Water, water, everywhere. Isle Royale National Park in Michigan is a boater and paddler’s paradise, with inland lakes as well as bays and islands to explore while boating or paddling Lake Superior. Don’t have a boat, kayak or canoe but still want to experience the park from the perspective of floating on water? No problem. You can rent any of these at either the Rock Harbor Marina or the Washington Harbor Marina.
Isle Royale National Park is a boater's and paddler's paradise / NPS file
Whether you stay at anchor, docked, or in a campground near the water, you’re going to need a permit in advance. You can contact the Houghton Visitor Center (906-482-0984) or, if you and your boat are traveling aboard the Ranger III, a permit will be issued aboard the ferry. Print and sign the permit (digital permits are not accepted) and display it anywhere visible on your vessel while at anchor or docked.
If you plan to visit the park for only a day and intend to boat or paddle, you will need to attend an orientation at Houghton, Windigo, or Rock Harbor upon arrival. While a permit is recommended, day boaters are not required to have a permit.
Boating in from Canada? According to park staff:
Customs Requirements
- All recreational boaters intending to arrive at Isle Royale from Canada must clear U.S. customs prior to their arrival. This is true regardless of the nationality of the individual or purpose of the visit.
- All members on-board arriving vessels must have proper documentation such as a valid passport, U.S. Passport card, enhanced driver’s license, Trusted Traveler Program card, or NEXUS card.
- If you are a Canadian citizen and plan to continue into the U.S., you must visit a port of entry upon leaving Isle Royale waters.
- If customs cannot be cleared on Isle Royale, you must leave.
Clearing Customs Prior to Arrival
Customs clearance on-island is a last resort option.Rock Harbor is the only entry location where customs clearance is available. If you did not clear customs prior to your visit, expect long wait times (multiple hours) for park law enforcement officials to become available.
Recreational boaters intending to arrive at Isle Royale from Canada should clear customs prior to arrival. This can be done ahead of time in one of three ways:
- CBP Reporting Offsite Arrival - Mobile ROAM App
- Only available with connectivity in U.S. waters.
Learn more about U.S. Customs and Border Protection's pleasure boat reporting requirements.
For motorboaters, fuel and pump-out services are available in Rock Harbor and Windigo during business hours.
Planning to boat or paddle to your campground? There are 23 boat-in campgrounds.
Overnight Docks | Consecutive Night Stay Limit | Shelters | Tent Sites | Fire Ring/Grill | Depth at Dock | Onboard Generator Use Allowed |
Beaver Island Campground | 3 | 3 | 0 | None | 2'-5' | Y |
Belle Isle Campground | 5 | 6 | 1 | Grill | 13' | Y |
Birch Island Campground | 3 | 1 | 1 | None | 5' | N |
Caribou Island Campground | 3 | 2 | 1 | Fire Ring | 10' | Y |
Chippewa Harbor Campground | 3 | 4 | 2 | Grill | 7' | N |
Daisy Farm Campground | 3 | 16 | 6 | None | 9' | N |
Duncan Bay Campground | 3 | 2 | 1 | Grill | 6' | N |
Duncan Narrows Campground | 3 | 2 | 1 | Grill | 6' | N |
Grace Island Campground | 3 | 2 | 0 | None | 2'-4' | Y |
Hay Bay Campground | 3 | 0 | 1 | None | 3'-7' | Y |
Malone Bay Campground | 3 | 5 | 0 | Grill | 3'-6' | Y |
McCargoe Cove Campground | 3 | 6 | 3 | Fire Ring | 7' | N |
Merritt Lane Campground | 3 | 1 | 1 | None | 8' | N |
Moskey Basin Campground | 3 | 6 | 2 | None | 8' | N |
Rock Harbor Campground | 1 | 9 | 11 | None | 3'-12' | Y |
Rock Harbor Marina | 14 | 0 | 0 | Grill | 3'-12' | Y |
Siskiwit Bay Campground | 3 | 2 | 4 | Fire Ring | 2'-6' | N |
Three Mile Campground | 1 | 8 | 4 | None | 9' | N |
Tobin Harbor Dock | 5 | 0 | 0 | None | 3'-8' | Y |
Todd Harbor Campground | 3 | 1 | 5 | Fire Ring | 2' | N |
Tookers Island Campground | 3 | 2 | 0 | None | 7' | N |
Washington Creek Campground | 3 | 10 | 5 | None | 4'-20' | Y |
Windigo Dock | 3 | 0 | 0 | None | 4'-20' | Y |
For more information about boat-in camping, and which docks are open or closed to public use, check out the park’s Boating Guide.
Paddling
Paddling is a great way to see Isle Royale National Park from a different perspective / Carl TerHaar via NPS
Kayaking and canoeing the waters in and around Isle Royale is not only great exercise, but a great way to experience the picturesque landscape of this national park. This method of transportation, however, takes some planning and preparation.
According to park staff:
- Route Considerations: Lake Superior is well-known for its cold waters, fog, and sudden, wave-generating squalls. Small, open vessels are encouraged to use interior lake waterways instead.
- Safety Requirements: Every paddler must have a U.S. Coast Guard-approved personal floatation device. Wear it; your life may depend on it.
