Isle Royale reopens April 16

Isle Royale National Park reopens to visitors on Thursday, April 16, after its annual winter closure ends. (nps.gov) The park closes every year from November 1 through April 15, and the National Park Service says all islands reopen April 16. Isle Royale sits in Lake Superior and has no roads or bridges linking it to the mainland. (nps.gov) That reopening date does not mean regular public transportation starts the same day. The National Park Service says ferry and seaplane service typically begins in mid-May, and the first 2026 Ranger III sailing from Houghton is scheduled for May 26. (nps.gov 1) (nps.gov 2) From Copper Harbor, the Isle Royale Queen IV starts its 2026 season on May 11, with an 8 a.m. departure and a crossing of about 3 hours 45 minutes to Rock Harbor. Adult round-trip fare is listed at $175, and children 12 and under pay $125. (isleroyale.com) Isle Royale Seaplanes says it will fly daily between May 17 and September 19, 2026. Its schedule page lists one-way fares from Hubbell to Windigo or Rock Harbor starting at $282 per person, with round trips at $406. (isleroyaleseaplanes.com) Visitors also pay a park entrance fee on top of transportation. Isle Royale charges $7 per person per day, children 15 and under are exempt, and a $60 season pass covers the pass holder plus up to three additional adults for the full April 16 to October 31 season. (nps.gov) Early-season visitors need to plan for fewer services on the island. The National Park Service says Rock Harbor Lodge, the Windigo store and other services typically begin partial operations in late May, with fuller services usually starting in the first week of June. (nps.gov) Lodging is limited even in peak season. The National Park Service says Rock Harbor Lodge is the island’s only full-service lodging facility, while Windigo has two camper cabins managed by Isle Royale Resorts. (nps.gov 1) (nps.gov 2) The park is also cashless for entrance fees, so visitors without a federal lands pass are supposed to pay online before arriving or use fee stations during limited hours in Houghton, Rock Harbor or Windigo. The park’s annual Greenstone newspaper bundles ferry schedules, rates, campground tables and trip-planning rules for 2026. (nps.gov 1) (nps.gov 2) So the island opens April 16, but for most travelers the practical start of the season comes weeks later, when boats, planes and basic services begin running in May and early June. (nps.gov) (nps.gov)