Houghton Township, Michigan

While it is only accessible by boat or plane, Isle Royale National Park is well worth the added travel arrangements. We took the Ranger III Ferry out of Houghton, MI, but there are a few other options depending on where you depart from (www.nps.gov). Upon arrival at Rock Harbor, the first day is ...

Starting at the Tobin Harbor day use dock kayak/canoe northeast or out of the inlet towards Lake Superior. Stay on the left side of the inlet for roughly a mile. You will pass several small chains of islands so stay to the left. You will come upon another day use dock and you will want to get out...

The trip starts with a ferry trip to Rock Harbor. Depending on where you are coming from there are a few options. The ferries generally run from May through September and they are weather dependent. Other options include chartering a plane or private scow.Ferries come from Copper Harbor, MI, Houg...

If coming from Michigan, take the ferry to Isle Royale from Copper Harbor. After a three-hour journey you will arrive at the park via the dock in Rock Harbor around lunchtime. After registering at the park office you can set off on a great 7-mile hike to Lane Cove, which is well marked. This hike...

Take the Kneutson Trail next to the lodge for 700 feet and you will come upon the America Dock. This century old dock provides a great view of the bay area and other smaller islands at sunset.

Prior to the 1900s, this landmark a lion sitting on its haunches looking out to Perry Bay. The former shape of this natural arch inspired its name the Sea Lion. The lions head has fallen of but the name still continues. The softer sedimentary rock will continue to erode. The "arch" of the sea lio...

We drove into Marie Louise Lake Campground in the afternoon of the off season and found the campground office closed. Luckily for us, there is a pay kiosk that takes credit cards (bonus) so after we drove around to find a walk-up site we came back to pay for one night and then planned to talk to ...

Isle Royale National Park consists of Isle Royale, a fifty mile long and nine mile wide island in Lake Superior, and about 45 smaller islands around (and within) it. Remote and undeveloped, the shores can be visited by watercraft, but the only way to see the interior is to walk across it. Because...

This guide assumes that hikers have already made their journey by either float plane or charter ship to the Windigo Port on the West end of the island of Isle Royale National Park.As mentioned above, this section hike of the Greenstone Ridge Trail partitions off one of the NUMEROUS options one ca...

Huginnin Cove is located on the west side of the island close to Windigo and is a great day hike.  Many people feel it's an even better overnight trip.   If you're going to be spending the night on the island, you must first go through the orientation with park staff and then get your permit.  T...

Mount McKay is located on the Indian Reserve of the Fort William First Nation and is 1,000 ft over the city with stunning views of Thunder Bay, Lake Superior, Sleeping Giant and the surrounding countryside. There's a small fee to get in to the park, but if you arrive when it's closed at the gate....

Trowbridge Falls is a nearby city park and a favorite among the locals and they say it's haunted too!  During the summer months cool off in the water  and in winter cross country ski.  Trowbridge Falls is a conservation area and is connected to Centennial Park by a bridge. Centennial park offers ...

This is a must-visit if you find yourself near the Minnesota-Canadian border by Lake Superior. A quick turn into the Grand Portage State Park parking lot off of Highway 61, and a short 0.5 mile walk (from the parking lot) is all it takes to see one of the most breathtaking waterfalls Minnesota h...