The Best Day Hikes in Isle Royale National Park
Are you looking to hike in Isle Royale National Park? Then stick around, because in this guide, we’ll share some of our favorite day hikes in Isle Royale that you can do without having to backpack. Plus, we’ll give you our best tips for visiting and hiking on the island!
A remote island in the middle of Lake Superior filled with quiet forest, pristine wilderness, moody shoreline, and empty trails…sound too good to be true? It’s not! It’s Isle Royale National Park.
Isle Royale National Park is one of the least visited National Parks in the lower 48, but that’s what makes it such a great hiking destination! Even though it might not have some of the more “epic” scenery that you can find in other National Parks, hiking in Isle Royale gave us some of our favorite moments on the trails. We experienced incredible solitude, going miles and miles before seeing another person. In fact, we saw much more wildlife than people! Our days were filled with the sounds of birds chirping, water lapping up onto the shoreline, and our own two feet along the trail. Plus, we got amazing views over the island and Lake Superior, walked along the moody Lake Superior shoreline, and observed moose and beavers along inland lakes and harbors. Isle Royale National Park is really a true hidden gem, and the perfect hiking destination for people who are looking to really get away from it all and experience true wilderness.
There are over 160 miles of hiking trails crisscrossing this 50 mile- long island, and while a lot of them are used to create longer backpacking trips, there are plenty to choose from if you’re just looking for a day hike in Isle Royale. In this guide, we’ll go over the best day hikes in Isle Royale National Park, plus give you our best tips to plan your Isle Royale hiking trip. So, let’s get to it!
In this Isle Royale hiking guide:
Where are the Best Hikes in Isle Royale National Park?
Hiking the trails in Isle Royale National Park!
Before you pick out which Isle Royale day hikes you want to do, it’s good to know that there are two main areas in Isle Royale where most people arrive to the island and where most of the day hikes in Isle Royale begin.
Rock Harbor is on the eastern end of the island and is most often visited by taking a ferry from Michigan. Rock Harbor has lodging, a campground, a restaurant, a visitor center, and boating services, and you can start several Isle Royale hikes from here.
Windigo is about 50 miles away, on the western tip of the island, and is usually reached via boat or seaplane from Minnesota. Compared to Rock Harbor, Windigo is smaller and quieter. It has just a small campstore, a visitor center, a campground, and a couple of cabins for rent. Many people start backpacking trips out of Windigo, but there are still a few good options for some day hikes in Isle Royale from here.
Given that there are two distinct areas on the island, you might be wondering, which is the best place to hike in Isle Royale National Park…Windigo or Rock Harbor?
And honestly, we would say the answer is both! No matter which side of the island you decide to visit, the Isle Royale trails will deliver. In either place, you can walk along the rocky and picturesque Lake Superior shoreline, or climb up to the interior ridges for viewpoints over the lake and even out to Canada’s mainland.
We will say that we did the majority of our hiking in Isle Royale on the Rock Harbor end of the island and really loved the view points that we got from the ridge on this side (we did the entire Greenstone Ridge backpacking route and once we got to the western end of the island towards Windigo, the ridge was pretty much forested without the views we got from the eastern end). However, there are still a handful of other Isle Royale trails you can hike on the Windigo side that will get you to viewpoints and overlooks. Plus, I think another benefit of hiking in Isle Royale on the Windigo side is that there might be slightly less people on the trails since there isn’t as many accommodation options in Windigo as there are in Rock Harbor. But really, no matter which end of the island you’re on, we promise you that you won’t run into too many people on the Isle Royale trails!
Now that we know the two main regions of the island, let’s get into the best Isle Royale hikes in both Rock Harbor and Windigo!
Best Day Hikes in Isle Royale National Park: Rock Harbor
The hikes in Isle Royale that can be found in Rock Harbor have the best of everything…some traverse the moody and rocky shoreline along Lake Superior, some lead to amazing viewpoints over the island and out to the Canadian mainland, and some go through swamp and marshland and give good opportunities for wildlife spotting. Some do all three! Here, we’ll go over some of our favorite Isle Royale hikes out of Rock Harbor.