- Weather: Consult the marine forecast at visitor centers before embarking. Be prepared to adjust your schedule. A portable marine radio is recommended for overnight trips.
- Invasive Species: Vessel owners are legally responsible for invasive species decontamination prior to entering park waters. Before moving from Lake Superior to interior waters, wipe down your boat and gear.
- Equipment: Canoes should be at least 15' long to navigate open water. Sea kayaks should be at least 15'8" to 19" for open water. Recreational kayaks are not recommended.
- Check current conditions before your visit for the most up to date information.
If you plan to paddle the island’s interior lakes, you need to understand portaging (carrying your boat to and between) those lakes. Some portage between lakes may be short and level, while other portage may be short and steep.
Fishing
Thinking about casting a line out into the lake waters with the possibility of reeling in a lake trout, pike, perch, or walleye? You might even pull in a colorful coaster brook trout, native to Lake Superior’s 3,000 miles of shoreline and the only place in the world to find freshwater coasters. FYI, all brook trout, including coaster brook trout, are catch and release only on both Lake Superior and Isle Royale’s inland waters.
If you plan to fish Lake Superior or one of the inlands at Isle Royale National Park, you’ll need a Michigan fishing license ahead of time for angling Lake Superior, but you won’t need a license for fishing the park’s inland waters. It’s also a good idea read up on Isle Royale’s fishing regulations and understand the transport and consumption of your catch and disposal of fish remains.
Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS)
According to park staff:
Isle Royale waters, like all Lake Superior waters, face a growing threat from the invasion of non-native species. Once species like zebra mussels, spiny water fleas, and sea lamprey enter an area, they cause large scale changes in the ecosystem.
Some AIS are large enough to be identified, such as zebra mussels and sea lampreys. Other AIS, like Spiny water fleas or the exotic virus Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia (VHS), are tiny, but still powerful. VHS affects more than 40 species of fish including lake trout and coaster brook trout.
AIS have already been found in Lake Superior, and park staff are concerned they may invade Isle Royale’s inland waters. If you plan to boat within or around Isle Royale National Park, be aware vessel owners are legally responsible for Aquatic Invasive Species decontamination prior to entering park waters (extending 4.5 miles from Isle Royale and the outer islands). This applies to all vessels (power and sailboats, canoes, kayaks, etc.) regardless of size or configuration.
Make sure that all gear and clothing brought to the island are clean and free of any seeds or plant material. Familiarize yourself with non-native invasive plants. Visitors are encouraged to report sightings and locations for any suspicious plants.Boaters
Drain live wells and bilge on land - remove transom water, lake water, and unwanted bait from your boat. Wash your boat, including bilge and equipment with either: a) hot (greater than 104 degrees F) water, b) high pressure water, c) disinfectant OR clean and dry your boat and equipment in the sun for five days. Rainy days do not count.
Backpackers
Prior to departure, should clean your tent, backpack, camping gear, clothing, and boots.
Canoeists and Kayakers
Remove weeds, algae, and other plant and animal materials from your boat. Wash your boat and equipment with either: a) hot water (greater than 104 degrees F), b) high pressure water, c) disinfectant OR clean and dry your boat and equipment in the sun for five days. Rainy days do not count.
Anglers
Clean fishing gear before island departure.
Divers
Wash all dive gear in warm chlorinated tap water. Disinfect your wetsuit with a special-purpose shampoo. Dry all dive gear and wetsuit for seven days before island departure.
While on Isle Royale
Canoeists & Kayakers
Wipe down your boat and associated gear before moving from Lake Superior to inland waters.
Anglers
When moving from Lake Superior to inland waters, clean gear and change line spools.
Boating Safety
Boaters should always be aware of and prepared for any challenge thrown at them by Lake Superior. Isle Royale staff want to help with those plans by offering a list of boater safety tips.
- Always wear your life jacket - The US Coast Guard requires all children less than 13 years of age to wear a life jacket when in a recreational boat.
- Type IV throwable cushion or ring - One is required to have onboard your vessel by the US Coast Guard.
- Do not ride on the bow or gunwale - All passengers should stay seated within the boat while the boat is moving.
- Know where you can refuel your boat - Windigo and Rock Harbor
- Boating while intoxicated - Do not boat under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
- Navigational charts are highly recommended. Be aware there are numerous hidden shoals and underwater reefs that create hazards for the inexperienced or uninformed boater.
- Lights at night - Navigation lights must be on from sunset to sunrise.
- Whistle or horn - Bring a whistle of horn capable of producing a continuous sound for two seconds and audible for at least one-half mile.
- Anchor, paddles oars, and lines - Have these available in-case your vessel becomes disabled.
- Spare propeller and shear pin - Have spare equipment and needed tools available to do quick fixes.
- Flashlight and first aid kit - Essentials to have onboard.
- A waterproof lake chart of the waters around Isle Royale National Park is recommended. Always keep an eye on marine forecasts and weather forecasts.
If you encounter an emergency while on the water, use Marine 16 on your marine radio. This channel is designated by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) as the national distress, safety, and calling frequency. You can also contact the U.S. Coast Guard or the Rock Harbor or Windigo Visitor Centers (when staffed).
