Isle Royale National Park is the Great Lakes Mecca for backpackers. This archipelago of islands is also one of our most remote National Parks so preparing for a visit takes extra planning. In this episode of the Lake Superior Podcast, Walt Lindala and Frida Waara talk with Chris Amidon, Supervisory Park Ranger for Interpretation and Visitor Services. He not only has tips for first-timers, but also has details on some new procedures, particularly when it comes to food storage.

Key Takeaways:

• Planning your experience shapes everything:
  “The first thing we ask is, what type of experience are you looking to have?” From backpacking and boating to lodge stays, your approach determines your transportation and gear.
  
  
• Getting to the island is part of the journey:
  “Part of the Isle Royale experience is the transportation to the island. It’s that extra step that most parks don’t have.”
  
  
• Food storage regulations have changed:
  Starting in 2025, visitors are required to use approved food storage containers due to wildlife activity near camps and harbors.
  
  
• Wildlife sightings are rare but magical:
  “Encountering a moose is a really magical moment and I remember backpacking a trip I did with my daughter... those are the types of experiences that Isle Royale offer just by putting yourself in this remote island setting.”
  
  
• Most of Isle Royale is federally designated wilderness:
  99% of the park is wilderness, meaning motorized equipment is limited—adding to both its preservation and the physical demands of upkeep.
  
  
• The Artist-in-Residence program reveals new perspectives:
  “The Artist-in-Residence Program… that’s kind of my, I would say, my soft spot.” From Shakespearean sonnets to ceramic bark impressions, Chris helps curate a mix of art forms that deepen understanding of the island.
  
  
• Visitation may be low, but the planning is intense:
  Only about 20,000 people visit Isle Royale each year—and most come during just three months—putting pressure on resources and requiring detailed planning.

Resources:

• Isle Royale National Park – Plan your visit
  https://www.nps.gov/isro/index.htm
  
  
• Ranger III Ferry & Seaplane Info –
  https://www.nps.gov/isro/planyourvisit/directions.htm
  
  
• Isle Royale Artist-in-Residence Program –
  https://www.nps.gov/isro/getinvolved/artist-in-residence.htm
  
  

Connect With Us:

• Lake Superior Podcast Page – https://nplsf.org/podcast
  
  
• Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/NationalParksOfLakeSuperiorFoundation
  
  
• LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/company/national-parks-of-lake-superior-foundation

Sponsors:

• Cafe Imports – Minneapolis-based importers of specialty green coffees since 1993, focused on sustainability.
  Learn more: https://cafeimports.com
  
  
• National Parks of Lake Superior Foundation – Donate to protect Lake Superior’s five national parks:
  https://nplsf.org/donate
  
  

Be sure to tune in to this episode of the Lake Superior Podcast to hear Chris Amidon share essential guidance for visitors, the inside story on Artist-in-Residence selections, and the quiet power of a sunrise over Feltman Lake.

Minnesota’s North Shore has been a gathering place for centuries. Whether heading into the Boundary Waters or out on Lake Superior, Grand Marais ranks a favorite Base Camp. While it may be small in population, it’s big in spirit. Life here moves to the rhythms of the woods and waters.

In this episode of the Lake Superior Podcast, Walt Lindala and Frida Waara talk with Sarah Jorgensen-Halberg, longtime resident and owner of Java Moose, the beloved shoreline coffee shop that fuels both locals and visiting adventurers. Her daily weather video connects folks near and far to this Sweetwater Sea town and she shares what it means to live on the edge of wilderness—and how the lake’s powerful sense of place keeps people coming back to Grand Marais.

Key Takeaways:

• Grand Marais transforms seasonally: A town of about 1,300 full-time residents swells to around 50,000 in the summer, driven by tourism to the lake, North Shore, and nearby wilderness areas.
  
  
• Local entrepreneurship fuels connection: Java Moose, run by Sarah Jorgenson-Hallberg and her family, offers not just coffee but a community space for stories, weather reports, and visitor conversations.
  
  
• Lake Superior demands respect: The lake’s 34-degree waters and strong currents can be dangerous. Sarah emphasizes safety and awareness for all visitors, especially near the lighthouse.
  
  
• Winter brings peace and beauty: After the busy season, Grand Marais quiets down. Sarah loves cross-country skiing, hiking, and the sunshine of winter — despite the freezing temperatures.
  
