Parking
There is no road parking or walk-in approach. Start at the Edisen Fishery dock by boat; the seasonal MV Sandy tour from Rock Harbor is one option. Check current tour dates and booking details.
Overview
About Edisen Fishery–Rock Harbor Lighthouse Trail
Why go
- A lighthouse and historic fishery in one very short walk.
Heads up
- Boat access makes it dependent on your Isle Royale itinerary.
Map & elevation
The route
Loading the Isle Royale map
Full mapElevation610–633 ft
Plan your hike
Before you go
Parking
Safety
8 active Isle Royale alerts
- ClosureRock Harbor Lighthouse tower closedMentions Rock Harbor Lighthouse, referenced in this guideThe Rock Harbor Lighthouse tower is closed to visitors because stairwell damage, including rotting stairs, makes it unsafe for public use. - Restoration work is being planned for 2026–2027.Official details
- ClosureSeasonal park closure begins November 1Isle Royale closes to public use November 1–April 15 because extreme winter weather threatens visitor safety; the closure extends 4.5 miles into Lake Superior from the island.Official details
The highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.
Isle Royale Tour Guide
Your drive to Edisen Fishery–Rock Harbor Lighthouse Trail, narrated.
Parkwolf is a GPS audio tour guide for Isle Royale National Park. As you drive, it chimes in with what’s ahead: hidden gems, upcoming stops, history, geology, and wildlife, right through your car’s speakers.
- 17 audio storiesacross Isle Royale’s roads, triggered by GPS as you drive
- Wildlife heatmapsfor Moose, Wolf, Bald Eagle, and 13 more
- Works offlinemaps, 39 trails, 83 places, and audio download before you lose signal
- CarPlay readysimple controls built for the drive
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Trail guide
Hiking Edisen Fishery–Rock Harbor Lighthouse Trail
A short loop between two historic sitesThis is an about 0.
This is an about 0.4-mile loop from the Edisen Fishery dock to Rock Harbor Lighthouse and back around the point. The walk to the lighthouse is described as a quarter mile; the full mapped circuit measures just under four-tenths. It is an easy, brief outing that makes the most sense as part of a boat visit to the fishery, rather than as a stand-alone hike. Allow about 30 minutes for the circuit, with longer for the historic stops.
What makes the stop interestingThe route links a historic commercial fishery with the lighthouse that guards the Rock Harbor…
The route links a historic commercial fishery with the lighthouse that guards the Rock Harbor channel. A resident fishery demonstrator is part of the summer tour program in July and August. The short path passes through trees before it reaches the lighthouse shoreline; there is a modest rise of about 40 feet across the loop.
Getting to the dockThere is no road approach: reach Edisen Fishery by boat.
There is no road approach: reach Edisen Fishery by boat. The seasonal MV Sandy tour from Rock Harbor is one option; check the current schedule and booking details before you plan around it. The hike itself is not wheelchair accessible. Pets are not allowed on the island; service dogs require an advance park permit.
Wildlife
Wildlife in Isle Royale
308 sightingsMooseMost seen around 8 PMSighting map
93 sightingsWolfMost seen around 8 PMSighting map
77 sightingsBald EagleMost seen around 5 PMSighting map
150 sightingsLoonMost seen around 7 AMSighting map
24 sightingsTrumpeter SwanMost seen around 6 PMSighting map
71 sightingsBeaverMost seen around 8 PMSighting mapSighting maps show where each species has been reported across Isle Royale. Wildlife moves, so no sighting is guaranteed.
