Camping on Isle Royale: 36 Campgrounds, Reservations, and Fees

By David Sanchez · Data: National Park Service · ← Complete guide Isle Royale

Isle Royale is a remote island in the middle of Lake Superior, with no roads, no cars, and no close neighbors. You can reach it only by ferry or seaplane, and camping here looks very different from camping in mainland parks. There are no parking lots or electrical hookups, just boreal forest, inland lakes, and Lake Superior's wind.

In short: The park has 36 campgrounds spread across the island, with 244 sites in all. Some can be reserved through recreation.gov; 19 campgrounds are first-come, first-served, with no reservations available. The park is open from April 16 through October 31, and ferries run from May through September.

Campgrounds in the park (12)

• Campground Beaver Island Campground first come, first served · 3 sites Directions ↗
• Campground Belle Isle Campground first come, first served · 7 sites Directions ↗
• Campground Birch Island Campground first come, first served · 2 sites Directions ↗
• Campground Caribou Island Campground first come, first served · 3 sites Directions ↗
• Campground East Chickenbone Campground first come, first served · 4 sites Directions ↗
• Campground West Chickenbone Campground first come, first served · 9 sites Directions ↗
• Campground Chippewa Harbor Campground first come, first served · 7 sites Directions ↗
• Campground Daisy Farm Campground first come, first served · 25 sites Directions ↗
• Campground North Desor Campground first come, first served · 3 sites Directions ↗
• Campground South Lake Desor Campground first come, first served · 10 sites Directions ↗
• Campground Duncan Bay Campground first come, first served · 3 sites Directions ↗
• Campground Duncan Narrows Campground first come, first served · 3 sites Directions ↗

Show interactive map Base map © OpenStreetMap · © CARTO

Can you camp inside Isle Royale?

Yes, and it's the only way to stay overnight on the island. Isle Royale has no roads open to vehicles, so you reach every campground on foot or by kayak or canoe. Camping outside a designated site isn't allowed. You must sleep in an officially designated area.

The park closes completely from November 1 through April 15 because of extreme winter conditions on Lake Superior. The high season runs from June through August, and July weeks are the busiest.

Campgrounds in the park

Isle Royale has 36 campgrounds scattered across its 81 square miles, with 244 sites in all. They naturally fall into two main arrival areas and the interior sectors between them.

The table below the map lists every campground, along with its name, size, reservation system, fee, season, and services. The sections below will help you decide how to prioritize them.

Rock Harbor and the east end

Rock Harbor is the main arrival point at the island's eastern tip. Its campground has 23 sites, including 11 for tent-only camping and 3 group sites, and it's the best-equipped campground in the park: showers, water, a dump station, a store, laundry, and bear-proof lockers. This is also where you'll find a lodge and restaurant, which is a welcome option after a long crossing.

One to two hours on foot from Rock Harbor, Daisy Farm is the park's largest campground, with 25 sites, including 6 for tent-only camping and 3 group sites. Services are more basic: toilets, water, and bear-proof lockers. Three Mile (15 sites) and Moskey Basin (10 sites) round out this area with the same basic amenities.

Windigo and the west end

Windigo, at the western tip, is the second main arrival point, with ferry service from Grand Portage, Minnesota. The main campground in this area is Washington Creek (19 sites, including 5 for tent-only camping and 4 group sites). It offers the same full services as Rock Harbor, including showers, a dump station, a store, and laundry. A ranger station operates during the season. Huginnin Cove (5 sites, first-come, first-served, with no published fee) works well for hikers exploring the west before crossing toward the island's center.

The inland lakes

The island's heart holds several campgrounds beside lakes tucked into the forest. West Chickenbone (9 sites) and East Chickenbone (4 sites) line the lake of the same name. Lake Richie (6 sites, reservable) and Lake Richie Canoe (3 sites, first-come, first-served) sit across the same body of water. Lake Whittlesey (3 sites, first-come, first-served) is one of the island's most isolated sites.

It takes one to two days of hiking to reach these campgrounds from the arrival points. They're popular with flatwater paddlers and hikers following the Greenstone Ridge Trail, the island's 45-mile backbone.

RV vs. tent camping: what you need to know

The question doesn't really come up: no motor vehicles are allowed on the island. If you're traveling in an RV, you'll leave it in the long-term parking lots in Houghton or Copper Harbor, the two main mainland departure points. On the island, everyone camps with a tent and backpack. Our guide for RV visitors to Isle Royale covers mainland parking options.

