LOTS OF IMPORTANT BASIC INFO (IN ONE POST)

Here is a bunch of random Isle Royale information that I have assembled. I have seen one (or more) people overlook each of these things—and then be faced with tough choices and/or unpleasant experiences during their Isle Royale trip. Please consult the official National Park Service Isle Royale website and/or the Isle Royale Official Park newspaper ("The Greenstone") for the best and most recent official information.



-- DRINKING WATER: Unless you are staying ONLY at Rock Harbor or Windigo and are ONLY drinking water from a water faucet at one of those two areas--you will need to filter or boil all of your drinking and cooking water on Isle Royale. The filter must filter out things 0.4 microns or smaller. You cannot (safely) just drink water out of a stream or lake. You cannot just chemically treat the water. The water needs to be boiled or filtered.  The National Park Service and the CDC ALSO recommend treating the filtered water with chemical treatment (such as iodine tablets, bleach, or other chemical treatments) or with a UV treatment--such as a “Steripen” IN ADDITION TO FILTERING THE WATER.  (Some people disagree with the need to both filter AND treat the water--but that is the official recommendation.  Sometimes, inland lakes have blue-green algal blooms.  This can make the water extremely toxic and such water CANNOT BE MADE SAFE by boiling, filtering, and/or treatment.



-- PETS: You cannot bring your dog, cat, or other animal with you to Isle Royale. The only exception is ADA service dogs and there are extremely strict rules (and paperwork) regarding bringing them to Isle Royale.



-- CELLPHONES: For all practical purposes, your cellphone will not work to make phone calls, texts, or to use the internet on Isle Royale. There are a few (usually high elevation) spots where you MIGHT catch a cellphone signal from Canada. Be prepared to pay some hefty international fees (if your phone works in those spots) and if you don't have an international servce plan. Also, if you are just hiking through one of those areas where there is a Canadian cell signal—and your phone is “on” and NOT in airplane mode—your phone might get all of your unopened texts, phone messages, and app updates (and you will have to pay huge fees).

-- WiFi AVAILABILITY: There is some limited WiFi available in limited places at Rock Harbor--for overnight guests at Rock Harbor Lodge.

-- CAMPING PERMITS: If you are going to be camping or using any of the camping shelters on Isle Royale, you will need to get a backcountry camping permit when you arrive on the island (or when on the Ranger III boat)



— CAMPFIRES: There are VERY few places on Isle Royale where you can have a campfire. And, some of those places (where you can have a campfire) only have a “community” campfire ring that must be shared with others at the entire campground. So, you probably shouldn't  plan on sitting around a campfire every night.
 or cooking all of your meals over a campfire

— FIRES, SAWS, & AXES: You can only use dead and downed wood for campfires. You cannot cut down standing trees or tree libs--even if they are dead. They recommend using nothing thicker than three inches in diameter (about the size of a wrist). You probably won’t be using it. (And, unless you are properly trained and officially authorized to do so--you can't clear trails). So, you might as well leave that saw, ax, and hatchet at home.



— FINDING WATER TO DRINK: On a map, many places along the Isle Royale trails --LOOK like they are close to places where you can stop and filter water. The truth is—you are probably separated from that water source by high rocky cliffs and/or by impenetrable underbrush—or the swampy and murky water that you find near the trail may be so nasty that your water filter will want to run away in fear. For the most part, if hiking, you should only plan on being able to filter water at established campgrounds. When you leave camp in the morning, you should probably plan on carrying enough water to last you  until you reach your campground at the end of the hiking day.

--PICNIC TABLES are only available at campgrounds located along Lake Superior-and not even all of the Lake Superior campgrounds have picnic tables.

 inland campgrounds do not have picnic tables.

— TOILET PAPER: Plan on bringing your own toilet paper.  READ THAT PREVIOUS SENTENCE AGAIN. Unlike years ago, in recent years--the National Park Service has stopped stocking outhouses with toilet paper. Also, it is almost unheard of to find toilet paper at an inland campground (unless someone accidentally left their paper behind).



