Take a Nature Enthusiast’s Dream Vacation to Isle Royale National Park in Michigan

Jul 29, 2025

Social media trends might suggest nothing beats a Jet 2 holiday, we bet booking a campsite at Isle Royale National Park will come pretty close if not better! This stunning national park is known for its abundant wildlife and absolutely picturesque views of Lake Superior! The remote location makes it incredibly appealing to those looking for some peace and solitude on their summer getaway. Forget dealing with crowded beaches and long lines for attractions, you’ll find nothing but peace and quiet, miles upon miles of trails, mountains and crystal clear water as far as the eye can see, and an uninterrupted skyline! Pack your best hiking shoes, a weather-proof tent, some sunscreen and bug spray, and get ready to spend a few days basking in the pristine wilderness of this gorgeous national park!

Isle Royale National Park has 36 campgrounds all across the island, some of which are only accessible by watercraft or by foot. The good news is that each of the campgrounds offer tent sites, outhouses, and a water source, making it a little less of a “rough-it” experience than other parks. Many of the campgrounds offer shelters as well as picnic tables for a little break from the elements if you need it. Parties of 6 or less can access campgrounds on a first-come, first-serve basis, but larger parties of 7 or more may make a reservation using the NPS reservation system.

Frequent visitors to the island recommend McCargoe Cove for great fishing and excellent wildlife watching! Moskey Basin is a close second and offers some wonderful sunrises and sunsets, but has slightly more foot traffic than the McCargoe Cove area. Little Todd Harbor offers another more peaceful stay with lower foot traffic as well, and nice ambient sounds of Lake Superior’s water against the shores. Feldtman Lake area offers great access to the water for those who wish to fish and boat or kayak, and some report a high chance of moose sightings, which is exciting. Lane Cove is where it’s at for some solitude, as well as some scenic views of our neighbors up north, Canada! Siskiwit Bay offers a nice long beach area and a communal fire ring in the evenings. Of course, there are numerous sites to explore and these are just a few select highlights! Let us know your favorites and they may make it into a future blog post!

The island has over 160 miles of hiking trails, all of which offer a wonderful bit of solitude and peace even on the most popular of options. Most of the trails are long and interconnected, making them a great option for backpacking and full-day hikes! Shorter options include the Stoll Memorial Trail, Suzy’s Cave, Windigo Nature Trail, Grace Creek Overlook. Longer trails that are upwards of 5+ miles and come recommended from fellow hikers included Minong Ridge Overlook, Mount Franklin along Greenstone Ridge Trail, Huginnin Cove Loop. With such wide variety of trails to choose from, it’s very easy to walk for miles without seeing another human, but we can pretty much guarantee you’ll be treated to some of the most spectacular wildlife sightings instead!

If you’re not looking to hike or explore alone, you can book a guided tour and view different areas of the island along the more popular trails. The Rock Harbor Lodge offers wonderful scenic tours that range about 4 hours in length, and take you to sites such as Passage Island, Rock Harbor Lighthouse and Edisen Fishery, and Louise Lookout. The Raspberry Island Sunset Cruise takes you along the small island across from Rock Harbor and culminates in a fantastic sunset cruise around the eastern tip of Isle Royale!

History buffs will appreciate that the island is also home to several lighthouses, all of which are an iconic part of Isle Royale’s history! Each lighthouse played a part in guiding the ships around the island to avoid the shallow reefs along the Isle (sadly, several ships were not so fortunate as there are at least 10 shipwrecks scattered along the reefs surrounding the island!) The oldest of which is Rock Harbor Light, a sentry for decades along the Rock Harbor Channel; though it is no longer actively illuminated it is the most viewed and visited lighthouse. Passage Island Lighthouse is on the northeast side of the park, actively guiding ships traffic through the Isle Royale’s main island and Passage Island; though it was once manned by attendants, it’s been converted to an automated, flashing white light. The Rock of Ages Lighthouse is the tallest lighthouse of Isle Royale, and is built on a 50’x200’ rocky outcrop in the water. Isle Royale Lighthouse is set on the edge of Menagerie Island on the south shore at the entryway to Siskiwit Bay, and is reachable only by private boat’ this lighthouse sends a beacon out up to 10-miles!

For those who prefer a more intimate view of the island, you can opt for a canoe or kayak paddle around the island! There are several paddle-in campsites around the isle on the shorelines of Lake Superior, as well as day-hike sites that allow you to do a “portaging trip” around the island for a new perspective.