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| Loon Information | Mammal Guide | Orchid Guide |
| Sights to See | Tree Guide | Wildflower Guide |
Wild animals, pristine forests, crystal clear lakes and rugged shoreline are a few of Isle Royale National Park's many fine features. This island archipelago is 45 miles long and nine miles wide at it's widest point. The park encompasses a total area of 850 square miles including submerged lands which extends four and a half miles out into Lake Superior. The archipelago is composed of many parallel ridges. Isle Royale has 165 miles of scenic hiking trails and 36 campgrounds for backpackers and recreational boaters. There is excellent Lake Superior fishing, historic lighthouses and shipwrecks, ancient copper mining sites, and plenty of spots to observe wildlife. Accessible only by boat or float plane, Isle Royale is relatively untouched by direct outside influences and serves as a living laboratory and International Biosphere Reserve.
Take a sightseeing hike to view Lake Superior panorama and abundant wildlife including moose and fox; hike scenic trails or take a sightseeing cruise to beautiful spots on the island including historic lighthouses; explore abandoned copper mines; visit a historic commercial fishery still in operation; catch a native lake trout on a fishing charter while trolling along one of Isle Royale's reefs; enjoy hospitality, food and service at the Rock Harbor Lodge Dining Room.
See the Calendar Page for complete details of the Ranger and Naturalist Activities offered. Children 6 to 12 years old can participate in the Junior Ranger Program. Check at any Isle Royale National Park Visitor Center for details. Children can graduate in one full day.
There are nearly 170 trails on the islands. There are many different wildflowers, orchids and trees as well as wildlife on the island.
See the Hiking Page for details.
Isle Royale has the most stable Common Loon population in Michigan, where, because of a declining population, it is formally listed as a Threatened Species. Park staff and researchers have been recording loon reproductive success within the park since 1990, both for the inland lake and Lake Superior waters. Isle Royale has the only known loon population that uses Great Lakes waters for nesting; the protected bays and islands around the park thus are critical habitat for these highly sensitive birds.
Loon reproduction was quite low in 1996 and 1997, when only 15 and 20 loon chicks, respectively, survived until August (and then presumably fledged). In 1998, with additional survey effort, we recorded 41 chicks that survived into August. More favorable spring weather in 1998 than the previous two years likely contributed to this healthy increase.
Ongoing monitoring is showing us how vulnerable loons are to human disturbance, however, especially during the critical nesting period (late April – early July). Loons will not tolerate humans coming close to their nests. Since 1997, the park was aware of at least 3 situations where boating activity – both powerboats and paddlers - have contributed to the abandonment of nests or the loss of a chick because they passed too close to a nest or a family with young.
You will see additional loon protection information in campgrounds and visitor centers this summer, but in general stay at least 100 yards away from loons, particularly near their nesting and nursery locations along protected islands and shorelines. Don’t approach too close and don’t throw a wake in these areas. Loons will choose the protected sides of islands within bays for nesting – avoid these areas until early July.
There is much that each individual visitor can do to ensure these birds continue to nest and rear young successfully. Please help us in that effort.
| Mammal | Abundance | Behavior |
| Big Brown Bat (Eptesicus fuscus) | Possible present in unknown numbers | Nocturnal |
| Keen's Bat (Myotis keenii) | Possible present in unknown numbers | Nocturnal |
| Little Brown Bat (Myotis lucifugus) | Possible present in unknown numbers | Nocturnal |
| Mammal | Abundance | Behavior |
| Eastern Timber Wolf (Canis lupuslycaon) | Rare | Crepuscular / nocturnal dependent on prey |
