Rock Harbor (Michigan)

Rock Harbor is the main access point for visitors landing on Isle Royale in northern Lake Superior. It sits four miles (6.4 km) from the northeastern end of the 45-mile-long (72 km) island, the whole of which is protected as Isle Royale National Park. Two structures in Rock Harbor—the Rock Harbor Light and the Edisen Fishery—are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Not to be confused with Rock Harbour, Newfoundland and Labrador.
Rock Harbor, Michigan
Unincorporated community
Rock Harbor listed in green on the right side of a map of Isle Royale
Rock Harbor
Location in Michigan
Rock Harbor
Location in the United States
Coordinates: 48°05′21″N 88°34′45″W
CountryUnited States
StateMichigan
CountyLenawee
TownshipHoughton
Elevation610 ft (190 m)
Time zoneUTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code(s)
49931 (Houghton)
Area code(s)906
GNIS feature ID636080[1]

The Rock Harbor name is properly applied to the 11-mile-long (18 km) inlet from Moskey Basin to Scoville Point along the southern shore of the easterly part of Isle Royale.[2] This inlet is screened from the open waters of Lake Superior by a number of offshore islands, including Mott Island, the site of the park headquarters.[3]

Travel to Rock Harbor from the Upper Peninsula of Michigan is by the Ranger III park service ferry, operating from Houghton, Michigan,[4] the Isle Royale Queen IV out of Copper Harbor, Michigan,[5] and seaplane service.[6] The Voyageur II operates out of Grand Portage, Minnesota; it circumnavigates the island with stops at Windigo Ranger Station in Washington Harbor on the west end of the island and other points along the shore.[7]

The ferry boats land at Snug Harbor, which also has berths for private watercraft, a campground, the visitor center, and a lodge that predates the national park.[3][8]

Rock Harbor is the eastern end and terminus of the Greenstone Ridge Trail.

Rock Harbor is also listed by the Geographic Names Information System as a populated place named Rock Harbor Lodge.[1] Although there is no permanent population, the area includes the Rock Harbor Lodge, restaurant, resorts, several boat docks, and campgrounds. Rock Harbor also contained its own summer post office from 1924–1958.[9]

References
  1. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Rock Harbor Lodge
  2. Park (PDF) (Map). National Park Service. Archived from the original (PDF) on August 13, 2007. Retrieved December 11, 2007.
  3. Rock Harbor Area (Map). National Park Service. Retrieved December 1, 2001.
  4. "Ranger III". National Park Service. Retrieved December 1, 2007.
  5. "The Isle Royale Line". Retrieved December 1, 2007.
  6. "Royale Air Service". Archived from the original on March 1, 2009. Retrieved December 1, 2007.
  7. "Schedules". The North Shore Connection to Isle Royal National Park. Grand Portage-Isle Royale Transportation Line. Retrieved December 1, 2007.; Designated stops, Isle Royale (Map). Grand Portage-Isle Royale Transportation Line. Retrieved December 1, 2007.
  8. "Rock Harbor Area". Hunt's Guide to Michigan's Upper Peninsula. Retrieved December 1, 2007.
  9. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Rock Harbor Post Office (historical)
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