The Most Remote Islands in the Great Lakes

The North American Great Lakes contain around 35,000 islands across the five lakes, and with only about 30 inhabited year-round or seasonally, roughly 34,970 are uninhabited. While some islands, including destinations like Isle Royale and the Slate Islands, can be reached by ferry, floatplane, or private boat, many of the most remote require long journeys across open water. The islands below stand out for their isolation from mainland communities and are either lightly inhabited or completely uninhabited. Many, like Michipicoten Island, are protected wilderness areas and important wildlife habitats. For travelers with boating experience or a taste for rugged adventure, they offer some of the most secluded landscapes anywhere in the Great Lakes.

Caribou Island (Lake Superior, Ontario)

Caribou Island lies in eastern Lake Superior, well offshore from Ontario’s north coast near Agawa Bay. At roughly 3.5 miles long, it is one of the lake’s more isolated islands and is known for its rugged shoreline, interior lakes, and difficult surrounding waters. Its remoteness has helped preserve a landscape that feels largely untouched, with reefs, rough waves, and distance from shore discouraging casual visits.

The island is also associated with Lake Superior woodland caribou and has long been regarded as a place of conservation value. Although there is no formal ban on visiting, access is challenging and best left to experienced boaters prepared for open-lake conditions. There is another Caribou Island near Thunder Bay, but this eastern Superior island is the much more remote of the two.

Isle Royale (Lake Superior, Michigan)

Few Great Lakes islands fit the word remote better than Isle Royale. Set far out in northwestern Lake Superior, this large wilderness island is reachable only by ferry, seaplane, or private watercraft, and even those trips are shaped by weather and season. The island is part of Isle Royale National Park, a place known for rocky shorelines, inland lakes, dense forests, and long stretches of trail far from any road.

Isle Royale’s isolation is a major part of its identity. Visitors come for backcountry hiking, paddling, camping, and wildlife viewing, especially the island’s famous moose and wolf populations. Because access is limited and services are minimal outside a few developed points, it remains one of the most secluded island experiences anywhere in the Great Lakes.

Michipicoten Island (Lake Superior, Ontario)

This uninhabited island sits in the northeastern part of Lake Superior, about 40 miles southwest of Wawa, Ontario. Michipicoten Island is noted for having more than 20 lakes of its own and for serving as important habitat for woodland caribou. Its size, distance from shore, and lack of development make it one of the lake’s clearest examples of true isolation.

The island’s volcanic geology, sandy beaches, and forested interior add to its wild character. Wildlife enthusiasts and experienced paddlers are drawn here for the same reason many others stay away: there are few comforts, difficult conditions, and long distances between help and shelter. Access is generally by private boat or seaplane, making every visit feel like a genuine expedition.

Slate Islands (Lake Superior, Ontario)

The Slate Islands are a rugged archipelago in Lake Superior off Ontario’s north shore. Protected as Slate Islands Provincial Park, they are accessible only by boat or floatplane, which immediately places them among the more remote Great Lakes destinations. The group includes several islands and islets, with dramatic shorelines, forested interiors, and a reputation for solitude that appeals to paddlers and wilderness campers.

The islands are also known for their caribou population and unusual geology, with some scientists suggesting the central basin may be linked to an ancient meteorite impact. Facilities are limited, and changing Superior weather can make access difficult even for skilled visitors. For travelers seeking a truly remote island chain rather than a single outpost, the Slate Islands are an obvious fit.

Main Duck Island (Lake Ontario, Ontario)

Main Duck Island is an uninhabited island in eastern Lake Ontario, far enough from the Canadian mainland to feel detached from the busier waters closer to shore. It has a lighthouse, remnants of earlier human use, and very limited visitor infrastructure. Today it forms part of Thousand Islands National Park and is reached only by private boat.

The island’s rocky shoreline, open-water setting, and lack of development give it a raw, exposed character. Birdlife is abundant, and the island remains an appealing stop for skilled boaters who want a distant-feeling destination without the crowds found on more accessible Great Lakes islands.

Cockburn Island (Lake Huron, Ontario)

Cockburn Island, in Lake Huron’s North Channel, is one of the most remote inhabited islands in the Great Lakes. It is accessible only by boat, and visitors must bring their own supplies because there are no fuel stations, shops, or broad visitor services on the island. That practical isolation gives it a distinctly different kind of remoteness than many park islands: it is settled, but still feels far removed from the mainland.

The island is large, lightly populated, and known for quiet roads, old farm landscapes, and a strong sense of seclusion. Boaters who stay for several days typically sleep aboard their vessels and explore by bicycle or small motorbike. For Lake Huron, Cockburn Island is one of the clearest examples of a truly off-the-grid island destination.

Exploring The Great Lakes Remote Islands

With over 35,000 islands, the Great Lakes offer everything from busy resort destinations to places that feel almost unreachable. The islands on this list are among the best matches for true remoteness, whether because of their distance from shore, difficult access, lack of services, or undeveloped wilderness character. For experienced boaters, paddlers, and travelers willing to plan carefully, they offer some of the most secluded landscapes in the entire Great Lakes region.