Isle Royale reopens April 16

Isle Royale National Park reopens to visitors on Thursday, April 16, after its annual winter closure. (nps.gov) The park closes every year from November 1 through April 15, and the 2026 season runs from April 16 through October 31. The National Park Service says visitors can call 906-482-0984 to discuss trip planning, permits, and fees. (nps.gov) Getting there is the hard part in mid-April. The National Park Service says public ferries and seaplane service generally run from the middle of May through September, even though the park itself opens in April. (nps.gov) That gap leaves early-season visitors with a narrower set of options and more self-sufficiency. The park’s spring guidance says April, May, and early June trips require visitors to be fully prepared because services and emergency response are limited to nonexistent. (nps.gov) The entrance fee is $7 per person, per day, and children 15 and under do not pay. Isle Royale also offers a $60 season pass that waives daily entrance fees for the pass holder and up to three other adults during the April 16 to October 31 season. (nps.gov) The park no longer accepts cash for entrance fees. Visitors without a federal lands pass are encouraged to pay online before arriving, though fees can also be processed at Rock Harbor, Windigo, or Houghton during posted collection hours. (nps.gov) For travelers coming later in the season, the National Park Service lists three main ferry routes: the Ranger III from Houghton, Michigan, the Isle Royale Queen IV from Copper Harbor, Michigan, and the Voyageur II from Grand Portage, Minnesota. The Queen IV typically starts in early May, and the Voyageur II runs around the island every two days during its season. (nps.gov 1) (nps.gov 2) (nps.gov 3) The Ranger III reservation system is open for 2026, but the National Park Service says confirmation processing will not begin until seasonal staff return in mid-April. The ferry runs between Houghton and Rock Harbor, and the crossing takes about six hours. (nps.gov 1) (nps.gov 2) On the lodging side, Rock Harbor Lodge is the island’s only full-service lodging complex, and National Park Service materials say services in Rock Harbor and Windigo are typically seasonal from June through September. Rock Harbor Lodge lists its 2026 full-operations season as June 5 through September 12. (nps.gov) (rockharborlodge.com) So the park opens April 16, but most visitors will not see the easiest travel and lodging options until May and June. On Isle Royale, the season starts on the calendar before it starts in a practical sense. (nps.gov 1) (nps.gov 2) (nps.gov 3)