Isle Royale National Park trail map for Rock Harbor
Use this Rock Harbor map as a reference point for all the best day hikes on Isle Royale.
This map is taken from the National Park Service brochure and has all of the best day hikes in Isle Royale on the Rock Harbor side
Stoll Memorial Trail
Distance: 1.8 mile loop
Trailhead: Because it’s a loop, you can start this Isle Royale hike in one of two places. From the ferry dock, walk along the harbor towards the Rock Harbor Lodge. Once past the path to the amphitheater, take a left. You can either follow this path all the way until it ends at the Stoll Memorial Trailhead to hike counterclockwise along the loop, or you can follow signs for the Smithwick Mine behind the auditorium to go clockwise around the loop. It will be about a quarter mile walk from the ferry docks to get to either of the trailheads.
Views from the Stoll Memorial Trail in Isle Royale National Park
The Stoll Memorial Trail is a relatively flat and easy hike in Isle Royale National Park. This trail forms a loop, with one half running along Lake Superior, and the other running along Tobin Harbor.
We hiked this Isle Royale trail counterclockwise, so we started on the Lake Superior side of the loop. Along this section, the trail mostly runs through the woods, but you’ll get views here and there out to Lake Superior before turning inland and coming back through the forest alongside Tobin Harbor. Towards the end, you’ll also walk by the remnants of the Smithwick Mine, an old copper mine, plus the trail has interpretive signs with information about the park and the area.
Walking through the trees on the Stoll Memorial Trail
Views over Lake Superior from the Stoll Memorial Trail in Isle Royale
A water-filled Smithwick Mine along the Stoll Memorial Trail
This hike in Isle Royale National Park is good if you’re looking for something really easy to experience Isle Royale’s wilderness or if you just don’t have a lot of time to devote to a hike. There is also some wildlife spotting opportunity as well! We didn’t see any moose here, but we did see a lot of their droppings and footprints…so you may get lucky. And we saw a few snakes along the trail.
This Isle Royale trail doesn’t have too many views since it mostly goes through the forest along the shoreline, so if you’re looking for views and have a bit more time, we highly recommend the next Isle Royale hike on this list…
Scoville Point
Distance: 4.0 mile loop
Trailhead: Same as the Stoll Memorial Trail (see above)
Hiking in Isle Royale to Scoville Point
The Scoville Point trail is definitely one of the best hikes in Isle Royale National Park, and we would recommend it to anyone visiting Rock Harbor. We did this trail before we set off on our backpacking trip across the Greenstone Ridge Trail in order to get a taste of the island’s picturesque Lake Superior shoreline. Plus, the Scoville Point Trail has been considered by National Geographic as one of the best 100 miles of trail in the entire National Park system! So, we felt like we couldn’t pass it up. And we’re sure glad we didn’t. Even though we hiked over 40 miles across the entire island, these short four miles of Isle Royale trail were some of our favorite.
The Scoville Point Trail is really just an extended version of the Stoll Memorial Trail. The trail shares the first 0.8 miles with the Stoll Memorial Trail along Lake Superior, but instead of taking the cutoff trail to the Tobin Harbor side and finishing the loop early, you’ll continue straight to continue walking alongside the Lake Superior shoreline. Once past the Stoll Memorial portion of the hike, the views really open up. The trail becomes rockier as you traverse the coastline and get the iconic and picturesque evergreens-meet-the-sea views that Isle Royale is known for.
Loving the contrast of forest and lake on this Isle Royale hike!
On a sunny day, the water becomes a beautiful bright blue. On a cloudy day, the waves washing against the black rock coastline where the evergreens meet the lake sets a moody tone. So either way, you won’t be disappointed!
The trail ends at Scoville Point, a giant rocky outcrop at the edge of Isle Royale where you can take in the views of Lake Superior and the island’s edges.
Scoville Point in Isle Royale National Park
On the way back, you can take the other side of the loop trail that runs along Tobin Harbor and connects back up to the Stoll Memorial Trail before arriving back in Rock Harbor. This side of the trail is mostly through the woods, with just a couple of viewpoints out into the peaceful harbor.
