Backpacking in Isle Royale National Park: The Complete Guide
Want to plan a backpacking trip in Isle Royale? Then keep reading, because in this guide, we’ll go over everything you need to know about how to backpack in Isle Royale National Park, including different Isle Royale backpacking itineraries, permits, costs, what to bring, when to go, and much more!
Isle Royale National Park is a quiet, peaceful, and serene island wilderness in the middle of Lake Superior. Because it’s so remote, it is the least visited National Park in the lower 48, making solitude easy to find, which is exactly what makes Isle Royale National Park such an ideal place for backpacking!
If you backpack in Isle Royale, you’ll encounter empty trails where you’ll see more wildlife than people, walk to the sounds of birds chirping and the wind blowing through the trees, and be lulled to sleep by the call of loons across the lake. It’s truly a unique backpacking experience, and definitely one of our favorites!
If you look at an Isle Royale map, you’ll quickly notice that there are tons of trails in Isle Royale that can be connected in an infinite number of ways to create Isle Royale backpacking routes of various days, distances, and difficulty. It can seem a bit overwhelming trying to string together campsites and trails into the perfect backpacking itinerary in Isle Royale. But, we’re here to help!
In this guide, we want to go over everything you need to know on how to plan a backpacking trip in Isle Royale. We’ll cover different Isle Royale backpacking routes and itineraries, what to bring, when to go, how to get there, and so much more. By the end of this guide, we hope you’re well underway to planning your perfect Isle Royale backpacking trip. So, let’s get right to it!
In this Isle Royale National Park backpacking guide:
How to Plan a Backpacking Trip to Isle Royale: An Overview
When you backpack in Isle Royale, you’re in for some amazing sunsets!
Isle Royale is the perfect place to plan a backpacking trip. We experienced solitude and peacefulness that we haven’t experienced anywhere else!
While Isle Royale is small, there are actually over 160 miles of hiking trails, and 36 different campgrounds that can be strung together in endless ways to create a variety of Isle Royale backpacking itineraries.
To help you get oriented, there are two main areas in Isle Royale where most people begin their backpacking trips.
Windigo sits on the western tip of Isle Royale. It’s a small quiet wilderness outpost where you’ll find a visitor center, a small campstore, some cabins, and a campground. It feels remote and peaceful out here, and several amazing Isle Royale backpacking routes start here.
Rock Harbor is on the eastern end of Isle Royale. Rock Harbor has a bit more going on, as it has a whole lodging facility (the Rock Harbor Lodge) and restaurant, and opportunities for guided tours. As far as National Park standards go, Rock Harbor is still far from crowded, but you’ll probably find more people here than in Windigo.
Most Isle Royale backpacking routes begin and end either in Windigo or Rock Harbor, because most public transportation to the island goes to one or the other, so it’s just easier to plan. However, there are ways that you can start at other locations around the island and do point-to-point hikes across the park. We will go over all of these options in more detail later.
Isle Royale National Park map
Here is a map of Isle Royale to orient you to the various starting points for Isle Royale backpacking trips.
This map of Isle Royale, taken from the National Park Service, shows the two main regions- Windigo and Rock Harbor- at opposite ends of the island and connected by a series of trails and campgrounds.
Let’s talk about how to get to the various points around Isle Royale now…
Backpacking in Isle Royale: How to Get There
Fresh off the ferry and ready to start our Isle Royale backpacking itinerary!
Figuring out transportation to backpack in Isle Royale can feel a bit complicated, but trust us, it is so worth it!
There are two main ways to get to Isle Royale National Park: by ferry or by seaplane. The seaplane is definitely the quickest way to get to the park, but also the most expensive.
There are also four departure points to Isle Royale from the mainland, two in Michigan and two in Minnesota. Each departure point has its own transport options with their own unique schedules and costs. Which one you choose will depend on whether you want to arrive in Rock Harbor or Windigo, how much time you want to spend traveling, how much money you want to spend, and which location is most convenient for you. We’ll summarize all your options here, but for a much more in depth look at all the ways to get to Isle Royale, including their specific schedules and costs, check out our Ultimate Isle Royale Planning Guide.
Getting to Isle Royale by ferry
Looking out from the Isle Royale ferry as we approach the island!
Ferries to Isle Royale go to either Rock Harbor or Windigo based on their departure point.
There are three locations on the mainland that offer ferries to Rock Harbor:
Copper Harbor, MI- The Isle Royale Queen IV ferry (3 hours and 45 minutes)
Houghton, MI- The Ranger III ferry (6 hours)
Grand Portage, MN- The Voyageur II (7.5 hours)
There are two locations that offer ferries to Windigo:
Grand Portage, MN- Both the Voyageur II and the Sea Hunter III (1.5-2 hours)
Houghton, MI- The Ranger III makes one monthly roundtrip journey to Windigo. This makes sense to take only if you plan on doing a point- to- point Isle Royale backpacking trip between Windigo, where you’ll start, and Rock Harbor, where you can leave the island, since this ferry won’t be coming back to Windigo for another month!
