Frequently Asked Questions
Grand Portage Isle Royale Transportation Lines
What's the Isle Royale entrance fee? Does my Park Pass cover it?
The park currently charges a $7 per person per day entrance fee. For more in-depth information and instructions on how to pay your entrance fee please visit the NPS Isle Royale website or call the Houghton Visitor Center at 906-482-0984. You will need to present your Park pass or your payment receipt to the NPS staff at the park point of entry. Be sure to have it on your person and not in your stowed pack.
Is there parking available at Hat Point Ferry Terminal?
Parking is available for our ferry passengers only, with space for cars, trailers, campers, and RVs at the terminal we dock at. A daily parking fee is charged by the village of Grand Portage, the owners of the facility, not GPIR. This fee must be paid upon your return from the island. The village of Grand Portage requires Isle Royale visitors must park in the marina parking lots; vehicle parking in any other area is prohibited.
Is there a place to stay overnight in Grand Portage?
Lodging is available at Grand Portage Lodge and Casino and Hollow Rock Resort. There are RV sites and tent sites for camping at Grand Portage Marina and Campground. No camping or overnight car camping is allowed at Hat Point Marina.
Can I bring my dog to Isle Royale?
Dogs, cats and other pets are not allowed on Isle Royale because of the concern for the island's native wildlife. This restriction includes pets on boats within the park boundaries, which extend 4 ½ miles into Lake Superior from the outermost land areas of the park. For this reason Grand Portage Isle Royale Transportation Lines does not allow pets on our boats, with the exception of ADA service animals cleared by the Park Service in advance of your trip date. For National Park Service rules regarding service dogs please CLICK HERE.
How can I have food or supplies delivered to me while hiking on the island?
The Voyageur II can deliver non-perishable food and resupply items to any of our scheduled stops.
Resupply packages intended for pick up at Windigo or Rock Harbor can be sent by USPS. Address your package to yourself at either Windigo or Rock Harbor, care of Voyageur II, Grand Portage, MN 55605. Please be certain to put the delivery date in large letters on the package. Be sure to check our schedule; deliveries are on the days of our outbound trips only. Please time your package to arrive at the Grand Portage post office before the boat departs, but not many days before as our local post office is small and has no warehousing capabilities. You do not need to be present to receive the package although it is preferred. If you are not present it will be left on the dock.
If you want to send a package to any of our other stops you will need to call us and arrange delivery. Charges are posted on our Rates page.
Your boat is sold out! Can you put me on a waiting list and call me if a spot becomes available?
We don't maintain wait lists for either of our vessels. Cancellations do happen occasionally. You are welcome to check the website periodically to see if the availability has changed. Most trips on the Sea Hunter III and the Voyageur II sell out at least three to four months in advance.
What if I need to cancel my existing reservation?
All regular 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 of the initial outbound trip date 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. Travel insurance is strongly recommended.
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.
If you need to change your itinerary on an existing reservation to a different day than you booked (within the same season only) 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 date of a trip is not allowed within two weeks of the initial departure date (six weeks for groups).
Note that on again given Voyageur II around-the-island trip (outbound + inbound), once the boat departs Grand Portage, you should 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.