Isle Royale closes tent, group campsites at four campgrounds

HOUGHTON -- The National Park Service is putting in some significant changes that will impact campers on Isle Royale National Park and its because of prowling wolves.

NPS is closing some park tent and group campsite due to continued wolf activity. Starting last Friday and continuing until the park closes on Oct. 31, tent and group campsites and hammock use will be prohibited at Three Mile, Daisy Farm, Moskey Basin and Caribou Island.

Tent and hammock camping are not permitted anywhere within these campgrounds. Off-trail camping zones surrounding these campgrounds will also be closed until the end of the season. 

According to a written NPS written statement, the park continues to receive reports of wolves being interested in tents at these campgrounds, pawing and digging at tents and entering tents to drag packs and sleeping pads away.

The closure includes only the 13 tent sites, eight group campsites and tent and hammock use at four campgrounds. There are 32 shelters open for camping at the four campgrounds.

"Fall is a lovely time to visit the park and all Isle Royale campgrounds remain open," said Park Superintendent Denice Swanke.  

In the past month, the park installed a backpack storage cage at Three Mile campground and required visitors to store all packs in the cages at Three Mile and Rock Harbor campgrounds. At all campgrounds in the park, food, trash and scented items must be stored in food storage lockers or in animal-resistant, hard-sided containers.

For more information on food storage requirements, visit, Food Storage – Isle Royale National Park (U.S. National Park Service) or contact the Houghton Visitor Center at 906-482-0984 or by email.