A view of Tobin Harbor along the Scoville Point hike in Isle Royale
Overall, we loved this Isle Royale hike…you get the best of both worlds on the island- the exposed rocky Lake Superior coastline, and the inland forest walk along the harbor. Plus, there’s a good chance that you might see some wildlife! While we only saw squirrels and a snake along the trail, we did see a ton of moose droppings and lots of prints! So if you’re lucky, you might find one along the Scoville Point hike.
Best of all, like all Isle Royale National Park hikes, this trail was really quiet. We saw only a handful of hikers on the trail. It was our first glimpse into Isle Royale’s solitude and peacefulness, and we were already falling in love!
Mount Franklin
Distance: 10 miles roundtrip
Trailhead: Behind the Rock Harbor visitor center
The amazing views from the Mount Franklin hike in Isle Royale National Park
If you’re looking for a longer hike in Isle Royale with some birds-eye views over the island, then put the hike to Mount Franklin on your list!
Mount Franklin is one of the highest points along the Greenstone Ridge Trail which runs the entire length of Isle Royale. We did the entire Greenstone Ridge Trail from Rock Harbor to Windigo, and we can tell you that the view from Mount Franklin was one of our favorites of the entire hike! The views from here reach out over Lake Superior to Canada’s mainland and are the type of views we imagined when thinking of Isle Royale before we came.
Luckily, you can get to Mount Franklin on a day hike in Isle Royale without having to backpacking the entire ridge. To get here, you can hike either the Rock Harbor Trail or the more inland Tobin Harbor Trail. Both are relatively flat walks near the shore of Lake Superior that meet up at the Three Mile campsite. Just after this campsite, you’ll take a right and head up to the ridge. On this Isle Royale hike, you’ll walk through marsh and swamp and up rock faces, but the trail doesn’t really ever get steep until the last half mile of the climb. Once you hit the top of the ridge, you’re minutes away from the Mount Franklin viewpoint, which we think is one of the top sights on Isle Royale.
The climb up to Mount Franklin in Isle Royale National Park
Some of the best views on Isle Royale!
Again, this Isle Royale trail was blissfully uncrowded, and we enjoyed the views from the top in solitude.
To return, you’ll go back the same way you came back to Rock Harbor.
Suzy's Cave
Distance: 3.8 miles (loop or out and back)
Trailhead: Behind the Rock Harbor visitor center
Suzy’s Cave
About 1.8 miles from Rock Harbor down either the Rock Harbor Trail or the Tobin Harbor Trail is a connector trail that goes by Suzy’s Cave. Suzy’s Cave is an inland sea arch that was formed by waves when Lake Superior’s levels were much higher. It’s a cool little side trip to take if you are already hiking out this way (to head to Mount Franklin, or beyond for backcountry camping), however we wouldn’t necessarily say it’s a must-see sight on Isle Royale on its own. If you only had time for one short hike in Isle Royale, we would recommend the Scoville Point hike over this one.
If you do decide to hike to Suzy’s Cave on its own, you’ll still get to hike along the Lake Superior shoreline and get great views of the coast. Plus, if you have time, you can extend the hike to Three Mile campground, making the total roundtrip hike from Rock Harbor 6 miles. Even if you’re not camping, The Three Mile campground area is a great place to hang out and relax on the dock, eat some lunch, maybe hear some loons calling out over Lake Superior, and enjoy the views of the lake and its islands in a quiet wilderness setting before heading back to Rock Harbor.
Enjoying the views from Three Mile Campground
You can do this Isle Royale hike to both Suzy Cave and Three Mile campground as an out and back on the Rock Harbor trail, or make a loop with the Rock Harbor and Tobin Harbor trails.
Hikes in Isle Royale with the Rock Harbor water taxi
There are some Isle Royale hikes on the Rock Harbor side of the island that are too far away to reach without backpacking. But, that’s where the Rock Harbor water taxi comes in! Offered by the Rock Harbor Lodge, you can reserve a spot on the water taxi to access a few more day hikes in Isle Royale that don’t begin directly out of Rock Harbor itself.
Two popular Isle Royale day hikes near Rock Harbor using the water taxi option are the Lookout Louise hike and the Mount Ojibway Fire Tower hike.
