Isle Royale Forums

So I see the park opens on April 16th but there are no ferries or seaplanes until May. So how do you get there in April? Are there any private citizens with boats in the nearby towns that would be willing to take you out there for a fee?

Basically, no. Keep in mind that April is really winter on the island. There is often snow even when the first boats run in mid-May, and in April you'd have a miserable time wading through knee- or hip-deep snow in most areas. No services will be available at Windigo nor Rock Harbor.

To get to the island in April, you would need to take your own boat on Lake Superior (not a good idea unless you're an incredibly experienced mariner -- and even then, April on the lake involves ice and rapidly changing weather). Anyone taking you there "for hire" would need to be licensed by the park, and so that more or less limits you to the usual carriers who don't start until mid-May.

dcclark wrote: Mon Mar 07, 2022 6:49 pm Anyone taking you there "for hire" would need to be licensed by the park ...

and have a Coast Guard Captain's license.