— REGARDING HAMMOCKS: There are rules and conditions regarding the use of hammocks on Isle Royale. It can sometimes be difficult to find a spot to hang your hammock that meets all of the rules. In campgrounds, hammocks may only be used within the existing impacted area of designated sites and not in the surrounding trees. Hammocks may not be hung inside shelters.  Choose trees with care; many cannot support a hammock. Hammock use must not damage trees. If your party has more than one hammock—the challenge of finding suitable (and "legal") spots to hang multiple hammocks becomes even more difficult--or an impossibility.  Permissible hammock locations may not always be available--so bring a tent or tarp or similar back up plan. (Note, I am often a “hammock hanger”. So, I am definitely not anti-hammock).



— STAYING AT SHELTERS: Wooden camping shelters are available at ONLY SOME Isle Royale campgrounds. Wooden shelters do not exist at any inland campgrounds. Furthermore, not all campgrounds along Lake Superior have wooden camping shelters either.

 There is no guarantee that you will be able to get a spot in a wooden shelter--so--bring a tent, a tarp, a camping hammock--etc.  Keep reading for more about shelters.

— HAMMOCKS AT SHELTERS: You cannot use hammocks INSIDE the wooden shelters.



— TENTS AT SHELTERS:  You can set up tents INSIDE the wooden shelters.  (Some people do this for extr warmth and for extra protection from wind and rain.  Using nails, tacks, hooks, staples, or tape to attach things to the shelters is prohibited!



--SIX PEOPLE IN A SHELTER: In theory shelters sleep six people.  However, that many people in  shelter can sometimes feel crowded. And, --if a strong wind is blowing rain inside of the sheter--people and gear located near the screened wall of the shelter may get wet.



— SHELTERS CANNOT BE RESERVED nor can shelters be used as a spot to store your gear while you camp elsewhere at the same campground or while you camp elsewhere on the Island.



— FIRST COME BASIS: Shelters are on a “FIRST COME” basis. My rule of thumb is DON’T PLAN ON GETTING A SHELTER. Be pleasantly surprised if you get one. Always bring a tent, tarp, or similar form of shelter with you.  It is far more likely that you WON'T get a spot in a shelter than you WILL get a spot in a shelter.

— SHARING SHELTERS: It is the National Park Service recommendation (NOT AN NPS LAW OR RULE) that you share shelters until they reach their capacity of six people. The reality is, there is NOT a lot of shelter sharing that happens at Isle Royale unless there is bad weather or similar problem. Even in those rough situations, don’t always count on someone sharing a shelter with you.

  People will sometimes say "NO" to sharing a shelter that they occupy--even during a big storm and even if they are alone in a shelter. Be pleasantly surprised and grateful if sthe haring of shelters happens.  I tend to offer space in the shelter that I occupy--especially if the weather is poor.

--SHARING OF TENT SITES: Sharing of tent sites happens often. When conditions are crowded, sharing of tent sites IS THE NORM.  You are expected to share tent sites in crowded conditions.

— DAILY FEES: There is a $7.00 per person--PER DAY park entrance fee. (Persons age 15 and under are exempt from this fee). Be prepared to pay the fee.  You can pay the fee in advance or pay it at the park when you arrive. HOWEVER, please be advised that the National Park Service now only acccpts credit cards (and not cash). There are also Isle Royale  passes and National Park Service passes that you can purchase to cover the daily fee.  T



— LIVING OFF OF THE LAND:  DO NOT  plan to “live off the land” while at Isle Royale. 1) Killing and or trapping the animals of Isle Royale is forbidden. Also, you cannot gather their eggs (nor can you try to obtain milk from the animals).  2) Do not planning on surviving on fish. You might not be lucky enough to catch any fish on a particular day--nor on your entire trip. 3) Don’t assume that you will find anywhere near enough berries to sustain you. You cannot cut or uproot any plants—other than eating berries. Thus, you cannot gather edible plants to consume. PLEASE BRING ENOUGH FOOD FOR YOUR ENTIRE TRIP (AND FOR ONE OR TWO EXTRA DAYS--IN CASE YOUR TRANSPORTATION HOME IS DELATED).

