus the Golden Age, Golden Access, and Golden Eagle Passports do not cover the user fee. The Individual Season Pass and the Season Boat Rider Pass are non-refundable and non-transferable.
Eighty percent of the User Fee revenue stays at Isle Royale National Park and is slatted to fund backlogged projects, such as trail and dock maintenance. The rest supports high priority National Park Service projects across the country.
Directions
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.
Michigan Departure Points
Houghton, Michigan
Vehicle: Houghton is located in Michiganâs 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.
Airplane: Northwest provides daily flights to the Houghton County Memorial Airport, located eight miles north of Houghton on US-41. Northwest can be reached by calling 800-225-2525, visiting their website www.nwa.com or call the airport office at 906-482-3970 for additional information.
Bus: Greyhound offers daily service to Houghton, Michigan. Contact Greyhound at (906) 483-0093 or visit their website at www.greyhound.com.
Copper Harbor, Michigan
Vehicle: Copper Harbor is located at the tip of Michiganâs Keweenaw Peninsula. It is located off US-41 just 52 miles north of Houghton, Michigan.
Airplane: Northwest provides daily flights to the Houghton County Memorial Airport, located 44 miles south of Copper Harbor on US-41. Northwest can be reached by calling 800-225-2525, visiting their website www.nwa.com or call the airport office at 906-482-3970 for additional information.
Bus: Unavailable
Minnesota Departure Points
Grand Portage, Minnesota
Vehicle: Grand Portage, located in Minnesotaâs northeastern section, is 150 mile north of Duluth, Minnesota. It is located off US-61 just 50 miles southwest of Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada.
Airplane: The closest airport, Thunder Bay International is 50 miles northeast of Grand Portage; they can be reached by calling 807-473-2600. The Duluth International Airport is found 150 miles south of Grand Portage and they can be reached by calling 218-727-2968
Bus: Greyhound offers daily service to Duluth, Minnesota; they can be reached by calling 218-722-5591 or visit their website at www.greyhound.com. Bus service between Grand Portage and Duluth or Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada is provided by Happy Times Tours. They can be reach at 800-473-5955 or visit their website at
Isle Royale In Depth
News from the Parks
Rainier Landmark Meets Wrecking Ball
November 18, 2008 - 11:29am
Paradise echoed Monday not with the voices of park visitors, but with the thump and crash of a 4,500-pound wrecking ball smashing through the old visitor center.
November 18, 2008 - 11:29am
Paradise echoed Monday not with the voices of park visitors, but with the thump and crash of a 4,500-pound wrecking ball smashing through the old visitor center.
New River Gorge National River Celebrates 30th Anniversary
November 18, 2008 - 11:24am
The New River Gorge celebrated its 30th year as part of the National Park System last week with the Nov. 10 anniversary of its 1978 designation as a National River.
November 18, 2008 - 11:24am
The New River Gorge celebrated its 30th year as part of the National Park System last week with the Nov. 10 anniversary of its 1978 designation as a National River.
Park to Go with 720 Sleds per Day
November 18, 2008 - 11:22am
Yellowstone National Park officials have opted to allow 720 snowmobiles a day in the park this winter, abandoning a temporary plan they proposed two weeks ago for 318 machines a day.
November 18, 2008 - 11:22am
Yellowstone National Park officials have opted to allow 720 snowmobiles a day in the park this winter, abandoning a temporary plan they proposed two weeks ago for 318 machines a day.
Falling Boulders Endanger Lives at Yosemite
November 18, 2008 - 11:20am
A major rockslide at Yosemite National Park's Curry Village has prompted officials to consider closing part of the lodging area permanently.
November 18, 2008 - 11:20am
A major rockslide at Yosemite National Park's Curry Village has prompted officials to consider closing part of the lodging area permanently.
