Rock Harbor

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Not to be confused with Rock Harbour, Newfoundland and Labrador.

Rock Harbor lighthouse, located at Middle Islands Passage

Rock Harbor is the main access point for visitors landing on Isle Royale in northern Lake Superior. It sits at the northeastern end of the forty-five mile long island, the whole of which is protected as Isle Royale National Park.

The Rock Harbor name is properly applied to the eleven-mile long inlet from Moskey Basin to Scoville Point along the southern shore of the easterly part of Isle Royale.^[1] This inlet is screened from the open waters of Lake Superior by a number of offshore islands, including Mott Island, the site of the Park headquarters.^[2]

Travel to Rock Harbor from the Upper Peninsula of Michigan is by the Ranger III park service ferry, operating from Houghton, Michigan,^[3] the Isle Royale Queen IV out of Copper Harbor, Michigan,^[4] and seaplane service.^[5] The Voyageur II operates out of Grand Portage, Minnesota; it circumnavigates the island with stops at Windigo Ranger Station in Washington Harbor on the west end of the island and other points along the shore.^[6]

The ferry boats land at Snug Harbor, which also has berths for private watercraft, a campground, the visitor center, and a lodge that predates the national park.^[2]^[7]

[edit] References

^ National Park Service. Park [map]. Retrieved on 2007-12-11.
^ ^a ^b National Park Service. Rock Harbor Area [map]. Retrieved on 2001-12-01.
^ Ranger III. National Park Service. Retrieved on 2007-12-01.
^ The Isle Royale Line. Retrieved on 2007-12-01.
^ Royale Air Service. Retrieved on 2007-12-01.
^ Schedules. The North Shore Connection to Isle Royal National Park. Grand Portage-Isle Royale Transportation Line. Retrieved on 2007-12-01.; Grand Portage-Isle Royale Transportation Line. Designated stops, Isle Royale [map]. Retrieved on 2007-12-01.
^ Rock Harbor Area. Hunt's Guide to Michigan's Upper Peninsula. Retrieved on 2007-12-01.