Getting to Isle Royale by seaplane
There are two seaplane departure points from the mainland to Isle Royale – one in Houghton, Michigan and one in Grand Marais, Minnesota. From either one, you can take a plane to either Rock Harbor or Windigo, and the journey lasts anywhere from 25-45 minutes.
How to get to other places around Isle Royale
If you want to start or end your Isle Royale backpacking trip in other places besides Windigo or Rock Harbor, here are your options:
The Voyageur II ferry- This ferry leaves from Grand Portage, MN, and stops in Windigo before making an entire trip around the island. It goes around the north shore, stops in Rock Harbor for the night, and then continues around the south side the next day, stopping at Windigo before heading back to Grand Portage. Along the way, there are various pick up and drop off points around the island. These points have trailheads that you can use to start or end a point-to-point backpacking trip around Isle Royale. Some common points for this are McCargoe Cove on the north side of the island, and Chippewa Harbor on the south side. From either of these trailheads, you can access more interior trail systems, including the popular Greenstone Ridge Trail that traverses across the island. Make sure to make reservations for this in advance, as the ferry might not stop as these other drop off points without any reservations in place!
The Voyageur II Isle Royale ferry as it departs from Windigo
Rock Harbor water taxi- The Rock Harbor Lodge offers a water taxi service out of Rock Harbor that offers pick up and drop off services at various points near Rock Harbor that would otherwise take a day or so to hike to, and from which various Isle Royale backpacking routes can begin. Common drop off points are Hidden Lake and Daisy Farm. Reservations are required ahead of time for this.
Helpful tips for arranging transportation for your Isle Royale backpacking trip
Plan transportation first. Because of the strict schedules of the public transportation to get to Isle Royale, it is important to plan your Isle Royale backpacking itinerary around your transportation and not the other way around. This is most important if you are taking a ferry to the island. Most ferries don’t run every day of the week. For example, the Ranger III ferry runs only two round trips to Rock Harbor per week. It comes into Rock Harbor on Tuesdays and Fridays, and leaves Rock Harbor on Wednesdays and Saturdays. This means that you either have one night to spend on the island, or you’ll have to wait 4-5 days for the next ferry out. So you’ll have to plan for the number of nights on the trail accordingly. If you take the seaplane, you can be much more flexible because planes come and go from the island several times daily, so you can plan an Isle Royale backpacking trip of any length and be able to leave the island when you’d like (depending on availability of course).
Make a loop. Just getting to and from the island and having to compare and contrast all the different schedules can be a logistical headache, not to mention costly. Trying to tackle a point-to-point Isle Royale backpacking route requires even more logistics and expense. You’ll have to pay for extra transport and be even more careful to juggle several transportation schedules to time your start and end on the trail correctly with these schedules. This is why many people opt for an Isle Royale backpacking itinerary that’s a loop, starting and ending either in Windigo or Rock Harbor. There are several options for doing this, which we’ll go over soon! If you do want to do a point-to-point hike, you’ll have the extra steps of arranging transportation to an alternate trailhead around the island and organizing multiple different modes of transportation to get you to your starting and ending points. A popular example of a point-to-point backpacking route on Isle Royale is the Greenstone Ridge Trail, which travels from Rock Harbor to Windigo. On this hike, you have to arrange transport not only to the island but between trailheads, which can get a little complicated. You can read all about how to do this in our Greenstone Ridge Trail hiking guide to get an idea of how arranging transport for a point-to-point backpacking route on Isle Royale would work!
Where to Camp on Isle Royale
Okay, you’ve made it the island and you’re ready to start your Isle Royale backpacking trip…but where can you camp on Isle Royale?
Great question! Isle Royale has 36 campsites scattered throughout the entire island. They are each connected by a system of trails that allows for endless route options.
One of our campsites as we backpacked across Isle Royale
Each Isle Royale campground has a handful of individual tent sites. Those that are located by Lake Superior also have shelters (basically enclosed lean-tos) that you can use instead of pitching your tent! Each site also has one or two outhouses (that are often not supplied with toilet paper- so bring your own!), and each is located next to some sort of water source that can be filtered or purified for drinking and cooking.
Camping at a shelter at the Washington Creek Campground on Isle Royale! This was a nice treat after spending the last several nights in a tent!
Isle Royale campgrounds
Here is a very handy chart from the National Park service that lists each campground in Isle Royale and their amenities, which is very helpful in planning out an Isle Royale backpacking trip.
This chart is taken from the National Park Service and gives useful information about each of the 36 campgrounds in Isle Royale!
Do I Need a Permit to Backpack on Isle Royale?
You might be wondering, do I need a permit to backpack in Isle Royale National Park, and how much does it cost?
You do need a permit to backpack on Isle Royale, but the good news is that it’s free for groups of 6 or less! (For groups of 7 or more, a permits costs $25.)
