If you’re looking for a backwoods adventure in northern Michigan’s great outdoors, time is dwindling to visit a national park in Michigan before it shuts down for winter — but you’ll have to figure out how to get there.
Isle Royale National Park, among the nation’s least-visited parks, will close for the season Oct. 31, 2025, the park’s website says, although ferry and seaplane ferry services all end by late September, according to their schedules.
Within weeks, the only option to visit the remote landscape in the middle of Lake Superior will be private boats.
Here’s what to know about Isle Royale National Park, when it closes, and when ferry and seaplane services end.
When does Isle Royale National Park close in fall 2025?
Isle Royale National Park will close Oct. 31, 2025, for the winter season, according to its website.
What is Isle Royale National Park?
Isle Royale National Park is a remote park featuring opportunities for backpacking, hiking, boating, paddling, diving and more, the National Park Service says. The park consists of a large island surrounded by more than 450 smaller islands, preserving 132,018 acres of wilderness on 850 square miles.
How much does it cost to visit the park?
Day passes through the National Park Service are $7 while season passes are $60. Fees for travel to the island are not included.
Where is Isle Royale National Park?
Isle Royale National Park is an island in northwestern Lake Superior north of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.
How do I get to Isle Royale?
In addition to private boats, several seaplane and ferry routes to the island throughout the summer.
From Houghton, the options include the Ranger III ferry (6 hours) or Isle Royale Seaplanes, which takes about 40 minutes.
From Copper Harbor, the ferry option is the Isle Royale Queen IV, which takes 3.5 hours.
From Grand Portage, Minnesota, you can take the Voyageur II or the Sea Hunter III, which take 2 hours or 1.5 hours.
When does ferry season end in 2025?
The Ranger III ferry service from Houghton ended in early September with its last voyage on Sept. 13, according to the park’s website.
Isle Royale Seaplanes also has ended its service, which was available until Sept. 20, its website said.
From Copper Harbor, the Isle Royale Queen IV is still an option, with service set to run until Sept. 30, according to its website.
For visitors traveling from Grand Portage, Minnesota, the Voyageur II will run until Sept. 26, the Grand Portage Isle Royale Transportation Lines website says.
The Sea Hunter III closed for the year on Aug. 30, the website said.
What activities are available at Isle Royale National Park?
Activities available at Isle Royale National Park include:
When will Isle Royale National Park reopen in 2026?
Isle Royale National Park will reopen April 16, 2026, for the 2026 season.
Contact Jenna Prestininzi: jprestininzi@freepress.com.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: You won’t be able to visit Isle Royale much longer. How long you have to visit the park
Reporting by Jenna Prestininzi, Detroit Free Press / Detroit Free Press
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