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Wildflowers bloom throughout the summer in many areas of IRNP.
in the lakes and streams and mosquitoes can make a night outdoors miserable for the unprepared.
Rock Harbor Lodge offers lodge rooms and cabins. Lodge rooms have one or two double beds and offer lakeside views via relaxing balconies. The cabins are more secluded, in wooded areas away from the main lodge and with views of Tobin Harbor. The cabins are popular with larger parties or for longer stays. All choices are rustic, lacking telephones, televisions or Wi-Fi. Cellphones typically don’t work anywhere on the island and Wi-Fi is only available in a couple of public buildings at the lodge. One of the best things about visiting IRNP is the ability to truly unplug from the world and reconnect with nature.
There is one in-between option, which is a step up from tent camping. A few camper cabins on the southwest end of IRNP at Washington Harbor lack indoor plumbing but offer access to shared outdoor facilities and public toilets.
30 • KING AIR MAGAZINE
Soaking it in
Planning far enough ahead was challenging, but choosing which way to go was easy. We traveled directly to KCMX, then we enjoyed a smooth 35-minute seaplane flight to IRNP’s Rock Harbor. It was a short walk to the lodge from the dock. Our bags were already waiting for us, and it wasn’t long before we were enjoying the views south and east across Lake Superior’s pristine waters from our room.
Isle Royale is not your typical national park, though stays in the park can be tailored to match individual fitness levels and interests. There are no trams, buses, scenic drives or museums. IRNP is wilderness – unspoiled and untamed. The gift of such a park is the ability to go out and be among natural beauty, far from crowds. This can be achieved via long or short hikes, water taxi rides to various points on the island or personal water exploration using rental kayaks and canoes. We
JANUARY 2025
PHOTO CREDITS: MATTHEW MCDANIEL