Ideas for visiting Isle Royale without backpacking When we think of Isle Royale, backpacking, kayaking, and boating come to mind, but not all people want, or are not able, to backpack in order to experience the beauty of this national park. Campground hopping can be a perfect option. It requires a sufficient amount of timeContinue reading “Base camping, inter-island hopping, & accessible experiences”
Tag Archives: Rock Harbor
Women-Only Hikes with W.O.Man
Experience rugged Isle Royale with women like us–mature, independent, capable, and ready for a challenge. Our adventures provide women at the beginner level the challenge to explore this rugged island paradise, to discover their strengths as backpackers, and to make friends for life with like-minded, strong women. Use coupon code 2023wom150 to get $150 offContinue reading “Women-Only Hikes with W.O.Man”
Isle Royale Hike in mid-June 2022
On June 11, 2022, I arrived at the Queen IV dock at 7:00 AM and checked in with Miranda at the office. I was excited for my first trip out for the year, even though the forecast was for cold and rain. I felt prepared with my cold-weather gear. Captain Ben and the crew were ready for us to board.
Clothes for Hiking IRNP
Clothing you bring to hike Isle Royale National Park needs to meet the diverse conditions on the island, including preparing for variations by season and terrain. We also talk about optional clothing items, bathing suits, for example, or a towel, and some style choice differences. Our Garb course addresses all aspects of clothing in a lotContinue reading “Clothes for Hiking IRNP”
Booking, Rules & Itineraries
How exciting! You have have made the commitment to visit Isle Royale. Let’s get started to help you have a wonderful time and an excellent adventure by preparing you for the challenges you will encounter. You have a lot of planning ahead of you, from getting your passes, to booking transportation, to getting the lay of the land, to understanding the topography and climate of Isle Royale, to choosing your gear, to planning your route, and finally to setting off on your great adventure.
Planning for Needs on Isle Royale
Once you have decided on your itinerary, you are ready to think about all of the things you are going to need while you are on the island. Here, we are sharing an overview of what you will need, and we provide direct links to our free courses to help you examine each topic in more detail. Remember the courses are free, and they provide you with needed information and connections to help you to make sound decisions for yourself about what you will need for your particular backpacking itinerary.
Sheltering on Isle Royale
Shelter is Not an Option–it’s a necessity! Shelter of some sort is a necessity on Isle Royale. You need shelter from cold, wind, and rain. Rain storms can come quickly and last for a few days. Temperatures can get really cold, with temperatures dipping into the 20s or even the teens. In many of theContinue reading “Sheltering on Isle Royale”
Chippewa Harbor to Rock Harbor
The Chippewa Harbor to Rock Harbor hike is one of our favorites because of its leisurely pace, which allows for time to explore attractions on the way. We get to tour along the coast of the island by ferry for spectacular views of the rugged shore from the boat and then hike back along the bays and shorelines, through the forests and over the rocky escarpments for stunning views of the water.
Malone Bay: Intermediate-Advanced
The hike from Malone Bay to Rock Harbor in six days and five nights is an advanced itinerary. This hike can also be done as an intermediate hike, with shorter distances after the first grueling hike up Ishpeming Point to the Greenstone Ridge Trail and down into Hatchet Lake. As an intermediate hike, the itineraryContinue reading “Malone Bay: Intermediate-Advanced”
Greenstone Ridge Trail
The Greenstone Ridge Trail is sometimes called the Green tunnel because it crosses so many forested areas across the spine of the main island. The island is some 45 miles long, so the trail is of similar distance, traversing the Greenstone Ridge from Windigo to the Hidden Lake Dock. Many people choose to hike theContinue reading “Greenstone Ridge Trail”
Rock Harbor-Lane Cove-Daisy Farm Loop
The Greenstone Ridge Trail traverses the ridge from Hidden Lake Dock to Windigo, some 45 miles away, and can be done in either direction. The trail provides views of the vistas to the north and the south of the island. It brings hikers from Lookout Louise into the Washington Creek campground. To join an adventureContinue reading “Rock Harbor-Lane Cove-Daisy Farm Loop”
Day 7 Daisy Farm to Chippewa Harbor
The paddle from Daisy Farm to Chippewa Harbor was uneventful. The water was glass calm, reflecting the clouds overhead, as we left the Daisy Farm dock just before 10:00 AM ET. As we passed out of Rock Harbor, near the Rock Harbor lighthouse, we were overtaken by a small open boat with a tiny outboardContinue reading “Day 7 Daisy Farm to Chippewa Harbor”
Day 6: Rock Harbor to Daisy Farm
After a fine meal at the Greenstone Grill and a good night sleep at Shelter 6 in Rock Harbor, we got up early and set out for Daisy Farm. We planned to stay overnight at Caribou Island, so we paddled across the Rock Harbor channel only to discover the campground was full, so we veeredContinue reading “Day 6: Rock Harbor to Daisy Farm”
Day 5: Belle Isle around Blake Point through Merritt Lane into Snug Harbor
Belle Isle was lovely with the charm of the beach and the mysterious ruins, the fireplace too formal for its environs and the moss-covered cement stairs ascending up to the promontory to view entrants into the small cove where the paddle craft were landed. Paddling out of the harbor was bittersweet as we looked toward more north-shore paddling past Hill and Locke Points and on toward Blake Point.