| Marten (Martes americana) | Possibly present in unknown numbers | Nocturnal |
| Mink (Mustela vison) | Uncommon | Nocturnal |
| Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes) | Common | Likes twilight most active at dawn |
| River Otter (Lutra canadensis) | Fairly Common | Likes twilight |
| Short-tailed Weasel (Mustela erminea) | Uncommon | Nocturnal |
| Mammal | Abundance | Behavior |
| Moose (Alaces alces) | Abundant | Likes twilight |
| Mammal | Abundance | Behavior |
| Snowshoe Hare (Lepus americanus) | Common | Likes twilight |
| Mammal | Abundance | Behavior |
| Beaver (Castor canadensis) | Common | Nocturnal |
| Deer Mouse (Peromyscus maniculatus) | Common | Nocturnal |
| Muskrat (Ondatra zibethicus) | Uncommon | Nocturnal |
| Red Squirrel (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus) | Abundant | Diurnal |
| Common Name | Location | Occurrence |
| American Hophornbeam | Reported only from the central part of Greenstone Ridge | Very Rare |
| Balsam Fir | Near Lake Superior shore and moist sites inland | Very Common |
| Balsam Poplar | Beaches and old beach lines | Fairly common |
| Black Spruce | Swamps, bogs; occasional dry sites | Common |
| Jack Pine | Ridgetops, rocky slopes, dry sites | Fairly common |
| Large-Toothed Aspen | Successful species in the maple-birch forest area | Uncommon |
| Northern Red Oak | Considered a successful species in the maple-rich forest. Restricted largely to the Greenstone Ridge | Uncommon |
| Northern White-Cedar (Arborvitae) | Along harbors, bays, lake shores, swamps, moist places inland. Sparingly on drier sites, prefers alkaline soil | Common |
| Paper Birch | Successful species on all parts of the island | Very common |
| Quaking Aspen | Successful species on all parts of the island | Very common |
| Red Pine | Scattered in a few small stands on dry sites | Scattered |
| Tamarack | Swamps, Bogs | Formerly common, now scarce |
| White Pine | Scattered throughout island. Considered successful species (some live 300-400 yrs) | Scattered |
| White Spruce | Most of island, decreasing toward southwestern uplands | Very Common |
| Yellow Birch | Upland areas on southwestern third of island | Common |
| Common Name | Location | Bloom Period |
| Auricled Twayblade* | Boreal forest | Jun - Jul |
| Blunt Leaf Orchid | Swamps, boreal forests | Jul - Aug |
| Bog Candle | Bogs | Jun - early Jul |
| Bracted Orchids | Boreal and mixed hardwood forests | Jul - Aug |
| Broad-leaf Twayblade | Moist swales, stream banks, boreal forests, bogs | Jun / Aug |
| Calypso Orchid ** | Boreal forests | Jun |
| Continental Ladies Tresses | Bog mats, rock shore pools, wet open habitats, dry rocky openings | Jul - Aug |
| Creeping Rattlesnake Plantain | Moist forests | Mid-Jul - Aug |
| Dragon's Mouth* | Bog mats | May / Jul |
| Grass-Pink | Bog mat | Jun / Aug |
| Heart-leaf Twayblade | Bogs, swamps | Jun / Aug |
| Hooker's Orchid | Moist forest | May / Aug |
| Green Adder's Tongue | Rocky openings, moist clearings, swamps | Jun / Aug |
| Green Twayblade | Bogs, swamps | Jun / Jul |
| Nodding Ladies Tresses | Moist openings of boreal forests | Late summer / fall |
| Northern Coralroot | Boreal forest clearings | Jun - early Jul |
| One Leafed Rein Orchard | Bogs, swamps, moist swales | Jul - Aug |
| Pink Lady's Slipper | Moist forests | Jun - Jul |
| Purple Fringed Orchid | Bogs, swamps | Jul - Aug |
| Ram's Head Lady's Slipper * | Boreal Forest clearings | May - Jun |
| Rose Pogonia | Bogs | Jun / Aug |
| Round Leaf Orchid | Mixed deciduous and boreal forests | Jul - mid-Aug |
| Round-leaved Orchid*** | Cedar Swamp | Jun - Jul |
| Show Lady's Slipper | Bogs | Jun - Jul |
| Slender Ladies Tresses | Mixed forests | Jul - Aug |
| Spotted Coralroot | Coniferous forests | Jul |
| Striped Coralroot | Boreal forests | Jun - early Jul |
| Tall Northern Rein Orchid | Bogs, swamps | Jun - Jul |
| Western Rattlesnake Plantain | Boreal forest, birch forests | Mid-Jul - Aug |
| White Adders' Mouth | Bogs, woods, swales | Jun / Aug |
| Yellow Lady's Slipper | Bogs, swamps | Jun - Jul |
* A special concern plant
** A threatened plant
*** An endangered plant
Orchids are protected by the State of Michigan and may not be disturbed.
