Isle Royale National Park Updates Food Storage Regulations

Contact: Liz Valencia

HOUGHTON, MICH. - To implement the most effective methods of keeping wildlife safe from human food/food waste, and humans safe from wildlife, Isle Royale park managers continue to evaluate and improve food storage regulations. Food storage covers the proper storage of food, as well as trash, scented items, cooking supplies, cooking utensils, and fish or fish parts. Updated regulations went into effect April 16, 2026, Superintendent's Compendium - Isle Royale National Park (U.S. National Park Service).

Everyone backpacking, camping, canoeing, and kayaking, must store food, trash, and scented items in a food storage locker, or in an approved, animal-resistant, hard-sided container.
For boaters, food, trash, and scented items need to be stored in a food storage locker, or in an approved, animal-resistant, hard-sided container, or inside an enclosed, hard-sided, locked boat cabin or compartment.

If you're camping off-trail, store your food, trash, and scented items in approved, animal-resistant, hard-sided containers and stash 200 feet away from campsite or hang those items from a tree. Food hanging is not allowed in campgrounds.

Day visitors, keep your food with you and store packs and other items temporarily in backpack storage areas in Rock Harbor and Windigo/Ozaagaateng.

Hard-sided containers on this list are approved. Containers not on this list are not guaranteed to meet the new food storage requirements. Soft-sided containers, such as mesh or dry bags, must be stored in a food storage locker.

For any activities in the park, never leave food or packs unattended. Do not store food, trash, and scented items inside shelters or tents.

For more information on food storage regulations, see the 2026 issue of The Greenstone park newspaper, visit https://www.nps.gov/isro/planyourvisit/food-storage.htm, or contact the Houghton Visitor Center at (906) 482-0984 or by email.