ISLE ROYALE, MI — One of the country’s least-visited national parks is reviving its infrastructure to improve its environmental footprint in the new year.
Sitting in Lake Superior, Isle Royale National Park requires guests, staff and supplies to arrive by boat or sea plane.
Isle Royale’s Washington Harbor/Ozaagaateng (formerly known as Windigo) is one of the busiest areas of the island as ferry services from Grand Portage, MN and Houghton, MI arrive here.
The area includes a visitor center, concessions, park offices, and staff housing.
Beginning in the 2026 visitor season, which starts in April, those services will be powered by solar electricity thanks to a system upgrade.
The island’s old solar array on the site had fallen into disrepair, leaving the entire island powered by fossil fuel, according to the National Parks of Lake Superior Foundation.
Diesel was brought in by boat, creating a potential for spills and other hazards, according to the nonprofit park partner.
The upgraded solar panels were funded by NPLSF with key funding from the National Park Foundation.
The island will take its oldest generators out of circulation, improving overall maintenance costs for generator repairs.
Additionally, solar also reduces carbon emissions and noise. This is an added improvement for visitors who come to Isle Royale for a quiet wilderness experience.
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The Lake Superior nonprofit represents five national parks on Lake Superior: Apostle Islands National Lakeshore, Grand Portage National Monument, Isle Royale National Park, Keweenaw National Historical Park, and Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore.
The project is a key milestone in the effort to help all of Lake Superior’s National Parks transition off fossil fuel, Executive Director Tom Irvine said.
“As one of the most remote National Parks, Isle Royale has much to gain from embracing solar power but also faces challenges due its distance from the mainland,” he said. “Besides the environmental benefits, this project is also dramatically reducing operating costs of the park.”
Replacement and repair of the solar electric system is expected to provide a 50-75% fuel cost savings at the location, according to NPLSF.
Lindsay Moore is originally from Metro Detroit and is currently based in Grand Rapids. She studied journalism and sociology at Indiana University. Before returning home to Michigan, Lindsay spent time reporting… more
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