Grand Island's glacier-cut lake shoreline measures approximately 35 miles (56 km) in length.

Grand Island's geology is an extension of the sandstone strata of the adjacent Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore.

Native Americans quickly found the fisheries around Grand Island to be a resource for seasonal and year-round living.

The ferry ride, which is less than 1 mile (1.6 km) long, shuttles between a dock on M-28, northwest of Munising, and Grand Island's Williams Landing.

The U.S. Forest Services recommends that visitors enjoy camping, fishing, hiking, hunting, mountain biking, and trapping on Grand Island, subject to state license laws.