Lookout Louise
Distance: 2 miles roundtrip or a 10.4 mile loop
Trailhead: Hidden Lake Dock
Lookout Louise is a popular viewpoint at the start of the Greenstone Ridge Trail and a great day hike in Isle Royale National Park. It offers amazing views over the island, Lake Superior, and out to Canada. The quickest and most direct way to Lookout Louise starts from Hidden Lake, which is accessible by a quick water taxi ride from Rock Harbor.
The cost for a one- way 20 minute ride to Hidden Lake starts at $38 for one person (the more people you have (up to 6), the cheaper per person the ride becomes).
From Hidden Lake, it’s a one mile climb up to the Lookout. Along the trail, though, you’ll have opportunities to see moose, which frequent Hidden Lake, and you’ll pass Monument Rock, an inland sea stack formed when Lake Superior had much higher levels.
Once you’re done, head back down and catch the water taxi back to Rock Harbor.
Or, if you want a longer hike in Isle Royale and are looking for a cheaper alternative to getting to Hidden Lake from Rock Harbor, you can hop on an already scheduled guided tour to Hidden Lake offered by the Rock Harbor Lodge. You can join the tour boat just for the ride to Hidden Lake and then hop off there and do your own thing. It’s only $16 per person, but availability for this is stand-by only, and dependent on there being enough space. Check the schedule for Hidden Lake tours here to know when to be there for stand-by. Currently they are offered on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 9 am, but this could change, so be sure to double check!
The catch with this option is that you cannot take this boat back, so you’ll have to hike back to Rock Harbor by taking the Greenstone Ridge all the way to Mount Franklin and dropping down to the Rock Harbor Trail. This hike would be 10.4 miles in total from Hidden Lake back to Rock Harbor, but would be an awesome day hike in Isle Royale to multiple viewpoints along the ridge that ends in a nice walk along Lake Superior’s shore!
Mount Ojibway Fire Tower
Distance: 3.4 miles roundtrip
Trailhead: Daisy Farm
The Ojibway Fire Tower in Isle Royale National Park
This fire tower is a great day hike in Isle Royale, as it goes up to the highest point on the eastern side of the island! While you can’t climb all the way up to the top of the tower, you still get amazing views from this open exposed viewpoint out over the island and to Lake Superior.
View from the Ojibway Fire Tower
To hike to Ojibway Tower from Rock Harbor would be about an 18 mile roundtrip, which is pretty long! So to be able to make it more manageable for a day hike, you can utilize the Rock Harbor water taxi to start from a closer trailhead.
Possible starting points for Ojibway Tower include:
Three Mile campground dock: This would be about a 12 mile round trip hike and the water taxi would cost $28 for one person one way (with more people, the rate becomes cheaper per person).
Daisy Farm Dock: Starting here would cut the hike down to just 3.5 miles round trip, but the cost of the water taxi one way to Daisy Farm would be $114 per person (this price goes down significantly with more people in the taxi).
Like for Hidden Lake, there is also the option to go stand-by for a guided tour boat to Daisy Farm for $18, and then hike back to Rock Harbor. To go from Daisy Farm to the tower and back to Rock Harbor would be about 11 miles, which would make for a great day hike in Isle Royale for viewpoints and coastal walking.
Hikes in Isle Royale: Windigo
Compared to Rock Harbor, Windigo is a smaller, quieter community that really gives the “on an island in the middle of nowhere” vibe. There is no big lodging facility, just some small cabins, a visitor center, and a camp store on a quiet, calm harbor, so a visit to Windigo is a great thing to do in Isle Royale to really get away from it all. And to help you do that, there are some great Isle Royale day hikes that start right in Windigo.
Isle Royale National Park trail map for Windigo
Use this map of Windigo as reference as we talk about some of the best day hikes in Isle Royale National Park.
This map is taken from the National Park Service and shows all the best Isle Royale hikes in the Windigo area
Windigo Nature Trail
Distance: 1.2 mile loop
Trailhead: Behind the Windigo Visitor Center
The entrance to the Moose Exclosure on the Windigo Nature Trail
This Isle Royale hike is an easy trail through the forest environment adjacent to Lake Superior and Washington Harbor, sort of akin to the Stoll Memorial Trail in Rock Harbor. There is an accompanying trail guide you can find online or at the visitor center that gives you more information about various points along the trail.
