Isle Royale National Park

Published:

October 13, 2018

Updated:

March 3, 2024

Author:

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Table of Contents

Isle Royale National Park

The first of the American National Parks we are going to cover is going to take us up North to Michigan to Isle Royale National Park. You may be asking why we picked a secluded park to be the first one that we are going to cover and the simple answer is we picked it out because we like Michigan and with the park being secluded it definitely makes it easier for you to have a great time that is going to make your trip enjoyable. So we are going to explore Isle Royale National Park here and let you know more about what this park offers you, but also what makes the park stand out from the rest of the national parks.

Location Of Isle Royale National Park

Isle Royale National Park is located in Lake Superior region of Michigan and it is close to the Canadian border, so you should realize it is actually very far North. However, it is a park that has the seclusion as you will not see a car on the island and what is really nice is you do not have to worry about cars. You will find the park is not one that you would want to visit in winter as the snow and cold is going to be bitter, but during the summer months it is a great place to check out.

What Does Isle Royale Offer

The park is one of the most beautiful and secluded you can find in America. While it will require you to take a boat to reach the island you will find it is worth it because you get to enjoy Lake Superior, which can be rough during your trip out to the park. However, once you have arrived you will notice the park is going to offer several different options for you to use and no matter what you will see unspoiled nature as being one of the most beautiful places for you to see.

Backpacking and camping is one of the main things you will find this national park has to offer. When you look at this park you will notice it is going to boast 36 campgrounds that you can visit, but it also has over 165 miles of hiking trails to enjoy. These trails are going to wind you through all the different aspects of Isle Royale and allows you to enjoy exploration overland and makes it very easy for you to check out the beautiful area.

This is an island and that means it does have plenty of exploration you can do by boat. Some of the boats will be a kayak or canoe if you are sticking inland. If you are looking at going out onto Lake Superior you may want to get something that is a little bit larger to provide you some more protection as we mentioned before the lake can get very rough at times. If you are in a canoe or kayak and on Superior I would recommend sticking closer to the shore as you will find it is easy for you to get around and with the different coves and bays it is very easy for you to explore and get around.

Sometimes, you may have to get out and go on a day hike from the place you stay at. This type of hiking will allow you to have a base to stay at, typically around Rock Harbor or Windigo. When you go on the day hikes, the trails can be popular, but they are going to take you to some of the beautiful areas you can visit. You just have to be aware of the crowds that can potentially happen or you could be shocked at how many people you are going to run into.

We mentioned the canoes and kayaking already, but you will find that it is going to allow you to have a great start to finding the boat trips you can enjoy. These trips can either be guided, which is what we would recommend if you are an inexperienced boater, but if you are experienced you can explore using your own boat. So this will make it quite a bit easier for you to enjoy the region even more.

Well, when you are on a boat their is one item that you need to know that you can do and that is fishing! Yes, fishing is one of the main things that you are going to want to do here. When you see the fish here you will have a chance to catch some great fish and have some very fresh meals that you are sure to enjoy.

If you are looking to learn more about the island and what happens, then you will really want to check out the ranger programs. These programs are on a schedule so you will need to check the schedule to see what is going on when you are on the island, but you will find these programs are amazing. You will learn more about the region and island, but also about what you are looking at when you are checking out some things around the island.

If the weather is nice enough, you may want to go down into Lake Superior to check out some of the shipwrecks. These wrecks are definitely something that is very interesting and has been preserved almost perfectly. So you will find the option of scuba diving to be one of the best options you can enjoy and it will definitely make it easier for you to enjoy the trip because you can see something that not everyone will have a story to tell about when they travel here.

What Kind Of Animals Are Prominent In The Park

Well, if you do a little bit of research you will notice the park is well known for some of the best large creatures you can find in the North American hemisphere and that is moose. These beautiful creatures are going to be one of those that you are going to enjoy seeing, but you need to make sure you keep your distance as these animals are wild and what is even more interesting is the next animal that is seen is one that is making a reclamation project in the region and that is the wolves.

The wolves project is one that you will want to read up on with a different website, mainly the National Park site here, but it is one that you are going to enjoy because you can enjoy the restoration of the wolves. Now, if you are looking at the wolves project you definitely need to realize these animals are wild and if given the chance they do have a lot of sharp teeth and other items that can hurt you.