Wood Lake Campground

Wood Lake Campground is a primitive, three-site camp on Wood Lake’s north shore in Isle Royale’s inland Chain of Lakes. It’s a stop for canoeists and kayakers making a multi-day route, not a roadside campground: there’s no road or private motorboat access. The draw is a small, secluded camp by the water; with only three first-come tent sites, it suits a flexible itinerary better than a night you must have.

Paddle in from Siskiwit Lake or take the 0.6-mile portage from Lake Whittlesey. The sites are tent-only and first come, first served. Overnight permits are required, and groups of seven or more need an advance reservation. The campground follows the park’s seasonal operating window, generally April 16 through October 31; from June 1 through Labor Day, the stay limit is two nights. Water is non-potable, so bring water or a way to treat what you collect. There’s a year-round food locker and a seasonal composting toilet, but no store, food service, staff, cell service or trash collection. Use a self-contained stove; pets aren’t allowed.

This is one of Isle Royale’s more isolated campgrounds, set along the interior paddling route between its larger lakes. The small number of sites keeps the visit simple: land the canoe, set up, and spend the evening by the shore. The ground is uneven and rough, with no wheelchair access, so plan for a backcountry landing rather than a developed campground.