ISLE ROYALE – Isle Royale is one of the least visited national parks in the United States.

According to the National Park Service, just 25,798 people made recreational visits to the secluded string of islands in Lake Superior in 2018.

Only three national parks in Alaska saw less visitors: Kobuk Valley National Park (14,937), Lake Clark National Park and Preserve (14,479) and Gates of the Arctic National Park & Preserve (9,951).

By comparison, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park which straddles the border between North Carolina and Tennessee was the most visited park with 11,421,200 visitors in 2018.

The numbers probably won’t come as much of a surprise to Michiganders familiar with the sprawling island known for its wolf and moose population since it can only be reached by boat or seaplane.

To bring awareness to lesser known national parks like Michigan’s hidden gem, Reservations.com created vintage travel posters for the 20 least visited national parks in 2018.

Each poster celebrates the unique features that make each of the parks stand out. On Isle Royale, that’s unparalleled solitude and unspoiled natural beauty ripe with opportunities for reflection and discovery.

“How does exploring shipwrecks on a remote island in the middle of Lake Superior sound?” Reservations.com noted. “With 10 major shipwrecks dating to the 1800s, Isle Royal National Park is a scuba diver’s dream retreat.”

“With over 400 islands as part of this archipelago, you’ll definitely be better off getting the fishing gear ready for a multi-island adventure vacation.”

Isle Royale National Park was established on April 3, 1940, then additionally protected from development by wilderness area designation in 1976, and declared a UNESCO International Biosphere Reserve in 1980.

The park covers 894 square miles and has only two developed areas: Windigo, at the southwest end of the island for ferries from Minnesota and Rock Harbor on the northeast end with a docking site for the ferries from Michigan.

In addition to scuba diving and camping, Isle Royale is a popular location for camping, backpacking, hiking, kayaking and canoeing.

You can see the poster in its entirety below.

Reservations.com

According to the National Park Service, just 25,798 people made recreational visits to the secluded string of islands in Lake Superior in 2018.