Michigan Has the Least Visited but Most RE-Visited National Park in the Country
Michigan not only has the least visited National Park, but it is also the most RE-visited...it's ISLE ROYALE – “A true wilderness surrounded by water” (as according to Tom Daldin).
It's way the heck out there in Lake Superior and can take anywhere from 4 to 6 hours by boat to get there. From Copper Harbor you can arrive in approximately 3 hours and 45 minutes. From Houghton it take about 6 hours...but man, is it worth it.
Isle Royale was authorized by Congress on March 3, 1931 and approved by President Herbert Hoover as a way to conserve an example of our Northern Wilderness...and it sure is. Over 99% of the island is wilderness.
It was established on April 3, 1940 as a National Park by President Franklin D. Roosevelt.
There are no main roads, just a lot of trails to hike and discover. It's a slim possibility you could run into some wild wolves or see a wild moose. Many visitors go there in hopes to see a moose and some do, on a rare occasion...but they aren't cute like Bullwinkle – you need to stay your distance.
Lots of other wildlife abound on the island: fox, beaver, loons, and other creatures that may or may not lurk after midnight.
There are 36 campgrounds, historic shipwrecks, old lighthouses, abandoned copper mines, deserted shacks, excellent fishing, and swimming.
Boat or plane are the only two ways to get there...add Isle Royale to your bucket list. Take a look at the gallery below to see how Isle Royale looks in the 2020s...
A Tour of Isle Royale, 2020s
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