Isle Royale reopens April 16

Isle Royale National Park reopens to visitors on Thursday, April 16, but most people still will not be able to reach the island by ferry or seaplane until May. (nps.gov) The National Park Service closes Isle Royale every year from November 1 through April 15, then reopens it from April 16 through October 31. The park sits in Lake Superior and can be reached only by private boat, ferry, or seaplane. (nps.gov; nps.gov) That gap between the reopening date and the start of transportation is the main planning hurdle this spring. The National Park Service says spring visitors should expect to be fully self-sufficient because services and emergency response are limited to nonexistent in April, May, and early June. (nps.gov) The park charges a $7 daily entrance fee per person for each calendar day on the island, including the day you arrive and the day you leave. Children 15 and under do not pay that fee, and the Isle Royale season pass costs $60. (nps.gov; nps.gov) The National Park Service ferry, Ranger III, leaves from Houghton, Michigan, and usually sails to Isle Royale on Tuesdays and Fridays, with return trips on Wednesdays and Saturdays. The Park Service says 2026 reservation requests are open, but confirmations will not be processed until seasonal staff return in mid-April. (nps.gov; nps.gov) From Copper Harbor, Michigan, the Isle Royale Queen IV begins its 2026 season on May 11 and charges $175 round trip for adults and $125 for children 12 and under. The crossing to Rock Harbor takes about 3 hours and 45 minutes. (isleroyale.com) From Grand Portage, Minnesota, the Voyageur II begins 2026 sailings on May 9 and serves Windigo and Rock Harbor on a multi-stop route around the island. The Sea Hunter III starts later, on June 10, with service to Windigo and day trips that run into early September. (isleroyaleboats.com; isleroyaleboats.com) Seaplane service starts later than the park reopening too. Isle Royale Seaplanes says its 2026 flights from Hubbell, Michigan, run daily from May 17 through September 19, with one-way fares of $282 and round trips at $406. (isleroyaleseaplanes.com) Visitors who arrive early in the season should not expect normal summer operations. The National Park Service says Rock Harbor and Windigo visitor centers stay closed in April, potable water is unavailable on the island in spring, and Rock Harbor Lodge and the Windigo Store typically do not begin partial service until late May. (nps.gov) So the park is reopening on April 16, but for most travelers the practical season begins weeks later, when boats, planes, water, stores, and lodging start coming back online. (nps.gov; nps.gov)