Grace Island Campground
The Quick Take
Grace Island is about as stripped-down and remote as camping gets in the Lower 48. With just two shelters perched on a small island outside Washington Harbor, this is Isle Royale distilled to its essence: water, rock, and silence. There are no toilets worth mentioning, no potable water, and no cell service — you are genuinely on your own. The shallow dock depth means this spot favors canoes and kayaks over larger vessels, and the three-night stay limit during peak season keeps things from feeling claimed. The trade-off is obvious: you sacrifice every modern convenience for the kind of solitude that most campgrounds only pretend to offer. Choose Grace Island if you are an experienced paddler who wants a base camp near Washington Harbor without the relative bustle of Windigo, and if carrying your own water and packing out everything sounds like freedom rather than hardship.
Booking
Reserve Your Campsite
2 sites, first-come first-served.
What You Get
Sites & Setup
RV Information
No RVs. No electrical hookups. Generators permitted during designated hours.
Accessibility
No wheelchair access. No Roads
Rules to Know
- Generators:Quiet hours are from 10:00 p.m.
Pro Tips
Check dock depth before committing — the two-to-four-foot range at the dock means motorboats with any real draft may scrape bottom, especially late in a dry summer. Canoes and kayaks have no issues.
Washington Harbor is prime northern pike water, and you do not need a fishing license for inland waters here. Bring barbless hooks and artificial lures — those are the only legal options on Isle Royale's inland lakes and streams.
Pack at least one gallon of water per person per day since there is no potable source on Grace Island. A reliable water filter for Lake Superior water is your backup, but bring iodine tablets too — filters fail at the worst times.
Photos
Molly Fettig
Nathan FettigGetting There
Directions
Grace Island Campground is located on Grace Island, outside of Washington Harbor, on the southwest end of Isle Royale National Park.
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