Rock Harbor (Michigan)

{{Short description|Natural inlet on Isle Royale in Lake Superior, United States}}

{{Distinguish|Rock Harbour, Newfoundland and Labrador}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2020}}

{{Infobox settlement

| official_name = Rock Harbor, Michigan

| settlement_type = Unincorporated community

| image_skyline = NPS isle-royale-rock-harbor-map.jpg

| image_size = 275

| image_caption = Map of Rock Harbor on the northeast side of Isle Royale

| image_flag =

| image_seal =

| nickname =

| motto =

|pushpin_map = Michigan#USA

|pushpin_label_position = right

|pushpin_label = Rock Harbor

|pushpin_map_caption = Location within the state of Michigan##Location within the United States

| image_map =

| mapsize =

| map_caption =

| coordinates = {{coord|48|05|21|N|88|34|45|W|region:US-MI|display=title,inline}}

| subdivision_type = Country

| subdivision_name = United States

| subdivision_type1 = State

| subdivision_name1 = Michigan

| subdivision_type2 = County

| subdivision_name2 = Keweenaw

| subdivision_type3 = Township

| subdivision_name3 = Houghton

| established_title =

| established_date =

| government_type =

| government_footnotes =

| leader_title =

| leader_name =

| unit_pref = Imperial

| area_footnotes =

| area_total_km2 =

| area_total_sq_mi =

| area_land_km2 =

| area_land_sq_mi =

| area_water_km2 =

| area_water_sq_mi =

| elevation_footnotes = {{GNIS|636080|Rock Harbor Lodge}}

| elevation_m =

| elevation_ft = 610

| population_footnotes =

| population_total =

| population_as_of =

| population_density_km2 =

| population_density_sq_mi =

| timezone = Eastern (EST)

| utc_offset = -5

| timezone_DST = EDT

| utc_offset_DST = -4

|postal_code_type = ZIP code(s)

|postal_code = 49931 (Houghton)

|area_code = 906

| blank_name = GNIS feature ID

| blank_info = 636080

| website =

| footnotes =

}}

Rock Harbor is the main access point for visitors landing on Isle Royale in northern Lake Superior. It sits {{convert|4|mi|km|spell=in}} from the northeastern end of the {{convert|45|mi|km|adj=mid|-long}} island, the whole of which is protected as Isle Royale National Park. Two structures in Rock Harbor—the Rock Harbor Light and the Edisen Fishery—are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The name Rock Harbor is properly applied to the {{convert|11|mi|km|adj=mid|-long}} inlet from Moskey Basin to Scoville Point along the southern shore of the eastern part of Isle Royale.{{cite map |title = Park |publisher = National Park Service |url = http://home.nps.gov/applications/parks/isro/ppMaps/ISROmap1.pdf |accessdate = December 11, 2007 |url-status = dead |archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20070813133427/http://home.nps.gov/applications/parks/isro/ppMaps/ISROmap1.pdf |archivedate = August 13, 2007 }} This inlet is screened from the open waters of Lake Superior by several offshore islands, including Mott Island, which is the site of the park headquarters.{{cite map |title = Rock Harbor Area |publisher = National Park Service |url = https://www.nps.gov/isro/planyourvisit/upload/Rock%20Harbor%20Area%20Map.JPG |access-date = December 1, 2001 }}

Travel to Rock Harbor from the Upper Peninsula of Michigan is by the Ranger III park service ferry, operating from Houghton, Michigan,{{cite web |title = Ranger III |publisher = National Park Service |url = http://www.nps.gov/isro/ranger-iii.htm |archive-url = https://archive.today/20061012054714/http://www.nps.gov/isro/ranger-iii.htm |url-status = dead |archive-date = October 12, 2006 |accessdate = December 1, 2007 }} the Isle Royale Queen IV out of Copper Harbor, Michigan,{{ cite web | title = The Isle Royale Line | url = http://www.isleroyale.com/ | accessdate = December 1, 2007}} and seaplane service.{{ cite web | title = Royale Air Service | url = http://www.royaleairservice.com/ | accessdate = December 1, 2007 | url-status = dead | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20090301234421/http://www.royaleairservice.com/ | archivedate = March 1, 2009 }} The Voyageur II operates out of Grand Portage, Minnesota; it circumnavigates the island with stops at the Ozaagaateng Ranger Station{{Cite web |title=Isle Royale to change Windigo Ranger Station name after receiving request from the Grand Portage Ojibwe this past year {{!}} Boreal Community Media |url=http://www.boreal.org/2023/10/10/468642/isle-royale-to-change-windigo-ranger-station-name-after-receiving-request-from-the-grand-portage-ojibwe-this-past-year |access-date=2023-10-18 |website=www.boreal.org |language=en}} in Washington Harbor on the west end of the island and other points along the shore.{{ cite web | title = Schedules | work = The North Shore Connection to Isle Royal National Park | publisher = Grand Portage-Isle Royale Transportation Line | url = http://www.isleroyaleboats.com/schedule.asp | accessdate = December 1, 2007}}; {{cite map |title = Designated stops, Isle Royale |url = http://www.isleroyaleboats.com/images/islemap.jpg |publisher = Grand Portage-Isle Royale Transportation Line |accessdate = December 1, 2007 }}

The ferry boats land at Snug Harbor, which also has berths for private watercraft, a campground, the visitor center, and a lodge that predates the national park.{{cite web |title = Rock Harbor Area |work = Hunt's Guide to Michigan's Upper Peninsula |url = http://hunts-upguide.com/rock_harbor_area_detail.html |accessdate = December 1, 2007 }}

Rock Harbor is the eastern end and terminus of the Greenstone Ridge Trail.

Rock Harbor is also listed by the Geographic Names Information System as a populated place named Rock Harbor Lodge. Although there is no permanent population, the area includes the Rock Harbor Lodge, restaurant, resorts, several boat docks, and campgrounds. Rock Harbor also contained its own summer post office from 1924 to 1958.{{GNIS|1926606|Rock Harbor Post Office (historical)}}