North Desor Campground

4 reviews

800 E. Lakeshore Drive, Houghton, MI 49931, USA

Peace & QuietSummer Destination

Quick Facts

942 ft

Price

$2/night

Booking

Reservable

Sites

8 campsites

Season

Seasonal operation i...

Cell

Unknown

Pets

Check Policy

Opens National Parks Service Department (Isle Royale) site

Official Website

Get Directions

Real-Time Availability

Select a month, then check for open campsites

January 2026

Quick Facts

942 ft

Price

$2/night

Booking

Reservable

Sites

8 campsites

Season

Seasonal operation i...

Cell

Unknown

Pets

Check Policy

Opens National Parks Service Department (Isle Royale) site

Official Website

Get Directions

Real-Time Availability

Select a month, then check for open campsites

January 2026

North Desor Campground

$2.00 - $2.00 / night

Campsite Fees

Recreational use fee prices vary depending on activity; this excludes additional reservation and service fees.

Standard Site Fee$0.00

Hookup Site Fee$0.00

Premium Site Fee$0.00

Hike and Bike Site Fee$0.00

Group Site Fee$0.00

Food Storage Locker Fee$0.00

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2 Google reviews

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Campground Map

800 E. Lakeshore Drive, Houghton, MI 49931, USA

North Desor Campground

800 E. Lakeshore Drive, Houghton, MI 49931, USA

Driving directionsNorth Lake Desor Campground is located on the north side of Lake Desor off of the Minong Ridge Trail.

Accessible only by foot as it is positioned off the Minong Ridge Trail; no boat/canoe/kayak access.

Nearby supplies

Closest supplies and amenities would likely be accessible in Houghton, MI, the location of the park headquarters.

Best Time to Camp at North Desor Campground

Isle Royale's maritime climate brings cool, refreshing summers with daytime temperatures typically ranging from 60-75°F, perfect for hiking and exploration. Morning mists often blanket Lake Desor, creating ethereal scenes as the sun burns through. Spring arrives late and autumn comes early to this northern outpost, with the camping season generally running from mid-May through October. Prepare for sudden weather changes—afternoon thunderstorms can roll in quickly across the lake, while evenings often turn crisp even in midsummer.

Best

Summer(Jun-Aug)

4.0 / 5

Open June 1–Labor Day; cool 60–75°F summers ideal for hiking and exploring.

Fall(Sep-Nov)

Not recommended

Seasonal operation ends Labor Day; campground closed in fall per source.

Spring(Mar-May)

Not recommended

Seasonal opening is June 1; spring season is outside normal operation.

Winter(Dec-Feb)

Not recommended

Closed in winter; seasonal operation is June 1 to Labor Day.

Planning Tips

Peak Season: Peak season occurs between June 1 to Labor Day.. Book 2-3 months ahead.
Operating Season: Seasonal operation is aligned from June 1 to Labor Day.
Current Alerts: Campground alongwith neighboring sites are aligned together under regional park.

About North Desor Campground

Tucked away in the heart of Isle Royale's untamed wilderness, North Desor Campground offers adventurers a truly remote escape along the scenic Lake Minong Trail. This hidden gem remains blissfully disconnected from the modern world—no boats motor up to its shores, no vehicles rumble nearby. Instead, determined hikers who make the journey on foot are rewarded with an intimate camping experience where solitude meets spectacular lake vistas. Here, the only sounds breaking the silence are lapping waves and the occasional call of a loon echoing across the water.

North Desor Campground is characterized as a remote, foot-accessed camping area with minimal facilities, catering to visitors seeking a primitive camping experience.

Historical SignificanceNorth Desor sits within lands that have witnessed centuries of human history, from the ancient copper miners of 4,500 years ago to the commercial fishing families who once called these remote shores home. The campground's isolation today stands in stark contrast to the bustling activity of the early 1900s, when fishing camps dotted the coastline and the waters teemed with lake trout. Native Ojibwe peoples knew this island as Minong, meaning 'a good place to pick berries,' and their seasonal visits left subtle marks on the landscape that careful observers can still discern.

Weather and SeasonsIsle Royale's maritime climate brings cool, refreshing summers with daytime temperatures typically ranging from 60-75°F, perfect for hiking and exploration. Morning mists often blanket Lake Desor, creating ethereal scenes as the sun burns through. Spring arrives late and autumn comes early to this northern outpost, with the camping season generally running from mid-May through October. Prepare for sudden weather changes—afternoon thunderstorms can roll in quickly across the lake, while evenings often turn crisp even in midsummer.

ElevationPerched near the shores of Lake Desor, the campground rests at approximately 620 feet above sea level, placing it just slightly elevated from Lake Superior's surface. This modest elevation provides gentle slopes perfect for tent placement while offering subtle vantage points for sunset viewing across the inland lake waters.

Natural Features and SceneryThe campground immerses visitors in Isle Royale's pristine boreal ecosystem, where ancient ridges clothed in balsam fir and white spruce frame the deep blue waters of Lake Desor. Weathered rock outcroppings speak to billions of years of geological history, while the surrounding forest harbors some of the park's most magnificent old-growth trees. Wildlife thrives in this protected sanctuary—moose browse along the shoreline at dawn, wolves pad silently through the underbrush, and beavers maintain their lodges in nearby coves. The interplay of water, forest, and stone creates an ever-changing canvas of natural beauty that shifts with each passing hour.

Geological RegionNorth Desor Campground lies within one of North America's most fascinating geological showcases. Isle Royale National Park preserves a landscape shaped by ancient lava flows and sculpted by glaciers, creating the distinctive parallel ridges and valleys that define the island's topography. Lake Desor itself fills a depression carved by ice age glaciers, its waters reflecting the billion-year-old volcanic bedrock that forms the island's backbone. This unique geological heritage, combined with the isolating waters of Lake Superior, has created an ecological laboratory where boreal forest communities flourish in splendid isolation, making every visit a journey through deep time.

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Reserving a campsite

Check-in

Morning Checkposts open-ed.

Check-out

Evening closing

Stay Limit

2nights from June 1 to Labor Day

Groups

No information is available about group campsite accommodations.

Tents

Tents are allowed

RV vehicles

RV vehicles are not allowed

Primitive

Primitive camping is allowed

Reservable

Reservations are allowed

Reservation PlatformsReservations may be processed either logistically or online through government recreation portals.

Walk-in AvailabilityNot applicable since this site isn’t available for reservation.

Cancellation PolicyCancellation policies are outlined as follows: Customers may cancel reservations prior to check-in date with a $10 fee applicable. Late cancellations incur further penalties. For no-shows, customers forfeit the first-night fees and incur a non-refundable $20 fee.

AccessibilityThe campground is accessible only by foot along the Minong Ridge Trail, which suggests limited accessibility for individuals with mobility impairments.

Site SizeThe size of campsites is not detailed in the source.

PrivacyThe source materials do not detail the level of privacy of the campsites.

Total Campsites8 campsites

Activities you can enjoy

Recreational activities at North Desor Campground are not detailed in the source materials, but its remote location along the Minong Ridge Trail suggests potential opportunities for hiking and nature observation.

Winter Activities

Water Sports