Intermediate Lake Campground
The Quick Take
Intermediate Lake is Isle Royale distilled to its purest form: a handful of sites on a quiet inland lake that you can only reach by paddling and portaging. With just three sites and no road access whatsoever, this is one of the most secluded campgrounds in a park that already defines remote. You will haul your canoe overland from either Siskiwit Lake or Lake Richie to get here, which means most casual visitors never bother -- and that is exactly the point. There is no potable water, no host, and certainly no cell service, but there are food lockers and a stillness that borders on eerie. The trade-off is total: you give up every convenience and get a lake that feels like it belongs to you alone. Choose this spot if you are an experienced paddler who measures a good campground by how few people you see.
Booking
Reserve Your Campsite
3 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
The portage from Siskiwit Lake is shorter at roughly four-tenths of a mile, but the Lake Richie portage at six-tenths is better maintained and more frequently traveled -- scout both options before committing if you can.
Fishing here does not require a license since it is an inland lake, and the barbless-hook-only rule keeps pressure low. Bring light tackle and artificial flies for surprisingly decent action without the crowds that hit Lake Superior shoreline spots.
Pack a gravity water filter rather than a pump -- you will be drawing directly from the lake, and a gravity system lets you set it and handle camp chores while it works, which matters when you are managing a canoe-camping setup with limited hands.
Photos
Mike AusemaGetting There
Directions
Intermediate Lake Campground is located on the shoreline of Intermediate Lake.
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