Campsites at Lake Richie Campground (2026 Guide) (2026 guide)

Introduction

Plan on spending at least part of a day getting to Lake Richie Campground. This remote Isle Royale backcountry site is accessible only by canoe or kayak, and every approach requires a portage ranging from half a mile to two miles. The payoff is a quiet, six-site campground on the north shore of Lake Richie, well off the main travel routes. As of 2026, no fee is charged for small parties (six people or fewer), but a free overnight permit is mandatory. For a broader overview of Isle Royale's camping options, check the complete visitor guide.

Lake Richie Campground sits on the Indian Portage Trail, a historic route connecting several interior lakes. It's not a place you stumble upon. You plan for it. And if you're looking for solitude on Isle Royale, this is one of the better bets.

Getting There: Portage Routes and Access

There is no road to Lake Richie Campground. No motorized boats either. The only way in is by paddle and portage. The park service lists four main access routes:

• From Intermediate Lake: a 0.6-mile portage
• From Moskey Basin: a 2.0-mile portage
• From Chippewa Harbor: a 1.2-mile portage
• From Lake LeSage: a 0.6-mile portage

Most paddlers approach from Intermediate Lake or Moskey Basin. The 2.0-mile carry from Moskey Basin is the longest and will test your gear organization. If you're coming from Chippewa Harbor, the 1.2-mile portage is moderate but involves some elevation change. The.6-mile carries from Intermediate Lake and Lake LeSage are more manageable, especially for a single trip.

Rangers will tell you that the Moskey Basin portage can be muddy in early season (June) and that water levels in the connecting creeks vary. The portage trails are marked but not paved - expect roots, rocks, and the occasional boggy section. Keep an eye out for trail markers; the junctions can be confusing if you're not paying attention.

No private boat access is available. You are paddling and carrying everything you need. That includes your food, shelter, and all waste you generate. The park service emphasizes that this is true backcountry camping with no services on site.

Campsite Details: What to Expect

Site Inventory and Reservation Policy

Lake Richie Campground has six sites total. Four are tent-only. The remaining two are group sites (for parties of seven or more) that require advance reservation through the park's online group permit request system. For small parties (six or fewer), it's first-come, first-served. No reservations are accepted for individual sites.

The stay limit is two nights from June 1 through Labor Day annually. Outside that window, you can stay longer, but the park's operating season runs April 16 to October 31, so plan accordingly.

Fees

The free permit covers your entire small party. You'll need to pick it up at park headquarters in Houghton or at the visitor center in Rock Harbor before heading out. Group permits must be submitted through the park's online request system well in advance.

Facilities

Don't expect much. Lake Richie is a backcountry campground. There will be a fire grate or fire ring, maybe a bear-proof food locker (depending on recent maintenance), and a pit toilet. That's it. No potable water - treat all water from Lake Richie before drinking. No trash service - pack out everything, including food scraps.

Cell service drops out at the trailhead parking lots in Houghton. On the island itself, you'll have no signal. The park phone number (906-482-0984) reaches the mainland office but is useless once you're on the water.

Food Storage and Wildlife: New Guidelines for 2026

An active NPS alert as of 2026 addresses a significant change: new food storage guidelines are in effect to reduce human-wildlife interactions. This alert was triggered by wolves accessing human food and garbage in and around Rock Harbor and campgrounds on the east end of the island - including Lake Richie.

What this means for you:

• You must store all food, trash, and scented items (toothpaste, sunscreen, cookware) in bear-resistant food canisters. Hard-sided canisters are preferred; park-issued cans are available for loan at visitor centers.
• Do not leave food unattended at your campsite, even for a few minutes.
• Cook and eat at least 100 feet from your tent.
• Pack out all garbage. No open-pit burning of trash.

The wolves on Isle Royale are a unique and vulnerable population. Human food conditioning is dangerous for them and for visitors. Rangers are serious about compliance - expect spot checks on the trail.

Beyond wolves, you may encounter moose, beaver, and a variety of waterfowl. Moose are common around Lake Richie; give them a wide berth (at least 100 yards). They are not aggressive unless provoked, but a cow with a calf is unpredictable.

When to Go and What to Bring

Season and Weather

The campground is open 24 hours a day from April 16 through October 31. Realistically, most visitors arrive between late May and mid-September. Lake ice can linger into May on the interior lakes, making paddling difficult. By late October, weather turns cold and wet, and daylight shrinks to about 10 hours.

Temperatures on Isle Royale range from 50°F to 75°F in summer, but expect rain at any time. The island averages 30+ inches of precipitation annually. Fog is common on the lake, less so on interior waters like Lake Richie.

Gear List for Lake Richie

This is not a car campground. Everything you bring comes in on your back across a portage. Pack accordingly.

• Canoe or kayak - The only way in. A lightweight solo canoe or kayak helps on the portages.
• Portage pack - A dry bag with shoulder straps. You'll be carrying gear and boat separately.
• Bear canister - Required. Borrow one from the park if you don't own one.
• Water filter or purification tablets - Lake Richie water needs treatment. Giardia is present.
• Tent - Four-season rated is overkill, but make sure it's rain-worthy.
• Stove and fuel - Fires may be prohibited during dry conditions. Bring a camp stove.
• Map and compass/GPS - Trails are marked but a map is essential for route planning.
• First aid kit - Blisters, cuts, and sprains happen on portages.
• Extra dry bags - For clothes and sleeping bag. A soaked sleeping bag is a safety issue.

Most visitors underestimate the physical effort of the portages, especially the 2.0-mile from Moskey Basin. If you're new to portaging, consider one of the shorter routes - Intermediate Lake or Lake LeSage - for your first trip.

Practical Takeaways

• Permit required. Free for small parties. Pick up at park HQ or Rock Harbor visitor center. Group sites need advance reservation and a $25 fee.
• First come, first served for individual sites. No reservations. Arrive early in the day to secure a spot.
• Stay limit: 2 nights from June 1 through Labor Day. Longer stays allowed outside that window, but the park closes October 31.
• Food storage: Bear canister mandatory. New wolf-related guidelines in effect since 2026. Cook and store food away from tent.
• Pack out all trash. No garbage service. No exceptions.
• Water: Treat all water from Lake Richie. Boil, filter, or use chemical tablets.
• Portage distances: 0.6 miles from Intermediate Lake or Lake LeSage; 1.2 miles from Chippewa Harbor; 2.0 miles from Moskey Basin. Plan your route based on your comfort level with carrying gear.
• No motorized boats. Canoe and kayak only. No private boat launch.
• Contact: 906-482-0984, isro_parkinfo@nps.gov. But assume no signal on the island.

For a listing of all Isle Royale campgrounds, visit the all campgrounds page.

Final Thoughts

Lake Richie Campground rewards those willing to work for it. The effort of the portage keeps the crowds small - on a busy summer weekend you might see two or three other parties. The lake itself is quiet, with good fishing for northern pike and the occasional loon call echoing across the water at dawn. It's not a destination for everyone. If you want flush toilets, showers, and a camp store, stay in Rock Harbor. But if the idea of carrying everything you need through a northern hardwood forest to a clear, isolated lake sounds right, this is the place.

The new food storage rules are a reminder that Isle Royale is still a functioning wilderness, not a park. The wolves, moose, and beavers were here long before the campgrounds. They'll be here after you leave. Your responsibility is to leave no trace - and no food that might teach a wolf to associate humans with an easy meal.