National Park Service Your Guide to Isle Royale National Park U.S. Department of the Interior www.nps.gov/isro Welcome to Isle Royale Islandness and Isle Royale Wolves National Park In ����, the National Park Service, with Islandness is a duality, and where there Imagine you are standing on the shore stakeholder input, will decide whether is no answer, there is an opportunity of a vast lake, looking out to a low rise or not to keep wolves as a part of Isle for self-discovery. of land on the horizon. Do you wonder Royale’s ecosystem. This is perhaps It may be that mainland solutions what is out there? Would you strike out one of the most important decisions to island problems do not apply. over open water to find out? we have collectively faced as stewards Regardless, an opportunity stands For more than four thousand years, of this unique and captivating before our collective “self” to people have been enticed to make landscape. As such, it is important to understand different perspectives the crossing from the shores of Lake contemplate origins, recognize our on how to help define the future of a Superior to Isle Royale. The how and environment and practice integrity in place we hold so dearly in our hearts. why of these journeys varies over time, our deliberations. Many of you have taken the time to but the allure of crossing the lake to Glaciers left the island nearly ten participate in the planning process— visit this isolated archipelago remains thousand years ago, humans arrived thank you for your input. I implore you constant. �,��� years before the present, moose all to continue to follow the planning While Isle Royale seems relatively became established in the early ����s effort addressing the presence of isolated and protected from the outside and wolves arrived in ����—only eight wolves at Isle Royale by reviewing the world, it is not immune to change. years after the National Park Service draft environmental impact statement. Because of their small size and their officially assumed management of separation, island ecosystems are often A difficult path stretches out before us, the island. Today, the park sits silent dynamic. Change can happen quickly. but as Albert Einstein once said, “In the for half the year as the majority of its And small isolated locations can be middle of difficulty lies opportunity.” inhabitants, human and non-human particularly sensitive to the effects of If we bring the best of ourselves and larger-scale phenomena, such as climate alike, leave for more hospitable recognize what is admirable in others change—which influences wolves, environments. However, over eons, to address this challenge, we will reach moose, and other park resources. the island has decided who comes and a decision with the integrity that it who stays. Isle Royale’s isolation—once considered deserves. Isolation is a dynamic force that shapes an obstacle—is today the primary reason Mark C. Romanski people travel to the park. But still, visitors the face of Isle Royale. Those who Division Chief – Natural Resources to this wild place, just like those who have experienced this force often refer came before, must make the crossing to to this characteristic as “islandness.” To learn more about the proposed plan, the island. Islandness is an undeniable and often review the draft environmental impact statement at: The gateways to Isle Royale are steeped harsh fact of life on Isle Royale. Yet in historic connections. Consider in the same breath, it is the essential https://parkplanning.nps.gov/isrowolves exploring these stories of past travelers, contributor to the island’s alluring residents and immigrants at Grand beauty and nature. There is no one Portage National Monument and reason beyond the park’s islandness Keweenaw National Historical Park. that ties together why the lynx, the caribou, or the coyote no longer roam Then, I invite you to make the crossing…and the forests; or why three separate discover for yourself the attempts at copper mining never took magic of a wild, isolated hold; or why the ancestors of today’s national park. Grand Portage Band of Chippewa were likely never year-round residents; Phyllis Green or finally, why wolves can likely no Superintendent longer persist without intervention. Fee Changes, Contacts, Protecting Your Park ................................ � Printing of Rock Harbor Lodge................................... � The Greenstone Visitor Centers, Programs, courtesy of the Visiting ..................................................... � Group Camping ....................................... � Isle Royale and Keweenaw Parks Things To Do ............................................ � Transportation, Fees .............................. �� Association Map, Campgrounds, Trails ....................... � Bookstore ................................................ �� Fee Changes 2 Park fees have not increased since ���� while the costs of managing the park and providing visitor facilities and services has increased significantly. Starting in the 2017 season, a new entrance fee replaces the former user fee. Contacts The new entrance fee will consist of: Isle Royale National Park • A $� per person daily entrance fee. It is charged to enter or remain within the park per 800 E. Lakeshore Drive calendar day. Houghton, MI 49931-1869 • The Isle Royale Season Pass (valid April ��, ���� through October ��, ����) will cost $�� Phone: 906-482-0984 and include up to three adults traveling with the pass holder as is consistent with other Fax: 906-482-8753 Federal Recreation Passes. www.nps.gov/isro Facebook: • All Federal Recreation Passes (Annual, Senior, Access, Military) will be honored. Entrance search “Isle Royale National Park” fees will be waived for the pass holder and up to three adults traveling with the pass holder. Instagram: • The $��� season boat rider pass will be discontinued. Boaters may purchase the $�� Isle www.instagram.com/isleroyalenps/ Royale Season Pass instead. E-mail for General Information: • Children ages �� and under will be exempt from [email protected] paying entrance fees. Emergency use only: • Through August ��, ���� entrance fees will be waived (440) 546-5945 or Your Fees At Work toll free 1-800-433-1986 for �th grade students and up to three accompanying adults when student presents �th grade pass or paper The fees you pay while visiting Isle Royale National Park Isle Royale and Keweenaw voucher. remain in the park and are Parks Association How To Pay primarily used for trail and dock (Books, Maps, DVDs and Posters) maintenance projects. 800 East Lakeshore Drive Daily entrance fees may be paid ahead of your trip online at Every year as many projects Houghton, MI 49931-1869 pay.gov (search Isle Royale National Park.) If your entrance as possible are funded and Phone: 800-678-6925; 906-482-3627 fee charge will be greater than $��, consider purchasing an completed. www.irkpa.org Isle Royale Season Pass. The Isle Royale Season Pass may ���� E-mail: [email protected] be purchased ahead of your trip from the Houghton Visitor Rehabilitated � miles of Minong Ridge Trail / Rehabilitated Todd Center. All Federal Recreation passes may be purchased Rock Harbor Lodge Harbor Campground in person upon arrival to the Houghton, Rock Harbor, or Summer ���� Windigo Visitor Centers; when purchased from this park, P. O. Box 605 Repaired Ranger III cargo crane Houghton, MI 49931-0605 all fees support Isle Royale National Park. ���� Phone: 906-337-4993 If you have questions regarding how this fee change Rehabilitated Mott Island Dock / Winter may affect your visit, please visit the park website, Rehabilitated Ishpeming Trail Rock Harbor Lodge www.nps.gov/isro/planyourvisit/fees.htm, or contact 505 Happy Valley Road the park at (���) ���-����. Glasgow, KY 42141 Phone: 866-644-2003 www.RockHarborLodge.com .................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... E-mail: [email protected] Weather Forecasts Forever Resorts: Rock Harbor and Windigo for Isle Royale Lakeside Lodge Rooms Marina and Water Taxi www.crh.noaa.gov/mqt Sixty rooms are available; each accommodates four Offers ��� feet of dock space in Rock Harbor, and offers private bath. Open �/� through night of �/��. accommodating boats up to �� feet. Electrical, fresh water Weather Radio Forecasts hook-up, sewage pump-out, gasoline, and diesel fuel, • 162.400 MHz from Housekeeping Cabins Twenty duplex cottages accommodate six and are motorboat, canoe, and kayak rental available. Water taxi Houghton, Michigan. furnished with kitchenettes, utensils, dishware, private service drops off or picks up visitors, canoes, or kayaks at • 162.475 MHz from bath, double bed and one bunk bed. Open �/�� through many island docks. Services open �/�� through �/��. Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada. night of �/��. Fishing Charters and Sightseeing Charters are fully equipped for catching lake trout and Keweenaw Convention and Gift Shop and Dockside Store salmon. For details on sightseeing trips refer to page �. Visitors Bureau Gift Shop offers handcrafted gifts, apparel, photo Open �/� through �/��. Phone: 888-766-0325 supplies, postcards, souvenirs, daily fishing licenses, and www.keweenaw.info tackle. The store offers camping, hiking, and boating Windigo Store and Marina accessories, groceries, freeze-dried foods, fishing Offers groceries, cold sandwiches, camping supplies, Minnesota’s