Harbor Island National Wildlife Refuge

About Harbor Island National Wildlife Refuge

Harbor Island National Wildlife Refuge consists of two islands, Harbor and Standerson Islands. These islands are in Potagannissing Bay, Lake Huron, near Drummond Island on the eastern end of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. They are 3.5 miles south of the Canada border. In 1983, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service purchased the 695-acre Harbor Island from The Nature Conservancy as part of the Unique Ecosystems program, effectively starting the refuge. In December 2019, the agency purchased Standerson Island, a 25-acre landmass located northwest of Harbor Island. This expanded the refuge to 720-acres. Refuge habitats include a marsh-lined harbor, sandy beaches and mature stands of balsam fir, white cedar, paper birch, sugar maple and red oak. The gently rolling terrain of the island peaks around 100-feet above lake level. Resident wildlife species include ruffed grouse, snowshoe hare, white-throated sparrows, white-tailed deer, gray jays and magnolia warblers.

How to Get There

Harbor Island National Wildlife Refuge is in Potagannissing Bay of Lake Huron, north of Drummond Island. Access is by boat only. There are public boat ramps at De Tour Village and on Drummond Island.

Plan Your Visit to Harbor Island National Wildlife Refuge

Heading to Harbor Island National Wildlife Refuge? A few things to know before you go:

• Reservations: popular sites fill up fast — check Recreation.gov 6 months in advance
• Fees: day-use and camping fees vary; check current rates on the official park page
• Trash & pack-out: follow Leave No Trace principles
• Wildlife: store food in bear boxes where provided; never feed wildlife
• Weather: the 5-day forecast above is updated every 6 hours; verify just before you go

References & Official Resources

• Official Recreation.gov page
• View on OpenStreetMap
• Driving directions (Google Maps)