Isle Royale National Park, Michigan –
Written by William M Rochfort — The evergreen-framed vantage over Lake Superior’s steely bay from this small shelter would put most any tentdoor view to shame. The first-come, first-serve hut (sleeps six) is situated on small Beaver Island in Washington Harbor—meaning you need to kayak roughly .5 mile from the Windigo Ranger Station to get there. Rent a canoe from the Windigo Store (starting at $23) to secure paradise. Trailhead Windigo Season June through September Amenities Wooden platform (bring a pad) Reservation Free; first-come, first-serve.
“Isle Royale National Park is a remote island cluster in Lake Superior, near Michigan’s border with Canada. It’s a car-free wilderness of forests, lakes and waterways, where moose and wolves roam. The Greenstone Ridge Trail links the Windigo Harbor in the west and Rock Harbor in the east. The 19th-century Rock Harbor Lighthouse has a small museum. Dive sites in the lake include several shipwrecks.”
From November 1 – April 15 annually, Isle Royale and its surrounding islands are closed to all visitors. Lake Superior waters are open to boaters. All islands reopen April 16. The Houghton Visitor Center remains open Monday – Friday all year. Get ready! The season is about to begin.
