Brandi Demerest & Maddie Mauldin. Mrs. Whites' 6th hour Comm. Arts
Summary
1. Travel the Island by foot, boat, or float plane!
2. Lake Superiors northwest corner sits a wilderness archipelago. A roadless land of wild creatures, unspoiled forests, refreshing lakes and rugged, scenic shores.
3. Characteristics of Isle Royale:
Wolves and moose.
Wild North woods forest
Ever-changing weather
Cool climate
Crystal clear waters
Rugged shoreline of Lake superior.
4. 45 miles long and 9 miles wide- at its widest point.
5. Encompasses a total area of 850 sq. miles. +submerged lands which extends 4.5 miles out into Lake Superior.
6. Composed of many parallel ridges resulting from ancient lava flows which were tilted and glaciated.
7. Has 165 miles of scenic hiking trails and 36 camping grounds for backpackers and recreational boaters.
8. Excellent for:
Fishing, historic lighthouses & shipwrecks., ancient copper mining sites, and plenty of wildlife observe spots.
2. Lake Superiors northwest corner sits a wilderness archipelago. A roadless land of wild creatures, unspoiled forests, refreshing lakes and rugged, scenic shores.
3. Characteristics of Isle Royale:
Wolves and moose.
Wild North woods forest
Ever-changing weather
Cool climate
Crystal clear waters
Rugged shoreline of Lake superior.
4. 45 miles long and 9 miles wide- at its widest point.
5. Encompasses a total area of 850 sq. miles. +submerged lands which extends 4.5 miles out into Lake Superior.
6. Composed of many parallel ridges resulting from ancient lava flows which were tilted and glaciated.
7. Has 165 miles of scenic hiking trails and 36 camping grounds for backpackers and recreational boaters.
8. Excellent for:
Fishing, historic lighthouses & shipwrecks., ancient copper mining sites, and plenty of wildlife observe spots.
History of the Park
Isle Royale was given to the USA in 1783 by Great Britain through a treaty. Prehistoric large amounts of mined copper. Ojibwa Indians still consider Isle Royale their territory. In Lake Superior, there is 20 feet trenches, this is the lake that is surrounding Isle Royale. Only 12 families still have life time leases here at the National Park. They no longer give out lifetime leases. Herbert Hoover authorized Isle Royale on March 3rd, 1931. While Franklin D. Roosevelt established Isle Royale on April 3rd, 1940. Miners and loggers in the late nineteenth century deforested a lot of the island, so the island was established as a National Park to save its beauty. The island appeared beneath glacial ice, rising as the lake level dropped. The surface scene you see from the Islands heights is the product of 10,000 years of natural sculpting, soil-building, and plant-pioneering and succession. Then the island developed soil and was colonized by plants and animals. Its many inland lakes first formed in basins gouged out by glaciers and then began to shrink, as lakes and ponds inevitably do. Isle Royale is open from April 16th to October 31st.
Our Stay at Isle Royale.
Arriving to Isle Royale National Park.(:
FAQs
1. What is the highest point on Isle Royale?
-Mount Desor is 1394 feet above sea level. And Lake Superior is 601 feet above sea level.
2. Can I bring my bike or motorcycle?
-No wheeled vehicles are permitted on Isle Royale except for wheelchairs.
3. Can I bring my pet(s)?
-No, pets are not allowed on the island. If you do end up bringing them, you won't only be required to leave immediately but you are as well, disturbing wildlife and putting the wildlife at risk for diseases. Particularly the Wolves. Special conditions apply to guide dogs- contact the park for more information.
4. How are the Mosquitoes and Black Flies on the island?
-Typically they hatch around late May & early June. They are the worse during late June & early July. Normally die off at the end of July.
5. How many trips are made during Peak Season? (May- Sept.)
-Normally two a week.
6. Do you ride different boats to the island or same one?
-Different boats. Houghton, MI you ride the Ranger III. Copper Harbor, MI you ride the Queen IV.
7. What is the departure time from Houghton, Michigan?
-9:00am EDT- Tuesday thru Friday. Typically asked to arrive at 8:15am.
8. Will the boats departure on holiday?
- Yes! The only time they don't is due to mechanical failure or inclement weather.
9. Is it possible to see the Park in one day?
- Yes, but the 3-4 hours there and back each way, allows so little time to actually be on the island.
10. Are there showers at the campsites?
-No, showers are available on the islands Northeast side at Rock Harbor and/or on the Southwest side at Windigo.
-Mount Desor is 1394 feet above sea level. And Lake Superior is 601 feet above sea level.
2. Can I bring my bike or motorcycle?
-No wheeled vehicles are permitted on Isle Royale except for wheelchairs.
3. Can I bring my pet(s)?
-No, pets are not allowed on the island. If you do end up bringing them, you won't only be required to leave immediately but you are as well, disturbing wildlife and putting the wildlife at risk for diseases. Particularly the Wolves. Special conditions apply to guide dogs- contact the park for more information.
4. How are the Mosquitoes and Black Flies on the island?
-Typically they hatch around late May & early June. They are the worse during late June & early July. Normally die off at the end of July.
5. How many trips are made during Peak Season? (May- Sept.)
-Normally two a week.
6. Do you ride different boats to the island or same one?
-Different boats. Houghton, MI you ride the Ranger III. Copper Harbor, MI you ride the Queen IV.
7. What is the departure time from Houghton, Michigan?
-9:00am EDT- Tuesday thru Friday. Typically asked to arrive at 8:15am.
8. Will the boats departure on holiday?
- Yes! The only time they don't is due to mechanical failure or inclement weather.
9. Is it possible to see the Park in one day?
- Yes, but the 3-4 hours there and back each way, allows so little time to actually be on the island.
10. Are there showers at the campsites?
-No, showers are available on the islands Northeast side at Rock Harbor and/or on the Southwest side at Windigo.
Budget
We drove 14 hours and 29 minutes to Copper Harbor, Michigan -950 miles- in a Honda Insight. Doubling that makes 1900 miles. A round trip cost us only $149.00. A round trip on the boat to the Island for the both of us was $212 altogether plus a $32 fee for two. We brought a $25 tent, $7 worth of bacon, $10 worth of 6 mini Bisquick Pancake Mix, $50 worth of 2 fishing poles, $20 worth of lure, $6 PB&J in a jar, $4 for a loaf of bread and $14 worth of 24 pk of water. We brought from home: 2 air mattresses, 2 coolers, portable grill, skillet pans, and syrup. We decided that fishing fish for dinner would make it a bit fun. Altogether, of $1200, we spent $529. We saved $671.