Isle Royale Forums

It has been a lifetime dream of mine to see and hike the island. I am 59 and would have no problem backpacking in a tent. My wife however not so much.

I can't figure out this reservation system. If I'm going, I want to go for the majority of a week and do day hikes from the lodge.

Seems that reservations are taken only 365 days in advance? Looks like 25 is already booked up. I guess I need to start looking ever day started early spring to get booked for 26?

Unfortunately, that fits with what I've heard. You can also regularly check for cancellations in '25 and hope to get lucky, but I'm not aware of any wait list or anything like that.

The housekeeping cabins typically open the end of May, and the lodge rooms and full services a couple weeks later in June. "The Greenstone" (the annual park newspaper) has all that info--the 2025 edition will probably be published in Feb or Mar, but the current 2024 version will be close on the dates until then--the basic schedules don't typically change too much from year to year. If you haven't looked at it, it's online here: https://www.nps.gov/isro/greenstone-newspaper.htm

If this helps, you can work out a "no hike in" ferry trip if you're willing to come in the West end from Grand Portage. Our May trip this year is going to be a no-hiker where we get dropped off, moved to a new camp then taken out by the ferry. I've met a fella there (folks call him McCargoe Bob) who does that type of trip once or twice a year, I've crossed paths with him a few times there in my travels. Think of it like Island Glamping where the ferry moves you around and you just day-hike out and explore from your base camp. We will be loaded with canoes and packrafts but its the same concept

The Ferry travels clockwise.
Each campsite has a consecutive night limit, and they will charge you a fee each time you disembark
Grand Portage >Windigo (3 nights)
McCargoe Cove (3 nights)
Belle Isle (5 nights)
Rock Harbor (1 Night) **Stops here for the night**
Daisy Farm (3 Nights)
Chippewa Harbor (3 nights)
Malone Bay (3 nights)
Returns to windigo>Grand Portage

https://www.isleroyaleboats.com/schedules.html
https://www.nps.gov/isro/planyourvisit/ ... -table.htm

That is true, even our two hop tickets with extra gear or canoe were not cheap.