Things to do & places to visit in Isle Royale National Park, Michigan, United States

Isle Royale National Park national park in Michigan, United States. Timezone: America/Detroit, current date and time: Sunday, April 28, 2024, 17:07.

Top things to do (10)

Top places to visit

5.0 Scoville Point (58 reviews)
- good hike
Historic Walking Areas

Scenic point reachable by an easy hike from Rock Harbor. See more..
4.5 Rock Harbor (79 reviews)
- Beautiful island getaway!
Neighborhoods • Nature & Wildlife Areas

Harbor area where boats arrive bringing visitors to Isle Royale National Park where you will find a visitors center and the Rock Harbor Lodge. See more..
4.5 Greenstone Ridge Trail (23 reviews)
- Mixed reviews - liked the north half a lot, the south half not so much
Hiking Trails

Rated as moderate-difficult, this forty-mile trail runs the length of the National Park and takes hikers through 900 to 1,000 feet in elevation changes. See more..
4.5 Rock Island Lighthouse (18 reviews)
- interesting tour, nice, short hike
Lighthouses

Historic lighthouse that was restored and is a popular tourist attraction. See more..
4.5 Pete Edisen Fishery (18 reviews)
- Awesome
Natural History Museums

Old fishery now a living history museum maintained by the National Park Service. See more..
4.5 Lookout Louise (8 reviews)
- Worth the climb
Spent More than 3 hours Lookouts

Some guide books may paint this as more difficult than it really is. The last tenth of a mile is going up, but not at an impossible angle. The view at the top is wonderful, especially on a clear day. We did try to walk beyond the main "scenic overlook," but the downed trees and brush had not been cleared. Some work could be done to enhance the view from the top, but it was certainly beautiful when we were there. We did come to it by a small excursion boat ("The Sandy"), but many come to it via canoe. See more..
4.5 Suzy's Cave (7 reviews)
- Nice hike with something to see
Spent 2-3 hours Caverns & Caves

This was a nice 1.8 mile hike with something to see when you got there. The cave itself is fairly small but bigger than many of the old mines on the island. See more..
4.5 Mount Ojibway Trail (5 reviews)
- Stunning view from the lookout tower
Spent 1-2 hours Nature & Wildlife Areas • Hiking Trails

After renting a skiff at Rock Harbor, we boated to Daisy Farm campground and embarked on the hike to the top of Mount Ojibway. At a fairly casual pace, we reached the lookout tower in about an hour. From the tower, you are able to see both the North and South shores of the island, as well as some of the inland lakes. On a clear day, Canada is also visible. It was a hot day (and the majority of the trail is unprotected from sun) but luckily many blueberry plants line the trail. See more..
4.0 Windigo Visitor Center (27 reviews)
- Unique Experience
Visitor Centers

Everything about this park and the visitor center at this end of the island is a unique experience. The trails are filled with lush plant and animal life...you never know what is waiting for you around any bend. The quiet lapping of lake water against the rocky shoreline or the trickling of slow flowing creeks combining with the many bird songs to form a musical backdrop on any hike. The different aromas put out by various plants at different times of year. Maybe most unique is the general feeling of being cut off from the rest of the world. I loved my time on Isle Royale, and I particularly enjoy this end of the island because it is the "wild side" of the island. The staff at the Windigo Visitor Center could not be more helpful and eager to make your visit the best it can be. Make sure you stop in to get suggestions from the rangers. See more..
4.0 Passage Island (4 reviews)
- Great tour to an island with lush vegetation and a lighthouse.
Spent More than 3 hours Islands

This is a ranger guided tour arranged through Rock Harbor Lodge involving about a 1 hour boat trip each way. Passage Island is at the extreme limit of the park, and be aware your cell phone may ping off of Canadian cell towers. The boat cruise is interesting in and of itself. You get a nice view of the northern point of the island,and off in the distance, the Canadian shoreline. Once docked on Passage Island you do a 1 mile hike each way to the lighthouse. The ranger explained all the vegetation, including the devil's club shrub. Because there are no moose on the island, the vegetation is quite lush, almost always waist height or more. The trail is relatively easy, with one shoreline overlook right before you get to the lighthouse. The lighthouse dates to 1881 and overlooks a picturesque rocky shore. A must do trip. At the time we visited, the trip was from 1:30 to 6:00 P.M., although we made it back slightly before 6:00. See more..