Is it possible to see the park with day trips and ferry service from Grand Portage?
It is possible to visit Isle Royale for a day trip using the Wenonah from Grand Portage, Minnesota or the Isle Royale Queen IV from Copper Harbor, Michigan. Unfortunately the layover of 3 to 3.5 hours allows only a brief glimpse of the immediate area and will allow time only for a short nature walk. To explore the backcountry, you will need to spend multiple days. Another consideration would be to establish a camp at Washington Creek or McCargoe Cove Campground (3 night maximum stay) and venture out on day hikes from there. Other campgrounds accessible by ferry offer day hiking possibilities as well. One could base camp at Washington Creek for 3 days, then continue on the Voyageur II to McCargoe Cove to spend another 3 days. Or do the same thing at Daisy Farm and Moskey Basin, with either a hike or a water taxi in between.