What’s even better is that this permit is fairly straightforward to get. There are no complicated lotteries or no advanced reservations for getting an Isle Royale backpacking permit. They are all first come first serve once you arrive on the island.
After you disembark from the ferry or seaplane, you’ll discuss your plans with a ranger at the visitor center. They’ll give you an orientation to the island, explain all the rules and regulations, and give you helpful tips for your Isle Royale backpacking trip. They’ll ask you to fill out a form with your Isle Royale backpacking itinerary, where you detail each night you’ll be on the trail and which campsites you plan to stay at. When we were there, the ranger told us that this itinerary doesn’t have to be set in stone and can be flexible (for example, if you need to cut your day on the trail short and spend the night at a different campground than you expected). They really are just looking to see that you have an idea of your plans, and that you register with the park service for safety reasons. Once you receive your permit, you just have to make sure you carry it with you and keep it visible at all times so that rangers can see it if they cross paths with you.
How busy are the Isle Royale campsites?
Getting ready to make some dinner at Three Mile Campground on Isle Royale!
This is something we were definitely curious about before backpacking in Isle Royale. Afterall, the sites are all first come first serve…was there a chance we weren’t going to get a campsite we planned for?
Also, in the park’s pamphlets, they do warn that Isle Royale campsites can get a bit crowded, and we were worried this would affect our experience on the island.
Peak season on Isle Royale is July and August, and this is when you can definitely expect the most people. When we had our park orientation, the ranger reiterated what was written on park brochures about the procedures for finding a campsite during the busy season. If you get to a campground that is already full, they encourage using the group campsites if any are available, and also doubling up in individual sites and sharing with others, or even pitching your tent outside of a shelter campsite if that option is available.
You should be able to find some sort of place to pitch your tent this way, but as a last resort, the rangers will give you a permit that allows you to cross country camp (i.e. camp outside of designated campgrounds). It would pretty hard to find somewhere to pitch your tent while still following regulations because of Isle Royale’s super dense vegetation, but it likely won’t come to this. The ranger did offer everyone this permit, though, just in case it was needed. Thankfully, it wasn’t!
In fact, when we went backpacking in Isle Royale in early June, we had an amazing experience camping on the island. The campgrounds never filled and we never had an issue finding our own site. The nights were quiet and peaceful. So, coming outside of peak season (such as in June or mid-September), you might have a similar experience. However, we have heard that even in peak season when campgrounds were full, people still have a good experience, and that the trails themselves still seem pretty empty in comparison to the full campgrounds, so don’t worry if this is the only time you can plan your Isle Royale backpacking trip!
How Much Does it Cost to Backpack on Isle Royale?
Taking in the views from one of our Isle Royale campsites
Compared to most other National Parks, backpacking in Isle Royale can be quite expensive. The camping permits are free, but it’s all the other costs associated with coming to Isle Royale that can add up quickly.
Isle Royale National Park entrance fees: Unlike most National Parks, Isle Royale charges a daily per person fee. The entry fee to Isle Royale is $7 per person per day. If you are planning on completing a long backpacking trip on Isle Royale, this might add up. If you will be on the island for a particularly long time, or if you plan on visiting multiple times throughout the year, a $60 Isle Royale season pass might be more cost efficient. Another option is to use the National Parks Annual Pass, which is only $80 and gets you into all National Parks for a year! For Isle Royale, this pass covers up to four people for the duration of their stay on the island!
Transportation to Isle Royale: Transportation to the island is the biggest expense when backpacking in Isle Royale. Round trip costs can run you anywhere from $160 to $390, depending on which option you choose. Add on more expenses if you want to start somewhere besides Rock Harbor or Windigo since you’ll need to add on extra transportation steps.
Parking: There are $5-10 daily parking fees associated with some of the ferry and airplane terminals on the mainland.
How Many Days Do I Need for an Isle Royale Backpacking Trip?
I don’t know about you, but I wouldn’t mind this kind of morning every day!
Really, you can spend as many days as you want to on an Isle Royale backpacking trip. There are so many trails and campgrounds that you can connect, that you can plan a backpacking route on Isle Royale for as little as one night or up to 7 days or more. It really just depends on your preference! We’ll give you examples of different Isle Royale backpacking routes of varying lengths next.
Many people do often ask, how long does it take to backpack across Isle Royale? If you want to do this, the Greenstone Ridge Trail goes from Rock Harbor to Windigo and will take you across the entire length of the island. This is typically done in 4-6 days, but we’ll get more into this in just a bit!
Best Isle Royale Backpacking Routes
Okay, now it’s time to get into the best part of planning an Isle Royale backpacking trip- mapping out your route!
There are so many options for backpacking routes in Isle Royale because of the endless ways you can connect different trails and campgrounds to each other.
In order to start creating your Isle Royale backpacking itinerary, a great first step is to take a look at an Isle Royale trail map and this handy chart given by the National Park Service (see below). This chart lists mileage between each campground on Isle Royale, so it will help you plan out reasonable mileages for each day that you want to backpack in Isle Royale.
