Campers who died on Isle Royale were at Lake Desor. Investigation ongoing
Isle Royale National Park on Thursday, June 12, said the individuals who were found dead at the park earlier this week have been identified and next of kin notified, but officials did not release their names publicly.
"There is no known threat to the public at this time," park officials said in a release on June 12.
The two individuals were found at South Lake Desor campground on Sunday, June 8.
"Due to the remote location of the campground near Greenstone Ridge trail, a fixed-wing aircraft and a helicopter were used to assist with transportation for the investigation," the release said.
Lake Desor is located in the middle of the main Isle Royale island, closer to Windigo at the western end than to Rock Harbor in the east. According to recreation.gov, the only access to the campground is by foot.
Guests can stay up to two nights at the campground from June 1 until the Labor Day. There is no canoe/kayak/boat access.
Park officials said "This remains an ongoing investigation, and we have no further information to provide."
On Wednesday, June 11, the Federal Bureau of Investigation office in Detroit confirmed federal officials had visited Isle Royale National Park to investigate following the death of two campers at the remote Lake Superior campground.
"I can confirm that members from the FBI in Michigan were present in Isle Royale National Park, located the northwestern region of Michigan's Upper Peninsula," said Jordan Hall, the Public Information/Media Coordinator for the FBI's field office in Detroit.
In email to the Free Press, Hall said the FBI routinely assists law enforcement partners upon request, however it does not necessarily result in the FBI opening an investigation.
"FBI policy prohibits the confirmation of the existence of investigations, the release of information on investigations and any public report on the closing on an investigation,' Hall said in an email to the Free Press.
The park service received reports of two dead people at the backcountry campground in the park at about 4 p.m. Sunday, June 8, the park service said in a news release earlier this week.
Rangers hiked about 11 miles overnight to the site and reached the scene the morning of Monday, June 9, and confirmed finding two bodies.
Ground and aviation resources started responding to the scene on June 9, the park's initial release said.
Isle Royale National Park is a group of islands in northwestern Lake Superior, north of Michigan's Upper Peninsula.
Isle Royale National Park is a park that consists of a large island surrounded by more than 450 smaller islands, preserving 132,018 acres of wilderness on 850 square miles.
Opportunities for backpacking, hiking, boating, paddling, diving and more, are available on the park, the National Park Service says.
Jalen Williams is a trending reporter at the Detroit Free Press. Contact him at jawilliams1@freepress.com.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Isle Royale camper fatalities identified. Names not released by NPS
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