ISLE ROYALE · GRAND PORTAGE, MINNESOTA
Find the boat that fits your trip.
Windigo for the day? Rock Harbor for a longer stay? Tell us where you're headed. We'll explain which ferry actually serves that journey, what must be booked together, and what still needs to be verified.
Plan your crossing
01 / THE BRIEF
Grand Portage has two boats with different jobs. Tell us where you need to land and whether you're staying overnight.
02 / THE ANSWER
ROUTE FIT / PUBLISHED SOURCES
Sea Hunter III is the seasonal one-day service to Windigo. Confirm the operator's future calendar before booking.
Geographic relationships simplified: this is a route schematic, not a chart of ship positions or a 2027 timetable.
Service fit
Sea Hunter III / WindigoSeasonal day-trip pattern; subject to published sailing days.
The Windigo day boat
In the published 2026 pattern, this boat left Grand Portage and returned on the same day, giving visitors a few hours around Windigo before the afternoon departure. It is the natural boat to investigate for a first-time, no-overnight Windigo visit.
2026 reference: 8:30 AM CT departure, 10 AM CT Windigo arrival, 2 PM CT island departure. These are historical examples—not future operating hours.The island-circling boat
Voyageur II follows the northern side of Isle Royale toward Rock Harbor on the outbound day and the southern shore on its return circuit. It can serve remote docks by advance arrangement. Reaching Rock Harbor from Grand Portage and returning requires an overnight itinerary—not a same-day shortcut.
Intermediate docks depend on actual bookings and operating arrangements; no guaranteed pickup is inferred from the schedule.Clock discipline
Grand Portage departs on Central Time. Isle Royale observes Eastern Time, one hour later. A published 10 AM CT arrival corresponds to 11 AM ET on the island. Keep the operator's Central clock when reading its timetable.
Park entrance
NPS lists $7 per person age 16+ per calendar day, including arrival and departure days, unless covered by an eligible pass. One qualifying pass covers the holder and up to three other adults; a large party is not automatically free.
Sleep on the island
Small overnight camping parties of 1–6 receive their permits on arrival. Groups of seven or more need advance NPS arrangements. Ferry seats, overnight accommodations and permits are different commitments.
Before you click Purchase
The operator requires you to reserve your return leg along with outbound travel. For intermediate docks, ask about actual stops and reservation requirements. Parking at the Grand Portage marina is a separate cost, and this page does not invent its price. The next published season may change days, rates and availability.
Operator schedule and rates last reviewed October 12, 2026. No seat inventory API or automatic 2027 schedule feed. This is not affiliated with the operator or NPS.