Best Tent Camping near Isle Royale National Park
Isle Royale National Park offers wilderness tent camping experiences on a remote island in Lake Superior, accessible only by boat or seaplane. Tent campsites are scattered throughout the island at designated campgrounds such as West Chickenbone, McCargoe Cove, and Moskey Basin. Each location provides primitive camping with varying levels of amenities and different access points, primarily reached via hiking trails or water transportation from the mainland ports of Houghton, Michigan or Grand Portage, Minnesota.
Most tent sites at Isle Royale are primitive with minimal improvements. Vault toilets are available at several campgrounds including McCargoe Cove, Daisy Farm, and Moskey Basin, but toilet paper is not provided. Water must be sourced from Lake Superior or interior lakes and requires treatment, as one visitor noted, "the Park Service recommends treating your drinking water in two ways." Fire rings are limited to specific campgrounds like McCargoe Cove, while fires are prohibited at most locations across the island. Sites are first-come, first-served, though permits are required to ensure capacity limits are maintained.
The tent camping experience at Isle Royale offers exceptional solitude and natural immersion. Walk-in tent sites at locations like West Chickenbone provide direct lake access and opportunities to observe wildlife. According to one camper, "There are many tent sites, including a few group sites, and a couple of privys. Not all of the sites are on the lake but all have plenty of tree cover." Some campgrounds feature shelters that provide additional protection from rain and insects, particularly valuable during peak mosquito season in summer months. The island's interior lakes can experience algal blooms in late summer, affecting water quality at locations like East Chickenbone Lake. Weather conditions can be unpredictable, with Lake Superior creating its own microclimates that tent campers should prepare for with appropriate gear and supplies.
