Vintage Moose at Isle Royale National Park Postcard

Isle Royale National Park, located in the northwest corner of Lake Superior, is one of the most remote and unique wilderness areas in the United States—and one of the best places to observe moose in their natural habitat. The island is accessible only by boat or seaplane and remains largely untouched by development, making it an ideal refuge for moose, who swim across from mainland Canada and Minnesota. Since their arrival in the early 1900s, moose have thrived in the dense spruce and fir forests of the island, feeding on aquatic vegetation, shrubs, and tree bark, particularly in colder months. Isle Royale is also the site of the longest-running predator-prey study in the world, focusing on the delicate relationship between the island’s moose and gray wolf populations. For decades, scientists have tracked how climate, disease, and predation affect both species, offering rare insight into the dynamics of an isolated ecosystem. Visitors to Isle Royale have a good chance of spotting moose along hiking trails, near inland lakes, or wading in marshy coves. Because of the island’s isolation and the absence of vehicles, wildlife sightings here feel especially intimate and wild—offering a glimpse into nature on its own terms.