Heading out the door? Read this article on the new Outside+ app available now on iOS devices for members! Download the app.
On Sunday, Isle Royale National Park officials received multiple reports of two deceased hikers at a remote backcountry campsite in the park. Rangers hiked 11 miles overnight to assess the situation.
Upon their arrival at the campground, they confirmed that reports of the deceased hikers were true, and the park service dispatched additional ground and air resources to investigate the incident. In a statement to Detroit’s Fox 2 News, the NPS said that members of the FBI had since traveled to the island to assist with the investigation.
Accessible only by ferry or plane and known for its rugged and isolated character, Isle Royale is one of the least-visited national parks in the United States. In a typical year, the park only receives about 25,000 to 30,000 visitors which is a relatively small number even compared to other midwestern units like Indiana Sand Dunes National Park, which receives about 3 million visitors every year.
With no roads, visitors explore the island on foot and via boat during the island’s 6-month season. The 132,000-acre island is 99% federally designated wilderness and is known for its wildlife—both wolves and moose call the area their home. Park weather is generally mild in summer, with occasional afternoon thunderstorms.
The cause of death of the deceased hikers is currently unknown. As of yesterday, rangers were still working to identify the hikers. In a release from the national park, officials said that the incident is currently under investigation.
This isn’t the first time that a hiker died within the park boundary. Last August, a 37-year-old woman died while backpacking near Lake Le Sage after experiencing a medical emergency on the trail. And in 2019, a man died of a medical emergency in the park.
Still, deaths within Isle Royale National Park are relatively uncommon. According to the Detroit Free Press, just four people have died in the park since 2007, compared to roughly 4,000 across the NPS system as a whole.
From 2025