| Common Name | Location | Bloom Period |
| American Starflower | Woods, moist places | Jun - mid-Jul |
| American Devisclub | Rocky habitats | Jun |
| Balsam Groundsel | Dry, rocky, open areas | Jun / Aug |
| Barren Strawberry | Variety of habitats | Jun - early Jul |
| Bastard Toadflax | Dry, wooded areas | Jun - early Jul |
| Beach Pea | Sandy or gravely lake shores | Summer |
| Bearberry | Dry, rocky, open area | May / Jul |
| Bishop's Cap | Mossy woods, wooded area | Jun - early Jul |
| Blue Beadlily | Woods, moist locations | Jun - early Jul |
| Blue-Eyedgrass | Fields, thickets | Jul - early Aug |
| Blueberry | Dry, rocky, open area | Early spring |
| Bog Buckbean | Floating sedge mats of bogs | Early summer |
| Bog Laurel | Bogs | Jun - early Jul |
| Bush Honeysuckle | Open, dry clearings | Jul - Aug |
| Canada Dogwood | Cool, damp habitats | Jun - Jul |
| Canada Hawkweed | Dry, open areas | Jul / Sep |
| Common Cow Parsnip | Damp locations | Jul |
| Common Arrowhead | Water | Jul / Sep |
| Common Yarrow | Fields, Clearings, dry woods | Summer / early fall |
| Cream Peavine | Open wooded area | Early summer |
| Dewberry | Moist woodlands, swamps | Jun - mid-Jul |
| Drummond Rockcress | Rocky shores, open fields | May / early Aug |
| Early Saxifrage | Rock crevices | Jun / early Aug |
| Eastern Paintbrush | Open, dry rocky areas | Jul / Sep |
| Field Pussytoes | Open fields, rocky areas | Early Spring |
| Flat - Top Aster | Moist woods, swamps | Aug - Sep |
| Great Mullein | Dry, rocky area, open fields | Jul / Sep |
| Green Pyrola | Dry, coniferous woods | Jul |
| Indian Pipe | Shady woods | Late Jul / early Sep |
| Joe-Pye-Weed | Stream banks, damp places | Late Jul / Sep |
| Labrador Tea | Bogs, damp locations | Jun - early Jul |
| Labrador Tea | Bogs, wet places | Jun - early Jul |
| Labrador Solomon Plume | Bogs, damp locations | Jun - early Jul |
| Marsh Marigold | Wet locations, stream banks | Early summer |
| Meadow Anemone | Moist area | May - early Aug |
| Narrowleaf Cowwheat | Rock openings, clearings | Jul / early Sep |
| Northern Comandra | Moist pockets, wooded area | Aug - Sep |
| One-sided Pyrola | Wooded area | Jul - Aug |
| Pale Corydalia | Dry, rocky crevices | Jun - Jul |
| Pearly Everlasting | Open dry areas | Jul / Sep |
| Pink Pyrola | Rich woods | Jul - early Aug |
| Pitcherplant | Bogs | Jul - Aug |
| Purple Meadowrue | Damp, open locations | Jul - early Aug |
| Rock Clematis | Rocky, open wooded areas | May - Jun |
| Rose Mandarin | Moist woods | Jun - early Jul |
| Roundleaf Sundew | Bogs | Jul - Aug |
| Shinleaf | Wooded area | Early Jul / early Sep |
| Shrubby Cinquefoil | Rock crevices | Summer |
| Skunk Cabbage | Swamps | Spring |
| Spreading Dogbane | Dry open areas | Early summer |
| Spurred Gentiayn | Moist and wooded area | Jul - early Aug |
| Swamp Candle | Swampy areas | Jul - Aug |
| Turtlehead | Stream banks, swamps | Late Jul / Sep |
| Twinflower | Woods, damp locations | Jul / Aug |
| Upright Bindweed | Dry open areas | Jul / Aug |
| Virgin's Bower | Wet banks, swampy areas | Aug and Oct |
| Virgin's Bower | Wet banks, swampy areas | Aug and Oct |
| Western Thimbleberry | Everywhere | Jun - Jul |
| Western Thimbleberry | Everywhere | Jun - Jul |
| White Rattlesnake Root | Open wooded areas | Aug - Sep |
| Wild Iris | Swamps, lake shores | Jun - Jul |
| Wild Sarsaparillta | Wooded areas | Jun - early Jul |
| Wild-Lily-of-the-Valley | Woods, damp locations | Early Jun - Jul |
| Wold Calla | Swamps, bogs, lake margins | Jun - early Jul |
| Wood Lily | Open fields, rocky ridges | Jul - Aug |
| Woodnymph | Shady woody habitats | Jul / Aug |
| Yellow Pond Lily | Ponds, lake margins | Summer |
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