Rock Harbor Visitor Center

This is the perfect (and default) place to start your journey into Isle Royale. The visitor center has a few souvenirs, snacks, and info for your journey. You can grab potable water off to the right of the doors around the side. There are real toilets in the building to the right. Nearby you can rent a canoe or motorboat at the dock (you might want to reserve in advance), and around the harbor there is a lodge and an auditorium if you chose to stay around for presentations. Since the population is so low, it's very tranquil here. I don't think we ever saw more than 5 people at a time.

A great jumping off point or finishing point for a tour of Isle Royale National Park. A quiet harbor which has relatively busy activity compared to the rest of this quiet, remote island. But since much effort is required to get here, the visitors are usually the types of guests you would want to be around--it is a quiet, pleasant place. The visitor's center and neighboring store have the basics you will need if you forgot something and offer a ton of interpretive programs and information. The location is outstanding.

Store side: The store is open later than the restaurant in case you miss dinner! Don't count on buying equipment here but they might have essential items to begin your hike. Check the partial cans of gas outside before purchasing, you might find enough! Park side: friendly, knowledgeable staff and lots of fun memorabilia.

Visitor center is located right at the docks as you access the ferry. Very helpful and informative rangers. There are souvenirs and maps as well.

Nice place to pick up some last-minute supplies, learn about the island, and get orientation if you are hiking further into the park. I purchased a length of rope here. Later the same evening my folks and I saw a moose hanging around the visitor center.

Needs to have WIFI at entrance to help hikers prepare it's 2024 also government workers are annoying instead of helpful store workers were awesome and friendly

The rangers are very knowledgeable and helpful. Do everyone a favor though - if you are backpacking, do some research before going. The first time to the island, we got a late start to getting to our first site because while registering the people on front of us had no clue where they were going, how far they could hike and they needed to be handheld through the whole thing. I understand that you may have outstanding questions, but as a responsible backpackers, you should know a little bit of what you doing and capabilities. There are plenty of resources for the park to review trail difficulty, water access and algae blooms. I mean this group didn't know there weren't bears on the island.

What’s not to like here? One of the most laidback National Parks with amazing trails and scenery to experience and explore.