Grand Portage Isle Royale Transportation Lines
Camping And Hiking Trips
Grand Portage Isle Royale Transportation Lines provides passenger service, as well as canoe and kayak transport, to various docks along the coastline of Isle Royale for backpackers and campers who intend to spend one or more nights on the island. The Voyageur II route offers visitors an opportunity to see the perimeter of the entire island and allows passenger drops at several trailheads and paddling embarkation points around Isle Royale. The boat travels clockwise around the island, stopping at Windigo, McCargoe Cove, Belle Isle, and ending at Rock Harbor on the outbound trip. The following day the inbound route makes stops at Daisy Farm, Chippewa Harbor, Malone Bay, and Windigo, before heading back to Grand Portage. We also offer intra-island travel for those wishing to move from point to point on the island without hiking the entire distance. Click HERE for a detailed map of Isle Royale and the docks we provide service to.
Please Note The Following Before Proceeding:
- Voyageur II may not stop at any docks other than Windigo and Rock Harbor unless there are reservations.
- On again given Voyageur II around-the-island trip (outbound + inbound), once the boat departs Grand Portage, do not make online reservations for that trip. If you make an online reservation, you need to know that the passenger manifest cannot be updated for the crew onboard the vessel in real time, so we will NOT be expecting you, and the possibility exists that we might not be stopping at, your desired pickup location.
- Inter-island stop times are approximate.
- If you are planning to return using our service you are required to make your return reservation at the same time you make your outbound reservation.
- We strongly recommend that you make your reservations many months in advance, as they tend to fill up.
Voyageur II 2024 sailing dates are May 11th - September 26th (Providing service around Isle Royale in two days)
Outbound Route from Grand Portage, MN to Isle Royale National Park, MI via the north side of Isle Royale:
DEPART: Grand Portage, MN - 7:30 AM CDT
ARRIVE: Windigo, Isle Royale - 9:30 AM CDT
DEPART: Windigo, Isle Royale - 10:00 AM CDT
ARRIVE AND DEPART: McCargoe Cove - 01:00 PM CDT
ARRIVE AND DEPART: Belle Isle - 01:30 PM CDT
ARRIVE: Rock Harbor - 03:00 PM CDT
Inbound Route from Isle Royale National Park, MI to Grand Portage, MN via the south side of Isle Royale:
DEPART: Rock Harbor, Isle Royale - 8:00 AM CDT
ARRIVE AND DEPART: Daisy Farm - 8:30 AM CDT
ARRIVE AND DEPART: Chippewa Harbor - 9:00 AM CDT
ARRIVE AND DEPART: Malone Bay - 10:00 AM CDT
ARRIVE: Windigo, Isle Royale - 12:30 PM CDT
DEPART: Windigo, Isle Royale - 01:00 PM CDT
ARRIVE: Grand Portage, MN - 03:00 PM CDT
May 11th - May 26th: outbound trips to island Wednesday and Saturday; inbound trips from island Thursday and Sunday
May 27th - September 15th: outbound trips to island Monday, Wednesday, Saturday; inbound trips from island Tuesday, Thursday, Sunday
September 18th – September 26th: outbound trips to island on Wednesday; inbound trips from island on Thursday
*Saturday and Sunday, Sept 21st, 22nd and Sept 28th, 29th - day trips back and forth to Windigo each day; depart Grand Portage at 8am and Windigo at 1pm
*The last trip with a pick-up option at McCargoe Cove or Belle Isle is September 15th. After that, you may choose to get dropped off at either of those locations, but you must have an alternate drop-off point in case weather forces the outbound trip to go along the south side of the island.
Sea Hunter III 2024 sailing dates are June 12th - August 31st (Providing service to and from Windigo, Isle Royale from Grand Portage, MN)
Service to and from Windigo from Grand Portage
DEPART: Grand Portage, MN - 08:30 AM CDT
ARRIVE: Windigo, Isle Royale Nat. Park - 10:00 AM CDT
DEPART: Windigo, Isle Royale Nat. Park - 02:00 PM CDT
ARRIVE: Grand Portage, MN - 03:30 PM CDT
Jun 12th - July 13th: to and from Windigo Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday
July 17th - August 11th: to and from Windigo Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday
August 14th - August 31st: to and from Windigo on Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday
Departure Times
Passengers must be at the boat dock and prepared to board at least 45 minutes prior to departure.
