Round Island Wilderness
All of Round Island has been designated Wilderness except one acre on the northern tip, a sand and cobblestone spit where the lighthouse stands. There has been no logging on the island since the turn-of-the-century. There are no docks, roads, or developed hiking trails on the island. Access is by boat in the summer and over ice in the winter. "Heavy seas" make travel to Round Island treacherous at times. Several historic and prehistoric sites exist on the island. Visitors are reminded that these sites are protected and it is unlawful to possess any island artifacts. Leave what you find. The "Michigan rattler", massausauga has been rumored to reside on the island.
Description from Wilderness Connect (wilderness.net).
| Designation | Wilderness |
| Managed by | U.S. Forest Service |
| State | Michigan |
| Size | 375 acres |
| Designated | 1987, by Congress |
| Center point | 45.83° N, 84.60° W |
| Night sky | About as dark as the ground gets (Black Marble reading 10) |
Boundary map
Boundary, simplified to about 0.005 degrees
The outline is the agency boundary simplified for display, so small parcels and inholdings may not show. The agency page has the authoritative map.
Weather by month
Large units span more than one climate. The station stands in for the center point, and the outer parts of the boundary can be warmer or colder.
Where to camp
No federal campground is within ten miles of the boundary in the Campsite Atlas index. Camping inside a wilderness is usually allowed away from trails and water, with no facilities; the managing agency page has the permit and group-size rules.
Fire nearby
- PrescribedPaula Red South Rx
38 mi from the center point · 147 acres
- PrescribedRed Delicious Rx
41 mi from the center point · 289 acres
Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge, and is measured from the center of a boundary that may be many miles across. Check the agency page for closures.
Explore
Nearby on the other atlases
- 1.2 miGrand Hotel ↗National Historic Landmark
- 6.7 miSt. Ignace Mission ↗National Historic Landmark
- 0.1 miRound Island Lighthouse ↗Mackinac Island, MI
- 0.5 miRound Island Passage Light ↗Mackinac Island, MI
- 1 miStuart, Robert, House ↗Mackinac Island, MI
- 1 miMission Church ↗Mackinac Island, MI
- 1 miGeary, Mathew, House ↗Mackinac Island, MI
- 1 miIndian Dormitory ↗Mackinac Island, MI
Landmarks are listed first, then by distance from the boundary.
Guidebooks for Michigan
We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.
- Explorer's Guide 50 Hikes on and Around the North Country Trail - Michigan and WisconsinThomas Funke, 2016Find at Bookshop.org
Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
How big is Round Island Wilderness?
375 acres.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Who manages Round Island Wilderness?
The U.S. Forest Service.
Source: Wilderness Connect
What state is Round Island Wilderness in?
Michigan.
Source: Wilderness Connect
When was Round Island Wilderness designated?
Congress designated it in 1987.
Source: Wilderness Connect
How do I get to Round Island Wilderness?
A point inside the boundary is at 45.829° N, 84.601° W. The official page carries directions and the office address.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Is there a fire near Round Island Wilderness right now?
2 active incidents within 50 miles as of 2026-11-01, the nearest Paula Red South Rx at 38 miles. Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge.
Source: Fire nearby
Are there historic places near Round Island Wilderness?
The National Register has 24 listings within 15 miles, including Grand Hotel and St. Ignace Mission.
Source: Register Atlas
Sources
- Boundary, name, acreage, designation year, states and description: Wilderness Connect.
- Campgrounds: the Campsite Atlas index of federal campgrounds, matched to this boundary at build time.
- Trailheads and sites: the Forest Service Recreation Opportunities layer, points inside the boundary.
- Night sky: NASA Black Marble (VIIRS, 2016 composite) sampled at zoom 6 around the center point.
- Weather, alerts, air quality, river flow and earthquakes load live in your browser from NWS, AirNow, USGS and iNaturalist when you open the page.