America’s Least Visited National Park Offers Backcountry Solitude, Pristine Lakes & Ancient Forests

Isle Royale National Park, Michigan

Most national parks try to handle crowds. Isle Royale has the opposite problem – it’s the least visited park in the lower 48, a wild island in Lake Superior where wolves and moose roam free and every visitor has to really want to get there.

No roads, no cars, just 400 smaller islands and one big adventure.

You’ll get away from everyone

Isle Royale is the least-visited national park in the lower 48 states, with fewer than 25,000 visitors showing up each year. The park covers 850 square miles with 571,796 total acres – 133,788 acres of land and 438,008 acres of Lake Superior waters.

Since 1976, 99% of the land has been designated as wilderness. You’ll find 450 islands, over 160 miles of trails, and zero cars or roads. To get there, you’ll need to take a boat or seaplane, which keeps the crowds away.

Wolves and moose put on a fascinating show

Scientists have been studying the relationship between wolves and moose on Isle Royale for 67 years straight – the longest predator-prey study ever. Wolf numbers have gone up and down dramatically, from almost 50 wolves to just two in 2018.

Moose numbers have ranged from 500 to 2,500 over the years. As of 2025, about 30 wolves live on the island in four packs, while moose numbers have dropped to around 840, which is 14% less than last year. This ongoing relationship helps researchers understand how ecosystems work.

Lake Superior’s shoreline stays wild and untouched

You’ll find 450 miles of undeveloped shoreline around the largest freshwater lake (by surface area) in the world. The dramatic coast has tons of small islands, narrow peninsulas, and protected bays formed by the island’s unique geology.

As you walk along the rocky shore, you’ll see evergreen trees meeting the water, with dramatic cliffs and hidden coves that are perfect for paddling. The view from Mount Franklin gives you panoramic vistas of Lake Superior and sometimes even Canada, which look especially stunning at sunset.

Old-growth forests stand tall and untouched

The island preserves diverse forests that haven’t been disturbed much since the early 1900s. Near the shore and in northeastern areas, you’ll find northern boreal spruce-fir communities.

The drier interior and southwestern parts support northern hardwoods like sugar maple and yellow birch. If you visit in August, you’ll find wild thimbleberries and blueberries throughout the forests.

The island’s changing landscape creates many different forest types, sometimes shifting dramatically within short distances.

Fishing will fill your day and your plate

The waters around Isle Royale have over 40 fish species to catch. In Lake Superior, you’ll find lake trout, brook trout, salmon, and whitefish.

The inland lakes have northern pike, yellow perch, and walleye. The lake trout fishing near the island rivals the famous Stannard Rock area, with some trophy fish weighing 20-40 pounds.

You’ll need a Michigan fishing license for Lake Superior but not for inland lakes. Just remember to use artificial lures only – it’s required throughout the park.

Shipwrecks tell tales of Lake Superior’s power

The cold, clear waters of Lake Superior preserve numerous shipwrecks around the island. The western tip of Isle Royale has several notable wrecks, including the SS America, which attract scuba divers.

The National Park Service has mapped the ten most important shipwrecks within park waters, documenting vessels that couldn’t handle Lake Superior’s notorious storms.

If you visit the Rock Harbor Lighthouse museum, you’ll find a section about these shipwrecks and their stories.

Lava formed this island a billion years ago

The Greenstone Ridge was created during one of Earth’s biggest lava flows about 1.1 billion years ago. This massive eruption pooled lava up to 1,598 feet deep in places and contained between 1,650 and 6,000 cubic kilometers of molten rock.

The same lava flow that formed Isle Royale continues under Lake Superior and pops up again 56 miles away on the Keweenaw Peninsula.

Geologists call this formation part of the Portage Lake Volcanics, made up of about 100 separate lava flows totaling at least 10,000 feet thick.

Paddling doesn’t get better than this

You can kayak or canoe through protected harbors and inlets, with options for trips lasting several days. Popular spots include Rock Harbor, Tobin Harbor, Moskey Basin, and McCargoe Cove, where you might see wildlife from your boat.

The island has 200 inland lakes and protected harbors, giving you calm-water options when Lake Superior gets rough. If you don’t want to bring your own boat, you can rent canoes and kayaks at Rock Harbor Lodge.

Visiting Isle Royale

You can only reach the island by ferry, seaplane, or private boat from Houghton and Copper Harbor, Michigan, or Grand Portage, Minnesota.

Trips take between 1.5 and 7 hours depending on where you start. For sleeping arrangements, Rock Harbor Lodge offers 60 rooms and 20 housekeeping cottages, while 36 designated campgrounds provide wilderness options.

Pack for changing weather – even summer temperatures can swing wildly from warm to chilly in a single day.