Map showing campground location near Grand Portage, Michigan

Camper submitted image from Hay Bay Campground — Isle Royale National Park

Hay Bay Campground — Isle Royale National Park

Accessible only by boat or a challenging multi-mile hike combining bushwhacking and beach walking, Hay Bay Campground sits on Isle Royale's remote shoreline within Isle Royale National Park. The National Park Service maintains this backcountry site with a wooden outhouse located about 50 yards from the water and a designated tent area set back in the woods, separate from the shore zone.

A long dock extends into the bay, providing space for boat access, gear drying, and lake views. The site includes a narrow sand beach, though campers report leeches in the water. A picnic table near the dock offers a setup area for meals and equipment. Bear bag hanging requires locating suitable trees, as bear boxes may not be installed. Pets are prohibited throughout the park. This remote location works best for experienced backpackers or boaters seeking [places to camp around Isle Royale National Park] away from developed facilities.

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Location

Public Campground

Hay Bay Campground — Isle Royale National Park is located in Michigan

Directions

Hay Bay Campground is located in Hay Bay on the south shore of Isle Royale National Park.

Address

800 E. Lakeshore Drive
Houghton, MI 49931

Coordinates

47.933869 N
88.939994 W

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Connectivity

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Connectivity

T-Mobile
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Verizon
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Access

Hike-In
Backcountry sites.
Boat-In
Sites accessible by watercraft.

Site Types

Tent Sites

Features

For Campers

Picnic Table
Toilets

Contact

General Info

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1 Star

4.0

out of 5

1 Review

Amy G.

Legend

Reviewed Jan. 2, 2026

Very very remote - accessible only by water unless you love to bushwhack

NOTE: My 4 star is based on "back country" sites. Not on a normal campground where you find showers, etc.

Hay Bay is incredibly pretty. Albeit, incredibly difficult to get to by foot. If you have a boat and a destination to get there, no issues. But if you are on foot, it's back country for a few miles by a combo of bushwhacking and beach walking to get there.

There is a long dock which is lovely for drying clothing in the sun (don't let it blow away), laying on to catch some rays and a nap, sitting on to enjoy the view, etc. A sliver of sand beach is great for going barefoot to massage your piggies. Watch out for leeches if you are dipping to rinse off. A picnic table (when I was there) was near the dock for eating and setting up solar panels.

OUTHOUSE: Take the patch away from the beach/dock area about 50 yards to a wooden outhouse. Please use this and not the woods to do your business. Take your own paper - they do not provide it for you.

TENTING: There is actually a tenting "area" back in the woods. And that's is where tenting is intended to be. You are not supposed to set up near the shore. If you go toward the outhouse there is another path to the right (can't remember if it's before or after the outhouse) and it leads about another 50 yards back to an open area in the trees where you could set up multiple tents on a flat pad. From that pad area, there is actually one more path straight down to the beach area.

BEAR BAGS: It's not easy to find a good bear bag tree (if they don't have a bear box installed) but we found one at the path noted above, right on the beach, and. hung them there.

This is a gorgeous spot if you can get to it. A diamond in the rough. Literally.

Month of VisitJune