Isle Royale National Park

Isle Royale Fast Facts

How big is Isle Royale National Park?

Isle Royale covers a total area of 571,790 acres or 893 square miles.

How many people visit Isle Royale National Park?

25,844 people visited Isle Royale in 2021. A table showing all years can be found at Isle Royale Visitation Stats.

When was Isle Royale National Park created?

Isle Royale was made a national park on March 3, 1931.

What are the highest and lowest elevations in Isle Royale National Park?

Isle Royale’s lowest point is 601 feet at Lake Superior. The highest point in Isle Royale is 1,394 feet on Mount Desor.

What time zone is Isle Royale National Park located in?

Isle Royale is in the Eastern Time Zone.

How much does it cost to enter Isle Royale National Park?

$7 per person per calendar day.

Five Random Facts About Isle Royale

one Isle Royale National Park is the only national park in the United States that completely closes in the offseason. The park is typically closed November through mid April.

two The most common large mammals are moose and gray wolves. The interaction of these two species in the park has been extensively studied. On rare occasions Lake Superior completely freezes over in winter, allowing animals from the mainland to access the island.

three Mosquitoes and black flies can be a severe nuisance on Isle Royale. The mosquitoes and black flies usually hatch in late May and early June. They are worst in late June and early July and normally start to die off near the end of July.

four The waters around Isle Royale are quite treacherous, as demonstrated by the numerous shipwrecks surrounding it. Scuba diving to these wrecks is an option for those experienced in these conditions.

five Over 450 smaller islands surround the main island.

Where is Isle Royale National Park?

Isle Royale is located far out in Lake Superior, and can be reached only by charter boat or seaplane. The departure points are in Houghton and Copper Harbor, Michigan, and Grand Portage, Minnesota. Grand Portage is the closest to the park and the fastest trip by boat at a little over two hours. The boat trip from Houghton is 6 hours. Further directions and maps can be found at Getting to Isle Royale.