Bangsund Cabin

The Wolf-Moose Project’s home base

History of Bangsund Cabin

The Wolf-Moose Project’s home base is out of an old fishing compound (main cabin built in 1926, back cabins added in 1937) on the northeastern end of the island on Rock Harbor. It is called Bangsund Cabin after the Norwegian fisherman who built up the fishery. Commercial fishing on Isle Royale, along with copper mining and the lumber industry, is part of the island’s history.

Jack Bangsund died in 1959 and, in 1960, the National Park Service encouraged Durward Allen and David Mech (the scientists who started the Wolf-Moose Project) to use Bangsund as a field work base. Durward Allen called Bangsund Cabin the “finest summer research facility on the largest island in the greatest freshwater lake in the world.” It has been the home-base for the Project ever since. 

Each summer, field crews meet at Bangsund Cabin so the data they collect can be collated and samples can be carefully inventoried, processed, and labeled before being taken to our labs on the mainland for further processing and analysis.

In addition to serving as an invaluable research base, Bangsund Cabin is also a place where researchers share their scientific knowledge and new discoveries with park visitors. Over the past decade, more than 10,000 visitors have visited Bangsund Cabin to view the unique collection of antlered bull skulls on display and learn about the natural history of Isle Royale and the latest research discoveries.

The large collection of antlered moose skulls – the Mooseum – includes some of the most unique and interesting skulls that our field crews have discovered over the years. It is the world’s largest collection of antlered moose skulls.

How to get to Bangsund

Every year hundreds of visitors come to see Edisen Fishery, the lighthouse, and the Wolf-Moose Project and the Antlered Moose Skulls. The only way to get to Bangsund is by boat; you cannot hike to Bangsund Cabin. 

Click here to see a map showing Bangsund Cabin (red pin) with Daisy Farm across the waters of Moskey Basin. The map also shows the Edisen Fishery and the Rock Harbor Lighthouse. There are several options for boating when on Isle Royale:

  • Sightseeing Tours – The Tour is on the vessel Sandy and operates out of Rock Harbor. It runs three days of the week (Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday) docking at the Edisen Fishery. From the Fishery you can hike a trail (about one-third mile) to Bangsund Cabin.

  • Boat Rentals – Contact Isle Royale Resorts for information on boat rentals.

  • Canoes and Kayaks – You can also visit Bangsund via canoes and kayaks.

  • Daisy Farm Wolf-Moose Programs – Nearly every Sunday and Wednesday at 8 PM, Rolf and Candy Peterson visit Daisy Farm and give a one-hour talk and bone show-and-tell.