Beyond Mackinac: The Great Lakes Islands Nobody Talks About (But Should)

Let's be honest — Mackinac Island is great. The fudge is iconic. The no-cars rule feels refreshingly radical in the best way. But if you've done Mackinac, you've barely scratched the surface of what the Great Lakes are hiding. Spread across five massive bodies of freshwater, there are hundreds of islands that most Americans have never heard of, let alone visited. Some are reachable only by kayak. Others require a small charter plane. A few are so remote that you might spend three days without seeing another human being.

That's exactly the point.

We spent months talking to conservationists, ferry operators, paddling guides, and the occasional lighthouse keeper to build a real guide to the Great Lakes' overlooked island gems. Here's where to go, when to go, and how to make sure your visit leaves these fragile ecosystems better than you found them.

Drummond Island, Lake Huron: Michigan's Quiet Giant

At roughly 136 square miles, Drummond Island is the largest American island in the Great Lakes that most people have never heard of. Tucked into the northern reaches of Lake Huron near the Canadian border, it's accessible by a short ferry ride from Detour Village — a crossing that feels almost ceremonial in its simplicity.

What you'll find on the other side is a landscape that looks like it was designed by someone who really loved cedar swamps, limestone outcroppings, and the color green. The island's interior is laced with unpaved forest roads and ATV trails, but the real draw is the shoreline — jagged, dramatic, and almost completely undeveloped.

"Drummond doesn't get the attention it deserves because it doesn't have a brand," says Sarah Kowalski, a conservation coordinator with the Lake Huron Coastal Initiative who has worked on the island for six years. "There's no famous fudge shop, no carriage rides. What it has is authenticity, and that's actually harder to find."

Best time to visit: Late May through early June, when wildflowers blanket the forest floor and the crowds from the Lower Peninsula haven't arrived yet. September is equally stunning, with fall color peaking in late September.

Getting there: Drive to Detour Village, Michigan, and catch the Drummond Island Ferry. Runs year-round. Bring your car — you'll want it for exploring.

North Manitou Island, Lake Michigan: Where the Wilderness Gets Serious

North Manitou Island sits about 17 miles offshore from Leland, Michigan, and it operates under a backcountry-only camping policy managed by Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. That means no developed campgrounds, no running water, and no electricity. It also means one of the most genuinely wild island experiences available in the continental United States.

The island's interior is dominated by a ghost forest — the remnants of a farming community that was gradually abandoned after the National Park Service acquired the land in the 1980s. Old orchards gone feral, crumbling foundations swallowed by sumac, a cemetery that locals still quietly maintain. It's haunting and beautiful in equal measure.

For photographers, the combination of Lake Michigan's shifting light, the island's dramatic dunes, and the eerie human history makes this a genuinely special destination. Sunsets here — with nothing between you and the horizon — are legitimately life-changing.

Best time to visit: July and August for swimming and hiking. October for fall color and near-total solitude — ferry service drops to weekends only, which keeps the crowds thin.

Getting there: Manitou Island Transit runs seasonal ferry service from Leland. Book well in advance for summer trips. Camping permits required through the National Park Service.

Stockton Island, Lake Superior (Apostle Islands): Wilderness With a Side of Black Bears

The Apostle Islands archipelago, scattered across the southwestern corner of Lake Superior off the coast of Wisconsin, contains 21 islands — and Stockton is arguably the crown jewel. It's the largest island in the chain at about 10,000 acres, and it has the highest concentration of black bears of any island in the Great Lakes system.

Yes, you read that right. Bears. On an island. In Wisconsin.

The island's combination of old-growth forest, pristine sandstone sea caves, and a productive wild blueberry crop makes it irresistible for the local bear population — and for the hikers and kayakers who come to watch them from a respectful distance. The Apostle Islands National Lakeshore manages the area with a strong emphasis on leave-no-trace principles, and the rangers here take that seriously.

"Lake Superior doesn't forgive mistakes," says Marcus Delray, a kayak guide who has been running trips to the Apostle Islands for over a decade. "But if you come prepared and you come with respect for the ecosystem, these islands will give you experiences that genuinely change your relationship with wild places."

The sea caves on Stockton's northeastern shore deserve their own paragraph. Carved by centuries of wave action into the island's red sandstone cliffs, they glow in the morning light in ways that no photograph fully captures. Get there at sunrise. Bring a wide-angle lens. You'll thank us.

Best time to visit: Late July through mid-September. Lake Superior's notorious storms make spring and early summer unpredictable. Winter ice-walking to the sea caves (when conditions allow) is a bucket-list experience for the adventurous.

Getting there: Apostle Islands Cruise Service runs water taxis from Bayfield, Wisconsin. Sea kayak rentals and guided trips available through several outfitters in Bayfield.

A Note on Responsible Island Visiting

Every conservationist we spoke to for this piece said some version of the same thing: the biggest threat to these islands isn't climate change or development — it's well-meaning visitors who don't understand how fragile island ecosystems actually are.

Freshwater islands operate as closed systems. Invasive species hitchhike in on boot treads and boat hulls. Native bird nesting sites are easily disturbed by hikers who wander off-trail. Waste that gets buried or left behind doesn't disappear — it enters the water table.

The rules are simple. Stay on marked trails. Pack out everything you pack in. Clean your gear between water bodies to prevent the spread of invasive species like zebra mussels and Eurasian watermilfoil. Respect wildlife viewing distances. And if a ranger tells you an area is closed for nesting season, it's closed for a reason.

These islands have been here for thousands of years. With a little care, they'll be here for thousands more — and the travelers who come after you will get to experience the same wild, unhurried magic that brought you here in the first place.

Plan Your Great Lakes Island Adventure

A few resources worth bookmarking before you go:

• Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore (nps.gov/slbe) for North Manitou Island permits and ferry schedules
• Apostle Islands National Lakeshore (nps.gov/apis) for Stockton Island camping and water taxi info
• Great Lakes Water Trail (greatlakeswatertrail.org) for paddling routes connecting island destinations across all five lakes
• Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics (lnt.org) for refreshers on responsible backcountry travel

The Great Lakes hold roughly 20% of the world's surface fresh water. The islands scattered across that water are among the most ecologically significant — and most underappreciated — wild places in North America. Go explore them. Just go carefully.