Rates
$90 Grand Portage to Windigo or Windigo to Grand Portage
$113 Grand Portage to any designated same day stop beyond Windigo/Any designated same day stop beyond Windigo to Grand Portage
$73 - $89 Inter-island travel between various same day designated island stops, the higher rate is the trip from Rock Harbor or Daisy Farm to Windigo and from Windigo to Rock Harbor.
$71 - $81 Inter-island travel for children under 16 years of age
$79 Child under 16 Grand Portage to Windigo/Windigo to Grand Portage
$108 Child under 16 Grand Portage to any same day stop beyond Windigo/same day stops beyond Windigo to Grand Portage
Canoes/Kayaks/Extra Baggage Transport, etc.
$45 Canoes/Kayaks (One Way) *Please call our office to arrange bicycle transport.
$45 100# Additional Luggage and Gear in excess of 40# allowed (one way)
Payments
All reservations require a full fare remittance at the time of the reservation. A reservation is not confirmed until payment is received. Payment can be made by Visa or MasterCard only.
National Park Entrance Fee
For information about the daily entrance fee and park passes please CLICK HERE. Keep your pass or proof of entrance fee payment on your person during boat transportation as you will need to present it to park personnel upon arrival.
Gear Restrictions
Each passenger is allowed up to 40 lbs of gear. If you will have over 40 lbs of gear you need to add "Transport - Gear per 100lbs" to your initial reservation online or call our office ahead of time to add extra gear (see rates above) to ensure that we will have room on the boat for it.
Camp and stove fuel (butane, propane, white gas) can be contained in your packs if you are riding on the Voyageur II, except for carry on packs inside the passenger cabins. If you are riding on the Sea Hunter III all fuel must be removed from packs and will be stowed in a container above deck and returned to you upon arrival.
Please contain all gear INSIDE backpacks! Do not hang hiking boots, water bottles, etc. off your pack. Trekking poles must be lashed tightly onto packs. If sleeping bags or the like do not fit inside they must be strapped securely to the outside of the pack. Fishing rods should be in hard cases.
Weather Conditions
Our boats traverse the largest of the Great Lakes during many weather conditions. Wind speed and direction on any given day determine wave size that may affect your comfort on board. In addition, as the boat moves through the water even smaller waves may cause spray on the decks, and our vessels travel rain or shine. For these reasons we suggest passengers bring their rain gear with them in case. Please keep in mind that the lake is typically 30 to 40 degrees cooler than the air temperature on the mainland. Dress accordingly, in layers, and include a jacket and long pants. Our crew is dedicated to your comfort and safety and we ask that you come prepared for Lake Superior's varied weather conditions.
Cancellation Policy
Please read and understand our cancellation policy before making a reservation.
All reservations cancelled at least two full weeks prior to the initial scheduled outbound trip date are subject to a 15% fee, and 85% of fare will be refunded. If a reservation is cancelled within two weeks or if you fail to arrive on your departure date ("No Show") there is absolutely NO REFUND, nor are ticket transfers to other persons allowed within that time frame.
All group reservations (over 6 passengers) are subject to a minimum of six weeks notice to receive an 85% refund. There is no refund for group reservations cancelled within six weeks prior to initial departure date. Our cancellation policy is non-negotiable regardless of circumstances.
If WE cancel a trip due to weather or any other reason you will receive a full refund of all fares. However, since weather cancellations are never made prior to departure time you must be present and check in with our office staff to receive the refund. If you are not present you will be deemed "No Show" and will forfeit your refund.
Reservation Changes
If you need to change your itinerary on an existing reservation so you get picked up or dropped off at a different point and/or on a different day than you booked you may do so by calling our office. Changes are subject to availability and there will be a $10 charge for this service. Making a change to the dates of a trip is not allowed within two weeks of the initial departure date (six weeks for groups).
Have you read, and do you agree to the preceding policies?
If so, please click "I AGREE" to continue with ONLINE BOOKING.