Isle Royale Forums

I was trying to find out if Isle Royale would be closed during the Government shut-down and came here first. Kudos to us, right?

But, since there wasn't anything I went to the hellscape that is Facebook and found this from the official ISRO NPS page:

"Due to the current lapse in federal government appropriations, Isle Royale websites and social media accounts are not being maintained or monitored, except for emergency communications. On Isle Royale, only basic or no visitor services, maintenance, or other management activities will be conducted, and emergency services will be limited"

Source:

I was assuming it would be shut down.
Isn't "visitor season" done at this point anyway unless you have your own transportation?

My understanding is that from October 1 through October 31 the park is “open” but no staff or services are provided. Which should mean no change for a shutdown.

While looking at Marine Traffic I noticed a couple of private boats at The Island during October.

I could swear the Voyageur picked us up at Chippewa Harbor the 1st or 2nd week in October 1978. It was so cold, a cup of water in my boiling pot froze solid the night before.

It looks like NPS final departure was 10/29/2025.
On the evening of 10/30/25, all the dock lights were off.