Interior and Energy Team-up to Make National Parks “Green”
November 18, 2008 - 10:09am
The U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) signed a Memorandum of Understanding that will help the National Park Service (NPS) showcase sustainable energy practices and fulfill its mission of environmental stewardship. With equal amounts of initial “seed money” from DOI and DOE totaling $1 million for 2009, the Energy SmartPARKS program hopes to eventually draw private sector support to spark a green energy future in the United States. “This partnership will deploy energy efficient and renewable energy technologies throughout the national park system,” said Secretary of the Interior Dirk Kempthorne. “We have the power to not only improve conditions in the parks, but also demonstrate for the public the impacts and benefits of green energy innovations.” “Our national parks are a showcase of this country's natural beauty and historical significance. With this agreement, we're ensuring that these parks are also models of energy efficiency and clean energy technologies,” said Secretary of Energy Samuel Bodman. “Our parks have always been an important way for Americans to learn about the environment, now they can learn about energy use as well.” “The Energy SmartPARKS program will make positive, tangible advancements by greening the parks and by reducing energy costs and carbon emissions,” said Mary A. Bomar, Director of the National Park Service. “This is a great way to demonstrate our environmental leadership as we approach the 100th anniversary of the National Park Service in 2016.” On the ground, parks will use funding from Energy SmartPARKS to deploy cutting-edge technology as well as traditional solutions, including projects that retrofit lighting systems; purchase electric utility vehicles; install solar panel systems; upgrade meters and thermostats; replace windows and furnaces; study the feasibility of wind power; and conduct energy audits. Lessons learned from these projects can be used in other national parks and in the homes of every American. A list of some of the 2009 projects is available. Two recent projects illustrate the exciting possibilities of Energy SmartPARKS in the future: the exterior relighting of both the White House and the Washington Monument. With ground-breaking technology that improved the exterior illumination, these national icons now look beautiful while being energy efficient at the same time. Although the official assessment of the White House relighting project by DOE has not yet been conducted, early estimates anticipate over 50% energy reduction. The Washington Monument relighting project resulted in a 27% energy reduction with a cut of 36 tons per year in carbon emissions according to the official DOE assessment. The Energy SmartPARKS program will also develop new and expand existing partnerships with the private, non-profit, and academic sectors. These partners may help raise funds, identify projects, find technological solutions, and educate the public. The National Park Service is developing an Energy SmartPARKS website, in partnership with DOI and DOE, to showcase its commitment to a green energy future in America. Visit www.nps.gov/energy in the coming weeks.
November 18, 2008 - 10:09am
The U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) signed a Memorandum of Understanding that will help the National Park Service (NPS) showcase sustainable energy practices and fulfill its mission of environmental stewardship. With equal amounts of initial “seed money” from DOI and DOE totaling $1 million for 2009, the Energy SmartPARKS program hopes to eventually draw private sector support to spark a green energy future in the United States. “This partnership will deploy energy efficient and renewable energy technologies throughout the national park system,” said Secretary of the Interior Dirk Kempthorne. “We have the power to not only improve conditions in the parks, but also demonstrate for the public the impacts and benefits of green energy innovations.” “Our national parks are a showcase of this country's natural beauty and historical significance. With this agreement, we're ensuring that these parks are also models of energy efficiency and clean energy technologies,” said Secretary of Energy Samuel Bodman. “Our parks have always been an important way for Americans to learn about the environment, now they can learn about energy use as well.” “The Energy SmartPARKS program will make positive, tangible advancements by greening the parks and by reducing energy costs and carbon emissions,” said Mary A. Bomar, Director of the National Park Service. “This is a great way to demonstrate our environmental leadership as we approach the 100th anniversary of the National Park Service in 2016.” On the ground, parks will use funding from Energy SmartPARKS to deploy cutting-edge technology as well as traditional solutions, including projects that retrofit lighting systems; purchase electric utility vehicles; install solar panel systems; upgrade meters and thermostats; replace windows and furnaces; study the feasibility of wind power; and conduct energy audits. Lessons learned from these projects can be used in other national parks and in the homes of every American. A list of some of the 2009 projects is available. Two recent projects illustrate the exciting possibilities of Energy SmartPARKS in the future: the exterior relighting of both the White House and the Washington Monument. With ground-breaking technology that improved the exterior illumination, these national icons now look beautiful while being energy efficient at the same time. Although the official assessment of the White House relighting project by DOE has not yet been conducted, early estimates anticipate over 50% energy reduction. The Washington Monument relighting project resulted in a 27% energy reduction with a cut of 36 tons per year in carbon emissions according to the official DOE assessment. The Energy SmartPARKS program will also develop new and expand existing partnerships with the private, non-profit, and academic sectors. These partners may help raise funds, identify projects, find technological solutions, and educate the public. The National Park Service is developing an Energy SmartPARKS website, in partnership with DOI and DOE, to showcase its commitment to a green energy future in America. Visit www.nps.gov/energy in the coming weeks.