Isle Royale trail distances
This chart, taken from the National Park Service, was super helpful for us when we planned out our Isle Royale backpacking route. We were able to see trail distances between each campground on Isle Royale to help us map out our days on the trail.
Isle Royale trail map
Use this map to plan out your Isle Royale backpacking route and itinerary.
This map is taken from the National Park Service and shows the various trails and camps along the island. This is a useful map to help plan out an Isle Royale backpacking itinerary.
By using this distance chart and an Isle Royale trail map, you can start to connect some routes together for a backpacking trip across the island.
Isle Royale backpacking itineraries
Most people start their Isle Royale backpacking trip from either Rock Harbor or Windigo, since this is where most ferries and seaplanes go. This is what we will focus on here (but we’ll offer alternatives later on!).
Here are some ideas for an Isle Royale National Park backpacking itinerary depending on how many days you want to be on the trail.
Two day Isle Royale backpacking itineraries
Even if you just have one night to spare, backpacking on Isle Royale is a great way to spend time on the island. Here are two options for a 2 day Isle Royale backpacking itinerary, one out of Rock Harbor, and one out of Windigo.
Lookout Louise to Mount Ojibway to Rock Harbor
Distance: 17.5 miles
Number of days on the trail: 2
Trail type: Loop
Trailhead: Rock Harbor
Ideal for: Those who are short on time but still want the best views that the east side of Isle Royale has to offer.
If you are looking for a short backpacking itinerary in Isle Royale out of Rock Harbor, then we think this Isle Royale backpacking route is a good option. It will take you across what we think are the best parts of the Greenstone Ridge Trail (the trail that traverses across the entire length of the island) in terms of views, before dropping down off the ridge to walk along the beautiful Lake Superior shoreline back to Rock Harbor.
Taking in the views from Mount Ojibway- one of the best views you can get while backpacking in Isle Royale!
To start this Isle Royale backpacking loop, you’ll have to take the Rock Harbor Lodge water taxi to the Hidden Lake trailhead, which is a short ride into Tobin Harbor. From here, your Isle Royale backpacking trip begins.
You’ll start off by hiking a mile up to Lookout Louise, a beautiful viewpoint over the island and across to Canada’s mainland. From here, you’ll traverse across the Greenstone Ridge Trail until you get to Mount Ojibway. On the way, you’ll also get views from Mount Franklin, which were some of our favorite views along the entire ridge.
The view from the top of Mount Franklin on Isle Royale
From Mount Ojibway, descend the ridge to Daisy Farm Campground and spend the night here after hiking just over 10 miles for the day.
The next morning, follow the Rock Harbor Trail past Three Mile Camgpground and Suzy’s Cave all the way back to Rock Harbor. Enjoy the moody coastal views and rocky coastline as you hike out.
At 17.5 miles, this entire Isle Royale backpacking route can be done in just 2 days, but you can also choose to make it longer by having shorter hiking days and staying at more camps (like Three Mile), or by doing side trips off the route (to Lane Cove or Moskey Basin, for example). The options for designing a backpacking route in Isle Royale really are endless!
Huginnin Cove
Distance: 9.5 miles
Number of days on the trail: 2
Trail type: Loop
Trailhead: Windigo
Ideal for: Those short on time and looking for a peaceful forested walk with a secluded beach cove to spend the night.
The Huginnin Cove loop provides an option for a short and quick Isle Royale backpacking route that begins in Windigo. This Isle Royale trail will take you through forest, swamp, and marshland filled with wildlife spotting opportunities to a secluded black rock beach on the northern side of Isle Royale.
The entire loop is only 9.5 miles, so can be done in just a day if you really wanted to. However, there is a campsite right on the cove, so it is possible to backpack out here and spend the night. You’ll have a quiet night on a secluded beach made of black cobblestones on the shore of Lake Superior. It’s definitely our first pick for an Isle Royale backpacking trip for our next visit to the island!
Three to four day Isle Royale backpacking itineraries
Three to four days on a backpacking trip in Isle Royale is a sweet spot…it allows you to fully immerse yourself in the island wilderness without feeling like you’ve been in the backcountry for too long. Here are some 3 to 4 day Isle Royale backpacking itineraries that you might want to check out!
Rock Harbor to Chickenbone Lake Loop
Distance: 31.5 miles
Number of days on the trail: 4
Trail type: Loop
Trailhead: Rock Harbor
Ideal for: Those who want to experience the best parts of the Greenstone Ridge Trail without the logistics of planning a point-to-point hike.
This Isle Royale backpacking route is a really great option if you are looking for a long hike that’s similar to the Greenstone Ridge Trail that traverses the island, but doesn’t have the logistics of planning for a point- to- point hike. You get most of the views but for less hassle!