To start the hike, walk past the Windigo Visitor Center and camp store. The start to the loop will eventually split off to the right. At the end of the interpretive part of the hike, the trail splits. You can either go straight to walk along Lake Superior’s shoreline back to Windigo, but we’d recommend taking a right and walking back towards the Windigo Visitor Center and store so that you’ll walk by the Moose Exclosure.
The Moose Exclosure is a really unique feature in Isle Royale. Built in 1979, it’s a small fenced in area designed to keep the large Isle Royale moose population out. As you walk through it, the obviously denser and thicker vegetation demonstrates just how much of an effect the moose population has had on the Isle Royale environment. It’s a small area, but we thought it was pretty cool and different!
This Isle Royale trail will end at a service road. Take a left on this road and follow it until you’re back at the Windigo docks.
Grace Creek Overlook
Distance: 3.6 miles roundtrip
Trailhead: Just past the docks in Windigo- this trail starts on the Feldtmann Ridge Trail
Views from the Grace Creek Overlook in Isle Royale National Park
If you’re looking for a quick day hike in Isle Royale that checks off a lot of boxes…Lake Superior shoreline, forest, and viewpoints…then the Grace Creek Overlook trail is a good option!
This Isle Royale trail starts right past the Windigo docks. For about 1 mile, it’s a flat trail that walks right alongside the Lake Superior shoreline, with great views of the coast and the neighboring islands in the harbor.
The path along Lake Superior on the way to Grace Creek Overlook
After a mile, look for the trail junction and take a left. For about 0.8 miles, this trail climbs steadily up through the forest to the ridge. Right at the top, look for the junction pointing you to a small rocky outcrop overlooking the island and Lake Superior.
What we especially loved about this Isle Royale hike is how quiet and peaceful it was. We spent an hour and half at the overlook and had it all to ourselves, just enjoying the views. And we loved the quiet walk along Lake Superior, just listening to the lapping water against the shoreline and finding little nooks along the coast to enjoy the solitude and quiet.
Huginnin Cove Loop
Distance: 9.4 mile loop
Trailhead: Past the Washington Creek campground
We never got to do this Isle Royale National Park hike, but it is the first one on our list for when we inevitably come back!
This hike begins in Windigo by heading past the Washington Creek campground and continuing past the junction with the Greenstone Ridge Trail until you hit the next junction where the Huginnin Cove Loop splits into its two arms. Regardless of which way you go around the loop, you’ll walk through forest, swamp, and wetlands with high chances of wildlife spotting until you reach the Huginnin Cove shoreline.
This moody coast has rocky cliffsides and secluded and picturesque black stone beaches, and when we spoke to someone who hiked out here while on the island, she said it was blissfully quiet and empty. There is even a campsite out here right along the coast that doesn’t see too much traffic, and we are definitely looking forward to spending some time out here on our next visit!
Minong Ridge Overlook
Distance: 6 miles roundtrip
Trailhead: Heading counterclockwise on the Huginnin Cove Trail, the Minong Ridge trail branches off after 0.6 miles.
The Minong Ridge Trail is an alternative backpacking trail to the more popular Greenstone Ridge Trail if you’re looking to hike across Isle Royale National Park. However, if you’re just looking for an Isle Royale day hike, you can hike out and back to the Minong Ridge Overlook found three miles down the trail.
The Minong Ridge trail is a bit more rugged and rocky than most Isle Royale hikes, with lots of ups and downs along the ridge, but the overlook gives amazing views over the island’s ridge, over Lake Superior, and out to Canada. It’s probably the best viewpoint over the island you’ll get on the Windigo side from a day hike.
How Much Time Do You Need for Hiking in Isle Royale National Park?
There are lots of ways to arrange an Isle Royale hiking itinerary!
With all of these great hikes in Isle Royale to choose from, how much time do you need? Well, if you are only planning on doing day hikes in Isle Royale, we’d say that 2-3 days is enough time. This would allow you to get a few hikes in, and have some down time to just relax and enjoy the island. You’ll likely be spending your time either at Rock Harbor or Windigo, and not both, so having just a few days will be plenty of time to fully explore the day hikes offered in whichever area you choose.