Camping nearby: options outside the park

If you need a night before or after your crossing, the Keweenaw Peninsula offers several options. Copper Harbor, the Michigan departure point for Isle Royale, has a lakeside municipal campground. Houghton, home to the national park headquarters, also has campgrounds and lodging. Our guide to lodging around Isle Royale lists options for rounding out your trip.

Dispersed camping and backcountry: the rules

At Isle Royale, camping outside a designated site is prohibited. Multi-day routes do cross a series of marked campgrounds, though. This is true backcountry, but at official sites equipped with toilets, water, and bear-proof lockers.

A wilderness permit is required and is obtained when you book through recreation.gov. You'll need to list every planned campground, night by night. Our Hiking guide covers multi-day routes, distances between sites, and elevation gains along the Greenstone Ridge Trail.

How and when to reserve a campsite on Isle Royale

Reservations open six months in advance on recreation.gov. In July and August, campgrounds near the arrival points, especially Rock Harbor (23 sites) and Daisy Farm (25 sites), fill up very quickly as soon as the booking window opens. The best approach is to reserve one campground at a time, night by night, with your route already set.

Keep in mind that 19 of the 36 campgrounds are first-come, first-served, with no reservations available. These are the smallest sites, often with 2 to 5 sites each: Lane Cove, Huginnin Cove, Little Todd, Belle Isle, and about a dozen more. They can fill out a flexible itinerary, but don't rely on them for a fixed date.

Remember to book your crossing at the same time. Seats on the ferries, including Isle Royale Line from Copper Harbor and Grand Portage Ferry from Minnesota, and on seaplanes from Royale Air Service are just as limited. Planning this park trip takes advance preparation, ideally five to six months before departure.

Fees: how much does a night of camping on Isle Royale cost?

All 17 reservable or mixed campgrounds charge $25 per night, regardless of their size or level of services. The 19 first-come, first-served campgrounds have no fee published by the NPS. None of the park's campgrounds uses seasonal pricing.

A daily entrance fee is added to the nightly fee. Reservation fees apply on recreation.gov for reservable sites. The National parks fees and passes page explains the available exemptions and passes, including the America the Beautiful pass.

Safety and good practices

Wolves and moose. Isle Royale is home to one of the few wolf populations in the Great Lakes. Wolves are wary and sightings are rare, but give one plenty of space if you encounter it. Moose, on the other hand, can be aggressive, especially cows with calves in spring and early summer. Stay at least 100 feet away.

Food storage. Store all food, scented products such as toothpaste and sunscreen, and trash in the bear-proof lockers at every campground in the park. Don't leave anything in your tent, even if it's closed.

Water. Every campground in the park has a water source. The standard advice on the island is to filter or treat water before drinking it, whatever the source. Your filter is essential for any backcountry trip.

Weather and isolation. Lake Superior brings changing and sometimes violent weather, even in midsummer. Cell service is nearly nonexistent on the island. Leave your detailed itinerary with someone you trust on the mainland before you board. Check the Isle Royale weather forecast so you can plan for the conditions during your trip.

Insects. Mosquitoes and black flies peak in June. DEET-based repellent and a head net are well worth packing.

Choosing a campground for your trip

First visit and want services when you arrive? Choose Rock Harbor (23 sites, showers, store, and a nearby lodge) for the east end, or Washington Creek (19 sites, with the same services) for the west end, with immediate access to easy walking trails.

Looking for solitude and wilderness? Try the inland lakes, such as West Chickenbone and Lake Richie, or small first-come sites such as Huginnin Cove (5 sites) and Lane Cove (5 sites), far from ferries and groups.

Hiking the Greenstone Ridge Trail from end to end? Plan an east-to-west route, or the reverse, with stops at Daisy Farm, West Chickenbone, Hatchet Lake, and Washington Creek.

Kayaking around the island? Link coastal campgrounds accessible by water, such as Todd Harbor, McCargoe Cove, and Siskiwit Bay, while keeping an eye on Lake Superior winds and the 48-hour weather forecast.

Our complete Isle Royale guide and guide to access and crossings will help you sort out the logistics and choose your arrival point.

Frequently asked questions