— CAMPING AND HIKING AWAY FROM CAMPGROUNDS AND TRAILS: You cannot camp at any place other than the established campgrounds. UNLESS you get a special cross country permit. Those permits have strict limitations regarding where you can use them.


— IMPORTANT!  PLEASE READ THIS: Once you get on your boat or plane (to or from Isle Royale), your backpack or luggage will be stored—and YOU WILL NOT HAVE ACCESS TO IT DURING THE TRIP TO/FROM THE ISLAND. So, you might want to have big pockets (or a small bag) in which to carry any food, water, jackets, rain gear, mediction, maps or documents that you plan to use en route to/from the island. Also, it might be a half-hour (or more) before you get reunited with your pack or luggage after you reach land. Thus, you might want to carry with you anything that you might need in your first half-hour on the island (including a wallet, park passes, any receipts you might need, rain gear, and/or any medication).



--IT WILL PROBABLY BE COLD ON THE BOAT: Bring a jacket. Also, bring rain gear—just in case. Not all boats have enough indoor seating for all passengers. Also, if you are feeling seasick—you WILL be outside. (even in the rain).



--SUNBURN ON BOATS: Many people get sunburned on the boats. The sun reflects off of the water and off of shiny surfaces on the boats. Nothing is worse than starting off (or ending) your isle Royale trip with a sunburn.

  So, if you are outside on the boats, please cover your skin with appropriate sun-blocking clothing, hats, and/or sunscreen.

— LEAVE YOUR MOTOR VEHICLE AND YOUR CAMPER ON THE MAINLAND: You cannot drive a motor vehicle to Isle Royale. There are no bridges. You cannot bring your vehicle or your camper on the ferries. People have actually thought that they could bring their vehicles and campers to Isle Royale.



— PLAN ON GETTING WET AND MUDDY when you are at Isle Royale—and be pleasantly surprised if that doesn’t happen.



— IT CAN GET COLD ON ISLE ROYALE: It can get cold on Isle Royale—especially overnight. In ANY month—be prepared for temperatures down into the 30s (Fahrenheit). In May, June, September, and October— it can get into the 20s. The record low for October is 13 degrees.



— STAY LIMITS AT CAMPGROUNDS: There are consecutive night “stay limits” at all of the campgrounds (and shelters) at Isle Royale. Probably the most important ones to note are the ONE CONSECUTIVE NIGHT STAY LIMIT at Rock Harbor Campground, Three Mile Campground, and Lane Cove Campground. (There some exceptions to that one night stay limit very early and very late in the season). TWO CONSECUTiVE NIGHT LIMITS: At Lake Desor, Chickenbone Lake, Hatchet Lake, Lake Richie, Little Todd Harbor, Feldtmann Lake, Intermediate Lake, Lake Whittlesey, Pickerel Cove, and Wood Lake. There are MANY campgrounds with a THREE CONSECUTIVE NIGHT STAY LIMIT.  See the official National Park Service Isle Royale website and/or "The Greenstone" Isle Royale newspaper for the complete and latest list of stay limits.

— GROUP PERMITS: If you are going to have more than six (6) people in your group —you need a GROUP CAMPING PERMIT. You need to get that permit BEFORE YOU COME TO THE ISLAND. There are very strict limits on where people can stay and how many groups can stay. Get your group permit early in order to avoid problems and issues. One note: More than 10 people are not allowed in a group. Thus, groups larger than ten people need to split into TWO totally independent groups with completely different itineraries than each other. They canno stay closer than a half-mile to each other.