We loved spending the night eating dinner and watching the sunset at Chickenbone Lake
Here is what this Isle Royale backpacking itinerary will look like:
Day 1- Hike Rock Harbor to Daisy Farm: 7 miles
Day 2- Daisy Farm to Chickenbone Lake West: 8 miles
Day 3- Chickenbone Lake West to Three Mile: 12.5 miles
Day 4- Three Mile to Rock Harbor: 3 miles
On this Isle Royale backpacking route, you’ll get ridge views, nights spent at quiet inland lakes, walks through forest and marsh, and shoreline views. It’s a little bit of everything!
Hidden Lake to Chickenbone Lake Loop
Distance: 32.3 miles
Number of days on the trail: 3-4
Trail type: Point-to-point
Trailhead: Hidden Lake
Ideal for: Those who want to experience the best of the Greenstone Ridge and Lake Superior shoreline and don’t mind organizing a point-to-point hike. This hike also has double digit days on the trail, so it’s best for people who are comfortable with long mileage backpacking days.
This Isle Royale backpacking itinerary is very similar to the one above with the exception that it begins at Hidden Lake rather than in Rock Harbor.
To start this backpacking itinerary, grab the water taxi (must be reserved in advance) from Rock Harbor to the Hidden Lake trailhead. From here, hike up to Lookout Louise and start your traverse across the Greenstone Ridge Trail, passing amazing views on Mount Franklin and Mount Ojibway, all the way to Chickenbone Lake East.
Hiking across the Greenstone Ridge between Mount Franklin and Mount Ojibway
This Isle Royale backpacking itinerary will look like this:
Day 1- Hidden Lake to Chickenbone East: 14.3 miles
Day 2- Chickenbone East to Daisy Farm: 10.6 miles
Day 3- Daisy Farm to Rock Harbor: 7 miles
If you would like to break up the first day, you can hike down off the ridge half way through to camp at either Three Mile or Lane Cove. Your itinerary will look like this:
Day 1- Hidden Lake to Three Mile or Lane Cove: 7.8 miles or 8.2 miles
Day 2- Three Mile or Lane Cove to Chickenbone East: 10.5-11 miles
Day 3- Chickenbone East to Daisy Farm: 10.6 miles
Day 4- Daisy Farm to Rock Harbor: 7 miles
Feldtmann Ridge Loop
Distance: 28 miles
Number of days on the trail: 3-4 days
Trail type: Loop
Trailhead: Windigo
Ideal for: Those looking for great views and shoreline walks on the Windigo side of the island.
The Feldtmann Ridge Loop is a 3-4 day backpacking route in Isle Royale that starts and ends in Windigo. This is another trip that we really want to do when we return! The Isle Royale hike starts by following the Lake Superior shoreline until you get to Rainbow Cove, which looks like an amazing scenic cove on Lake Superior. You’ll then hike across a view-filled ridge to get to Siskiwit Bay before climbing up to meet the Greenstone Ridge Trail that will take you back to Windigo.
This Isle Royale backpacking itinerary will look something like this:
Day 1- Windigo to Feldtmann Lake: 8.8 miles
Day 2- Feldtmann Lake to Siskiwit Bay: 10.3 miles
Day 3- Siskiwit Bay to Island Mine: 4.4 miles
Day 4- Island Mine to Windigo: 6.6 miles
If you want to shorten this Isle Royale backpacking itinerary, the last two days can be easily combined.
Five to seven day Isle Royale backpacking itineraries
If you really want to get away from it all for a while, there’s no better way than to spend a good chunk of time out in the Isle Royale wilderness. Here are some Isle Royale backpacking itineraries for five or more days.
The Greenstone Ridge Trail
Distance: 40+ miles
Number of days on the trail: 4-7 days
Trail type: Point-to-point
Trailhead: Rock Harbor or Windigo
Ideal for: Those looking to do a point-to-point trip across the island, have long days on the trail, and experience solitude on the interior portions of the island.
The Greenstone Ridge Trail is probably the most well-known backpacking route in Isle Royale. It stretches over 40 miles between Rock Harbor and Windigo, allowing you to hike completely across the island. Along the way, you’ll walk through quiet forests, spot beavers and moose as you hike by ponds and marshes, and catch views over the island and Lake Superior from the top of the ridge that runs across Isle Royale. It really encapsulates everything great about Isle Royale!
The Greenstone Ridge Trail is a popular Isle Royale backpacking route!
This is the Isle Royale backpacking route we did and we loved it! There are multiple different itineraries you can follow to do the Greenstone Ridge Trail, usually taking people 4-7 days. We did this route in four days and it felt a bit much, as we had three consecutive high mileage days on the trail that wore us out.
An ideal itinerary for the Greenstone Ridge Trail would look something like this:
Day 1- Rock Harbor to Three Mile: 3 miles
Day 2- Three Mile to Chickenbone East: 10.5 miles
Day 3- Chickenbone East to Hatchet Lake: 9.3 miles
Day 4- Hatchet Lake to Island Mine: 13 miles
Day 5- Island Mine to Windigo: 6.6 miles
As this is a point-to-point backpacking itinerary on Isle Royale, transportation can also be a little complicated to organize.
