In the lakes you may catch northern pike, trout, walleye, and perch without a permit. Around the lakes and along the shore of the island grows a forest of mixed evergreens and hardwoods. Isle Royale is home to a famously secretive population of timber wolves, which you may hear howling at the moon. Other wildlife includes moose, beavers, red foxes, red squirrels, and snowshoe hares. More than 200 bird species have been spotted.
Human visitors come to hike, camp, fish, and watch wildlife.
With miles of splendid coastline indented by numerous protected bays and sheltered coves, this is considered a marvelous destination for sea kayakers. Campsites near the shoreline naturally attract boaters.