The amount of time you spend on Isle Royale, though, will really depend on the mode of transportation you use to get there (either ferry or seaplane). Using a seaplane, you can be a bit more flexible with your time and when you come and go from the island. The ferries have more rigid schedules and only run on certain days. So, which ferry you take and its schedule will dictate the number of days you have to spend on Isle Royale.
Here are some ways we would organize our time on a trip to Isle Royale, and which Isle Royale hikes we would do with one to three days on the island.
One day Isle Royale National Park hiking itinerary
Depending on how you choose to get to Isle Royale for the day, your time can be quite limited. A seaplane offers more flexibility, and you’ll have most of the day on the island to hike and explore. With a ferry, your time will be limited to about 3-4 hours, but you will still be able to squeeze in one or two short Isle Royale hikes.
If you are visiting Rock Harbor, we recommend spending your time hiking out to Scoville Point.
If you have more of a full day there because you took the seaplane, we would recommend grabbing a ride on the water taxi to Hidden Lake, hiking up to Lookout Louise, and then hiking back to Rock Harbor via the Greenstone Ridge Trail and Mount Franklin. Or, for a more relaxed time on the island, hike to Scoville Point, and then spend the remainder of your time relaxing by the Lake Superior shore and grabbing a bite to eat at the Rock Harbor Lodge. You can even take a peek in the visitor center to see if there are any ranger-guided programs available that day.
With one day in Windigo, we would recommend hiking to Grace Creek Overlook with a limited time, and on the way back, take a detour through the Moose Exclosure. With more of a full day (if you took the seaplane), we would recommend hiking the Huginnin Cove Loop.
Two day Isle Royale National Park hiking itinerary
If you have two days on the island, here are the day hikes in Isle Royale we would prioritize in each area. For Rock Harbor, we give itineraries based on which mode of transportation you used (seaplane, Queen IV ferry or Ranger III ferry), since the Ranger III often greatly limits your time on the island by arriving much later on arrival day and/or leaving much earlier on departure day.
Two Days in Rock Harbor (seaplane or Queen IV ferry schedule)
Day 1: Arrive on the first flight or on the Queen IV ferry to Rock Harbor. Hike from Hidden Lake to Mount Franklin to Rock Harbor.
Day 2: Hike to Scoville Point in the morning. Use the afternoon to relax in Rock Harbor, or if you want to hike more, head out to Suzy’s Cave, before leaving the island mid-afternoon or later.
Two days in Rock Harbor (Ranger III ferry schedule)
Day 1: Arrive in Rock Harbor mid-afternoon. We recommend hiking to Scoville Point in the afternoon before grabbing a bite to eat at the Rock Harbor Lodge and relaxing along Lake Superior for a quiet peaceful evening.
Day 2: Catch the early morning ferry out.
Two days in Windigo (seaplane or ferry schedule)
Day 1: Arrive on the first seaplane or the early ferry to Windigo. Hike the Huginnin Cove Loop.
Day 2: Hike to the Grace Creek Overlook and the Moose Exclosure. Head out on the seaplane or ferry early to mid-afternoon.
Three day Isle Royale National Park hiking itinerary
With three days, you can cover most of the best hikes in Isle Royale National Park! Here’s how we would do it.
Three days in Rock Harbor (seaplane or Queen IV ferry schedule):
Day 1: Get the earliest seaplane or the Queen IV ferry to Rock Harbor. Hike from Hidden Lake to Mount Franklin to Rock Harbor.
Day 2: Take the water taxi to Daisy Farm, hike up to Ojibway Tower, and hike back to Rock Harbor
Day 3: Hike to Scoville Point in the morning. Use the afternoon to relax in Rock Harbor, or if you want to hike more, head out to Suzy’s Cave before catching your afternoon seaplane or ferry out.
Three days in Rock Harbor (Ranger III schedule):
Day 1: Get to Rock Harbor mid-afternoon. Hike to Scoville Point.
Day 2: Choose either hike: Hidden Lake to Lookout Louise to Mount Franklin to Rock Harbor. Or Daisy Farm to Mount Ojibway to Mount Franklin to Rock Harbor.