Minong Ridge Trail
Distance: 46 miles
Number of days on the trail: 5-7 days
Trail type: Point-to-point
Trailhead: Rock Harbor or Windigo
Ideal for: Those looking to do a point-to-point trip across the island on a lesser traveled but more challenging trail than the Greenstone Ridge.
This Isle Royale backpacking route is an alternative to the Greenstone Ridge Trail if you want to hike across the island. While we have no experience on this trail, it is said to be a bit more rugged, less traveled, and more challenging than the Greenstone Ridge.
The Minong Ridge Trail begins in Windigo, traversing a lower ridge along the length of the island for the first half of the hike before joining back up to the Greenstone Ridge for the last half. Because most of the views found along the Greenstone Ridge are found on the eastern end of the hike, you’ll still get the best of the Greenstone Ridge Trail after doing the Minong Ridge portion.
This Isle Royale backpacking itinerary will look something like this:
Day 1- Windigo to Lake Desor North: 12.9 miles
Day 2- Desor North to Todd Harbor: 11.4 miles
Day 3- Todd Harbor to Chickenbone East: 8.7 miles
Day 4- Chickenbone East to Three Mile: 10.5 miles
Day 5- Three Mile to Rock Harbor: 3 miles
There are more campsites found along this trail that you can add in to your itinerary to make certain days a bit shorter and add more days to your trip.
Rock Harbor McCargoe Cove Loop
Distance: 37 miles
Number of days on the trail: 7 days
Trail type: Loop
Trailhead: Rock Harbor
Ideal for: Those looking for a longer backpacking route with shorter mileage days on the Rock Harbor side of the island.
This Isle Royale backpacking route will have you in the heart of the Isle Royale wilderness for a full week! On this route, you’ll experience the Lake Superior shoreline, sleep at inland lakes, get ridge top views, and hopefully spot some wildlife, all without the hassle of arranging a point-to-point hike.
Can’t go wrong with a sunset over Chickenbone Lake!
This Isle Royale backpacking itinerary will look like this:
Day 1- Rock Harbor to Daisy Farm: 7 miles
Day 2- Daisy Farm to Chickenbone West: 8 miles
Day 3- Chicken Bone West to McCargoe Cove: 2.7 miles
Day 4- McCargoe Cove to Chickenbone East: 2.3 miles
Day 5- Chickenbone East to Daisy Farm: 6.1 miles
Day 6- Daisy Farm to Three Mile via Mount Ojibway and Mount Franklin: 6.5 miles
Day 7- Three Mile to Rock Harbor: 3 miles
Alternative Isle Royale backpacking routes
Like we said above, an Isle Royale backpacking trip doesn’t have to start in Windigo or Rock Harbor. If you take the Voyageur II, you can be dropped off at various other starting points around the island. Many people choose to start at McCargoe Cove or Chippewa Harbor, both of which lie about half- way down the island but on opposite sides. From these starting points, you can access other trails, such as the Greenstone Ridge or Minong Ridge Trails, and hike back to either Windigo or Rock Harbor.
Three Mile Campground was one of our favorite places to spend the night during our Isle Royale backpacking trip! Look at that sunset!
A few possible alternative Isle Royale backpacking itineraries include:
Option 1:
Day 1- McCargoe Cove to Chickenbone Lake West: 2.7 miles
Day 2- Chickenbone Lake West to Moskey Basin: 6 miles
Day 3- Moskey Basin To Daisy Farm: 4 miles
Day 4- Daisy Farm to Three Mile via Mount Ojibway and Mount Franklin: 6.5 miles
Day 5- Three Mile to Rock Harbor: 3 miles
Option 2:
Day 1- Chippewa Harbor to Lake Ritchie: 4.3 miles
Day 2- Lake Ritchie to McCargoe Cove: 6.3 miles
Day 3- McCargoe Cove to Daisy Farm: 8.2 miles
Day 4- Daisy Farm to Three Mile (via Mount Franklin) and Rock Harbor: 9.5 miles
The options we list here are really just a small handful of ideas for Isle Royale backpacking routes. When you look at the map, it’s easy to see how the trails can be connected in really an infinite number of ways depending on how long you’re looking to hike, whether you can do a point- to- point hike or not, and the kind of views you’re after!
What to Pack for Backpacking on Isle Royale
Dinner with a view at our Isle Royale campsite!
Aside from the usual essentials, such as tent, sleeping bag, sleeping pad, and backpack, here’s what we would recommend you have specifically for a backpacking trip in Isle Royale:
A water purification system: Isle Royale National Park only has two sources of potable water…one in Rock Harbor and one in Windigo (and in the early or late season, these may not even be functional). All campsites on Isle Royale are near a water source that can be filtered, though, whether it’s a pond, lake, or stream. The park recommends either boiling it at a rolling boil for at least one minute, or filtering it with a 0.4 micron filter plus using an additional chemical or UV treatment (for tape worms). Also make sure you check in with rangers on the status of algal blooms in the park. They can occur in inland lakes and ponds and if they do, you want to know and not drink from these sources!