  
• Tourism is vital to the economy: Sarah says plainly, “We would not survive without it.” Much of the local economy depends on seasonal visitors to national parks and the shoreline.

Notable Quotes:

• “I love winter. I cross-country ski a lot. I run in the winter. I get out and I hike a lot. Part of it is probably because it's quieter.”
  
  
• “It is imperative to be as safe as we possibly can be.”
  
  
• “Grand Marais and Lake Superior, it almost forces you to take that moment, right? Because it is so vast and powerful, that you just kind of stop for a moment and you're inspired.”
  
  
• “We pour ourselves out. I see that when you come into our shop, this is an extension of my home, so I'm hosting you.”
  
  
• “At the end of the day, we are welcoming you into our home.”

Resources:

• Java Moose Grand Marais – Find Sarah’s daily weather reports on:
  Instagram https://www.instagram.com/javamoosegrandmarais/ & Facebook: Jhttps://www.facebook.com/javamoosegrandmarais/
• Java Moose Website & Newsletter – Sign up for monthly stories and photos:
  https://javamoosegrandmarais.com
• Visit Cook County – Plan your trip: https://www.visitcookcounty.com

Connect With Us:

• Website: https://nplsf.org/podcast
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NationalParksOfLakeSuperiorFoundation
• LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/national-parks-of-lake-superior-foundation

Sponsors:

• Cafe Imports: Supporting environmental sustainability in coffee-growing regions since 1993. Learn more at https://cafeimports.com
• National Parks of Lake Superior Foundation: Support vital projects by donating at https://nplsf.org/donate

Long before the Keweenaw Peninsula became a destination for hikers, bikers, and Lake Superior rock hounds, it was the stage for a national copper rush. Shortly after Michigan became a state in 1837, Geologist Douglas Houghton was sent to Copper Harbor to explore reports from Native Americans about copper in the region. By 1844, Fort Wilkins was built to be the military base helping to keep the peace as fortune-seekers came to the state’s most northern port.

In this episode of the Lake Superior Podcast, Walt Lindala and Frida Waara talk with Barry James, Upper Peninsula historian with the Michigan History Center, about the fascinating past—and present—of this historic state park. From the 1840s copper rush chaos to Civil War reenactments, as well as lighthouse tours and tales of shipwrecks, Fort Wilkins remains a living classroom with extensive youth programs. Join us as we explore the enduring significance of this frontier fort—and the people working to keep its stories alive.

Key Takeaways:

• Fort Wilkins was built in the mid-19th century in Copper Harbor to maintain law and order during the copper rush.
• The fort served as a frontier military post, supporting mining operations and maritime navigation in one of the most remote regions of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.
• The Copper Harbor Lighthouse and range lights were established in response to early shipwrecks, including the 1844 wreck of the John Jacob Astor, which supplied Fort Wilkins.
• Today, Fort Wilkins Historic State Park is part of the Keweenaw National Historical Park’s heritage site network and offers youth camps, Civil War reenactments, and public education programs.
• Barry James and the Michigan History Center are working to expand exhibits, including a new display on how Fort Wilkins became a state park in 1923.

Notable Quotes:

• “What it really represents is an excellent example of a mid-19th century military post as the United States was expanding westward.”
• “The Astor was the first wreck on Lake Superior in 1844. The military realized that their lifeline could be easily snapped.”
• “We also offer a living history program that's been ongoing since 1976, where we have costumed interpreters within the fort that represent the last occupation at Fort Wilkins, the summer of 1870.”
• “We’ve got 19 buildings on site, but 12 are original, dating back to the 1840s. So people can go into these buildings, look at the exhibits. We have period rooms with furniture and interpretation of the period.”
• “To get on the National Register of Historic Places, you really have to have something significant with the historic site, so that says enough right there.”

Resources:

• Fort Wilkins Historic State Park: https://www.michigan.gov/mhc/museums/fwchl
• Michigan History Center: https://www.michigan.gov/mhc
• Keweenaw National Historical Park: https://www.nps.gov/kewe

Connect With Us:

• Website: https://nplsf.org/podcast
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NationalParksOfLakeSuperiorFoundation
• LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/national-parks-of-lake-superior-foundation

Sponsors:

• Cafe Imports: Supporting environmental sustainability in coffee-growing regions since 1993. Learn more at https://cafeimports.com
• National Parks of Lake Superior Foundation: Support vital projects by donating at https://nplsf.org/donate