Washington Creek Campground
The Quick Take
Washington Creek is the basecamp for Isle Royale's wilder western half, sitting at the Windigo end of the island where the ferry drops you and civilization ends. By Isle Royale standards, this is practically a resort -- you get potable water, a camp store for forgotten essentials, and food lockers so you are not wrestling your pack into a tree at midnight. But make no mistake, you are still on an island with no cell service, no showers, and no roads. The campground spreads along the creek with a mix of individual sites and shelters, making it a natural staging point before heading out on the Minong Ridge or Greenstone Ridge trails. Ten shelters give you a roof option when Lake Superior decides to remind you who is in charge. Choose Washington Creek if you want a proper wilderness basecamp with just enough infrastructure to keep things from getting stupid.
Booking
Reserve Your Campsite
All 19 sites are reservable.
What You Get
Sites & Setup
RV Information
No RVs. No electrical hookups. Generators permitted during designated hours.
Accessibility
No wheelchair access in campground. Some roads are wheelchair accessible in the immediate Windigo area. No Roads
Rules to Know
- Generators:Quiet hours are from 10:00 p.m.
Pro Tips
Book one of the ten three-sided shelters if rain is even a possibility -- Isle Royale weather shifts fast, and a shelter beats a soaked tent every time. They fill up quickly during peak summer, so reserve the moment your dates are set.
Use Washington Creek as a first-night and last-night camp, staging your backcountry loop from Windigo. The Feldtmann Lake Trail loop is a manageable three-to-four day circuit that brings you right back here, and you can resupply at the camp store before or after.
Bring a water filter as backup even though potable water is available -- if you are heading out on the trail network, you will need to treat water at every other campground on the island. Get comfortable with your filtration system here where stakes are low.
Photos
NPS / Paul Brown
NPW / Uwe Konopka
NPS / Margaret BarseGetting There
Directions
Washington Creek Campground is located along Washington Creek near Windigo on the southwest end of Isle Royale, off of the Feldtmann Lake, Minong, ,and Greenstone Ridge Trails.
Get directions