Food: There are limited options for food on the island, so you’ll pretty much want to bring all your food with you that you’ll need on your Isle Royale backpacking trip.
Food storage: Bear cannisters are actually not required in Isle Royale (there are no bears here!), but there are still smaller critters who will want to try to steal your food (I’m looking at you, squirrels!). Keep your food in scent-proof containers or double bag it with ziplock bags and never leave it out when not in use!
Toilet paper: All Isle Royale campsites have outhouses, but it’s not guaranteed there will be TP!
Bug spray: The black flies and mosquitoes can be horrendous in Isle Royale National Park, particularly earlier on in the season in June to mid-July. Trust us, we know from experience! We even recommend bringing a bug net for particularly buggy places along the trail or if you’re trying to relax at camp.
Those bugs were insane!
Good hiking boots/shoes: The trails on Isle Royale can be rugged, going across granite slabs and boulders, so you’ll want the right supportive footwear.
First-aid kit: You’re expected to be pretty independent while backpacking in Isle Royale National Park since help can be pretty far away. Make sure you have ways to treat minor and common injuries. Also having some sort of emergency satellite phone is a good idea in case a real emergency does occur and you need to contact someone when there is little to no cell service.
Layers and rain gear: The weather can be pretty fickle on an island in the middle of a giant lake! Pack for cooler weather, especially at night, and make sure to pack rain gear (and a pack cover) in case the weather turns!
Map and navigation: Having an Isle Royale trail map is definitely useful in this park. We found that while trail junctions were well marked, actual trails were not. The entire length of the Greenstone Ridge Trail had no markers or blazes and sometimes the path got confusing, especially up on the exposed granite ridge. Having a map with elevation lines and mileages, and some sort of navigation system will be super helpful to orient you when backpacking in Isle Royale, or even if it’s just to mentally break up your distances on longer trail days!
Headlamp: We actually didn’t ever have to use our headlamps while backpacking in Isle Royale because it stayed light out until practically 11 pm! But it’s always good to have one just in case you have to wake up in the middle of night.
Sun protection: Bring a hat, sunscreen and sunglasses.
Credit card: Isle Royale doesn’t accept cash on the island, so if you need to purchase your park pass, permits, food, or any last minute supplies, make sure to have a credit or debit card.
Binoculars or a good zoom camera: There is lots of wildlife here and we’re sure you’ll see a bunch while you backpack in Isle Royale! But you want to make sure to keep a healthy distance from any animal. Having binoculars or a camera with a good zoom will be super helpful here!
The Best Time to Backpack in Isle Royale
Isle Royale is only open from April 16th to October 31st due to harsh winters, but most ferries and seaplanes operate only between Mid-May to mid- to late September, so this is the window you have to backpack on Isle Royale.
Peak season in Isle Royale is July and August. These months are likely when you will experience full campgrounds, particularly the ones along Lake Superior. If you come to backpack on Isle Royale during these months, expect to have to share some campsites. Despite this, we still heard that you still won’t see that many people on the trails, and the park will still feel quite empty outside of camp, so don’t be too discouraged to come at this time!
In the spring and fall on Isle Royale, the weather can be a bit more variable, and you’ll have to come prepared for anything- cold, wind, rain, snow, etc. But at this time, there will be less people and you likely won’t have to share campsites while you backpack in Isle Royale. We came in early June and had no problem finding empty sites! However, spring also means lots of bugs and quite a bit of trail blowdown that can make the trails more tiring.
Early season means navigating some blowdown along the trail while backpacking in Isle Royale
We think late summer/ early fall would be the best time to backpack in Isle Royale, because it would avoid the bugs, blowdown, and mud that come with hiking in the spring, but you’ll still get the same benefits of low crowds.
More Tips for Backpacking in Isle Royale National Park
We loved these quiet forest walks during our Isle Royale backpacking trip!
Conditions: Check weather forecasts and current conditions before heading out on your Isle Royale backpacking trip to know what to expect and to be able to change course if you need to.
Multiple plans: When creating an Isle Royale backpacking route, make sure to have a few different itineraries in mind in case trail conditions are poor and you have to reroute.
Time your route carefully: Keep in mind that you have to time your backpacking route with the ferry schedule! Certain ferries only operate on specific days of the week, so knowing this schedule can help you determine how many days you actually have for your Isle Royale backpacking itinerary.
Plan for a short first day on the trail: Especially if you’re taking the ferry to start your Isle Royale backpacking trip, you might be getting to the park later in the day. Plan for a shorter first day on the trail just in case there are any hiccups in your travel plans or you get a later than expected start.
