This remote island, which gets fewer visitors in a season than Yellowstone gets in a day, is recommended only to those who have flexible travel schedules. Situated far out in Lake Superior, 500 mi/805 km northwest of Detroit, it can only be reached by boat or plane, and the Lake Superior waters can get choppy and delay the ferries by hours or days. Just getting to the departure points for the ferries—Houghton or Copper Harbor, Michigan, and Grand Portage, Minnesota, can take some time—this is way off most people's beaten track.
The ferries run mid-May through September from the Michigan ports, through October from Grand Portage, and take between four and seven hours from Michigan each way. The voyage from Minnesota is somewhat shorter. (Be sure to reserve your passage in advance.) The park is only open mid-April to October, and for good reason: Lake Superior is treacherous and brutally cold in the winter.
Used as a fishing station in the 1800s, the island offers rocky shores, camping, hiking, canoeing, boating (rental boats are available), fishing, scuba diving and boat tours. Keep a watch out for moose, foxes, loons, wild mink and beavers. If you're very lucky, you might even see a wolf, though their numbers have declined dramatically in recent years for unknown reasons: There are now believed to be fewer than 20 remaining on the island. This is a beautiful, inviting park—the vistas from the summits of Mount Franklin and Mount Ojibway are wonderful. We recommend a stay of at least two days. Visitors who prefer pillows and mattresses to the tented life can stay at the charming Rock Harbor Lodge. (You can take a launch from the lodge to the old Rock Harbor Lighthouse.)
To request access to the full version of this destination guide, please provide your email address below. Your email address will only be used for verification purposes and will not be used for marketing purposes.