In the Great Lakes State, you are never more than a half hour away from a state park, state forest campground or state trail system. After all, Michigan has 103 state parks with 300,000 acres of combined forest….but only one national park. Our Michigan-based company wanted to share a few tips, local legends, and must-do’s for the mitten state’s only National Park. To qualify as a national park, the area must meet these three criteria:
- Contains nationally significant natural, cultural, or recreational resources
- The area is a suitable and feasible addition to the National Park System
- Requires direct NPS management instead of protection by some other government agency or by the private sector
Isle Royale, a grouping of over 450 islands just off the coast of the Upper Peninsula, has been the only park in Michigan to receive this designation. The 132,018 acres of designated wilderness are populated by 19 species of mammals including wolves, foxes, mice, spiders, and the occasional eagle. Because Isle Royale National Park completely closes for the winter and is only accessible by boat or plane, it is the least visited National Park in the United States, and, dare we say, the most underrated National Park.
The History of Isle Royale
Photo courtesy of Visit Keewenaw
This archipelago’s (a group of islands) known history goes back to the Ojibwe tribe (specifically the Grand Portage Band) who called Isle Royale “Minong,” meaning “the good place.” This cultural land was a place to practice traditional activities like maple sugaring, hunting and gathering, and spiritual practices for hundreds of years. As settlers traveled north, fishing, logging, and copper mining became much more popular activities on the islands. However, many members of the Portage Band still visit the island to fish and reconnect with their past.
One of the most harrowing stories of Isle Royale involves Angelique Mott, an Ojibwe woman, and her husband, Charlie Mott, who found a large piece of copper on the island in July of 1845. The couple stayed on the main island to guard the ore after being told a ship would come to transport them and the copper back to the mainland. Little did they know that the ship wouldn’t be returning until the next spring, and they were left to survive on the island alone. You can read more about Angelique’s experience on the island–and the reported hauntings on the island related to it–here.
An Ideal Trip to Isle Royale
Photo courtesy of Pure Michigan
Due to the Upper Peninsula’s harsh winters and the quickly changing currents and conditions of Lake Superior, Isle Royale National Park is only open from April 16 to October 31 each year. Most visitors to Isle Royale end up staying for three to four nights to hike a good portion of the 165 miles of trails and see the historic sites. There’s plenty of shipwrecks, old copper mining sites, and lighthouses to see on your adventure. You can only reach Isle Royale by boat (often 4-6 hours) or seaplane (1 hour, but more prone to delays). Upon arrival, you will have to purchase your daily entrance pass ($7/person) which gives you the ability to hike around the island and set up camp at any of the campgrounds.
Camping and Backpacking
Some campgrounds have picnic tables and grills available for campers to make over-the-fire meals. If you have a group smaller than six people, the campgrounds are first-come-first-serve. According to recent visitors, the best campgrounds include Moskey Basin Campground (3 night limit), Chippewa Harbor, and Daisy Farm Campground. If you want your own space for the night with plumbing, try the Windigo Cabins and Rock Harbor Lodge.
Make sure you pack food, plenty of water, and snacks for your stay if you’re hoping to camp at one of the 36 campgrounds on the islands. If you want to refresh after a long day of hiking and exploring, bring along a can of Farm Stand Cider to celebrate the beauty and freshness of Michigan.
Hiking
One of the most popular places on Isle Royale is McCargoe Cove, a body of water often accompanied by moose crossing to the other side. Other highly rated trails include the Mount Ojibway Trail, which leads hikers to the old Ojibway Fire Tower on top of Mt. Ojibway, and the rocky trail to Lane Cove and the campground. If you’re looking for a challenge, try to hike the full Minong Ridge Trail. This many-day-long hike offers breathtaking views of Lake Superior and Canada while going past the Minong Mine towards the beginning of the trek. Thanks to some sufficiently steep ridges, the Minong Ridge Trail is a tiring and rewarding hike.
Tours
A few companies offer shipwreck tours via scuba diving and boat tours. There are ten well-known shipwrecks that are part of the National Register for Historical Places. The deepest shipwreck is the SS Kamloops, which disappeared in 1927 following a series of storms and freezing temperatures. The ship is still intact, but due to the depth of the ship, diving to see the wreck is not advised. If you decide to go scuba diving looking for the more accessible shipwrecks, make sure to read these suggestions on how to safely scuba dive in the dangerous waters of Lake Superior.
Find Remnants of the Copper Mining Boom
Isle Royale has hundreds of years of copper mining history to explore. Due to the dangers of going through underground tunnels, there is very little information available about how to access these mines. You can find copper mining equipment on different parts of the island, like the Island Mine hoist, the walls of a powder house built by the Island Mining Company, and the flooded Saginaw Mine.
Explore the Lighthouses on the National Register of Historic Places
There are four different historic lighthouses on Isle Royale which are over 100 years old. The oldest of the lighthouses, the Isle Royale Lighthouse, can only be accessed by a boat ride and a one mile hike. Other lighthouses on Isle Royale include the Rock Harbor Lighthouse, which is the most visited lighthouse on the island, the Norman-Gothic styled Passage Island Lighthouse, and the tallest lighthouse in Lake Superior: the Rock of Ages Lighthouse. By all accounts, these lighthouses (which have now been restored) are must-sees. You can see these lighthouses on sightseeing tours.
Look at the Stars
With almost no light pollution on the carless island, visitors stand a rare chance of seeing the Aurora Borealis. While you cannot plan to see the Northern Lights, your chances may be better from August to April. Even if you can’t see the Northern Lights, there are always more stars and constellations to be seen when there’s no more light pollution.
With hundreds of years of history, breathtaking bodies of water and greenery, and the opportunity to observe wildlife like wolves and moose up close, Isle Royale has it all. This peaceful archipelago is waiting for you. Remember to respect the park and leave no trace, which means keeping track of your trash and disposing of it properly and not feeding the wildlife. Cheers to Michigan and everything it has to offer!
While you explore Isle Royale, pick up a few cans of Farm Stand Hard Cider to experience freshness with all 5 senses. Send us your photos with Farm Stand Cider and Isle Royale with us on socials using #farmstandcider. Purchase our spirits at our tasting room in Saugatuck or a retailer near you. Follow us on our Facebook and Instagram to stay up to date on the latest from Farm Stand Cider.