Rock Harbor versus Windigo: If you’re deciding whether you want to backpack in Isle Royale out of Rock Harbor or Windigo, here are a few considerations to keep in mind. Rock Harbor is often considered the more “touristy” of the two, because here you can find lodging and restaurants. If you want a night to unwind on a real bed with real food after you spend several days in the backcountry, you’ll want to backpack in Isle Royale out of Rock Harbor, or at least finish a point-to-point hike there. In Windigo, you’ll have to spend your last nights on the island camping and either have more food on hand, or choose from a limited supply of snack and camp food at the Windigo campstore.
Isle Royale Backpacking Frequently Asked Questions
How hard is the hiking on Isle Royale?
At the surface level, hiking on Isle Royale might not seem too difficult. The highest point on the island is less than 1400 feet tall, and there aren’t too many areas involving steep ascents. However, long days on the trail can add up and some days you can end up having over 2,000 feet of elevation gain after adding up all the small ups and downs you do!
Many trails on Isle Royale are through the woods where the biggest obstacles are hidden roots and rocks, and if you’re there in the spring, residual winter blowdown can be exhausting to navigate around with a big pack on. Trails along the Lake Superior shoreline can sometimes be a bit tricky because they can be rocky and you might have to navigate around some boulders which can be tiring with a big pack.
Navigating a trickier section of trail while backpacking in Isle Royale
Overall though, there is nothing technical to the trails in Isle Royale. The biggest thing is how you decide to break up your Isle Royale backpacking itinerary and if you will have long exhausting days on the trail.
Do you need a bear cannister on Isle Royale?
There are no bears on Isle Royale and you don’t officially need a bear can to backpack on Isle Royale. However, the park does recommend storing food in a hard sided container like a bear can because there are still small sneaky critters, like squirrels and foxes, who will try to steal your food!
This sneaky little guy was at one of our Isle Royale campsites and definitely wanted our food!
Is there drinking water on Isle Royale?
The only drinking water on Isle Royale is located in Rock Harbor and Windigo, but even this isn’t available if you come too early or late in the season (check the NPS site for updates on whether potable water is available). While backpacking in Isle Royale, you’ll absolutely need to be prepared to filter and treat water for drinking and cooking. Keep up to date with park alerts regarding algal blooms so that you know it’s safe to filter out of the park’s inland lakes.
Come prepared to filter water when backpacking in Isle Royale!
Are there showers on Isle Royale?
There are showers in both Windigo and Rock Harbor! These operate seasonally and are available for an extra fee.
Is there cell service on Isle Royale?
Don’t expect to have any sort of reliable cell service on Isle Royale. We did manage to find some at certain exposed high points along the Greenstone Ridge, but that was it.
Are there bathrooms on Isle Royale?
You’ll find flush toilets in both Rock Harbor and Windigo (these may not be available too early or late in the season). Every backcountry campsite also has outhouses that you should use while hiking and backpacking in Isle Royale. Make sure to bring toilet paper with you, as it might not be stocked!
Will I see a moose in Isle Royale?
There is definitely a good chance that you might see a moose while backpacking in Isle Royale. They are commonly spotted, especially at Hidden Lake, in inland marshes and lakes, and in Washington Creek. Be sure to keep a healthy distance from any animal you see and don’t do anything that will disturb its natural behavior. If a moose is on the trail, hang back and wait for it to move, or try to go around it by cutting through the woods, still giving a wide berth.
We spotted this moose heading down the trail during our Isle Royale backpacking trip!
Other wildlife in Isle Royale that you might see on the trails and at camp include hares, snakes, eagles, toads, foxes, beavers, otters, and if you are incredibly lucky, you might spot a wolf!
How long does it take to walk across Isle Royale?
There are two main ways to hike across Isle Royale: The Greenstone Ridge Trail or the Minong Trail. Either one will take anywhere between 4-7 days depending on how much mileage you are able to conquer on each day and which campsites you decide to stay at.
More Information For Your Isle Royale National Park Trip
Planning a trip to Isle Royale and looking for more to do besides backpacking? We have a bunch of Isle Royale guides to help you plan!
ISLE ROYALE GUIDES – Check out our complete Isle Royale planning guide to learn everything about how to get to Isle Royale, plus learn about all the awesome things to do in Isle Royale once you’re there!
ISLE ROYALE DAY HIKES – If you are looking for shorter hikes on the island, check out all our favorites in our guide to the best Isle Royale day hikes.
GREENSTONE RIDGE – Interested in tackling the park’s most popular backpacking route. Read all about the Greenstone Ridge Trail to learn how you can walk from Rock Harbor to Windigo.
ISLE ROYALE DAY TRIP – Only have one day to visit Isle Royale? Learn how to plan an Isle Royale day trip, including transportation options and things to do.
Backpacking in Isle Royale has been one of our favorite backcountry experiences to date, filled with solitude and pristine wilderness. Are you planning to backpack in Isle Royale National Park? Let us know if you have any questions…we love to help!