Day 3: Catch the morning ferry out.
THREE days in Windigo (seaplane or ferry schedule):
Day 1: Minong Ridge Overlook. If you have time in the afternoon/evening, relax or paddle on Washington Creek to spot wildlife.
Day 2: Huginnin Cove Loop (save this for your middle day since it is the longest hike you’ll do but you won’t have to worry about transportation schedules on this day).
Day 3: Grace Creek Overlook and the Moose Exclosure in the morning before catching your mid-afternoon transport off the island.
How Hard Are the Hikes on Isle Royale?
We would say most of the day hikes on Isle Royale are on the easier side. You’ll never really encounter too much elevation gain at any one time, though certain trails will have you climbing a bit. The more challenging parts of trail are often found along the Lake Superior shoreline. This is where the trails tend to get rocky, and sometimes even bouldery, so make sure you have the proper footwear for hiking here.
A rocky section along the Isle Royale hike to Three Mile campground
If you plan to hike in Isle Royale up along the more exposed granite ridges, make sure to have good navigation skills up here, as the trail is not blazed and following the lightly worn path on the granite can sometimes be tough.
In the spring, Isle Royale trails might be a bit more challenging to navigate, as trail crews may not yet have cleared off any winter blowdown. We experienced this in early June, and had to navigate around fallen trees and branches occasionally.
Some late season blowdown along a hike in Isle Royale
When is the Best Time to Hike in Isle Royale National Park?
Before you start planning out all your hikes in Isle Royale, there’s some important information to know when deciding the best time to visit Isle Royale National Park!
First, the park is only open from April 16th to October 31st each year. Secondly, most public transportation to Isle Royale National Park (ferries and seaplanes) usually operate between June and mid-September, so this gives a pretty narrow window for when you can visit and hike in Isle Royale.
July and August are peak season in Isle Royale National Park, which isn’t surprising…with school break and summer weather in full swing, this is when most people visit the island. While the park doesn’t necessarily get crowded (it is still the least visited National Park in the lower 48!), there will probably be noticeably more people there, and if you camp, you may be sharing your site with others.
June and early to mid-September are great times to hike in Isle Royale because there will be less people on the trails, but public transportation to the island is still running. June is late enough in the season and early September is still early enough where visitor centers and services are open, and potable water and restrooms will probably be available (too early or late in the season means more facilities are closed, only outhouses are available, and you’ll have to bring your own water and food to the island).
However, there are a few things to know if you visit and hike in Isle Royale in June or September. In the spring and fall, you’ll have to come prepared for all kinds of weather- rain, cold, wind, even snow, as weather out on an island in Lake Superior can be pretty variable and unpredictable. In the spring, particularly in June, and sometimes even into July, the bugs in Isle Royale can be pretty terrible. Black flies and mosquitos can get really bad on the trails and at campsite...we know from experience! Also in the early spring, you can expect a considerable amount of blowdown along the trails, as the park service may not have had much time yet to do any sort of trail clearing from the previous winter.
Make sure to bring good bug protection when hiking in Isle Royale!
We hiked in Isle Royale in early June and we really loved it. The trails and campgrounds were pretty empty, and we felt like we really got to experience solitude. There were times when bugs were a really big nuisance and we had to break out the bug nets just to sit at camp, and there was definitely a good amount of blowdown on some parts of the trail (mostly on trails deep into the interior of the island). But the solitude and peacefulness we experienced was more than worth any of those other minor inconveniences!
What to Bring for a Hike in Isle Royale
The ability to filter water while hiking in Isle Royale is key!
Aside from the usual hiking essentials, here are some things we would specifically recommend bringing when planning to hike in Isle Royale National Park.
Hiking boots/shoes – We would recommend bringing shoes specifically for hiking as the terrain can get pretty rocky, particularly along the shoreline, and up on the ridge in the island’s interior.
A water bottle and filter/purifier – The only places with potable water in Isle Royale are right in Rock Harbor and Windigo, and if you come too early or late in the season, this won’t be available. You’ll have to rely on being able to purify water on the island. Make sure to bring water with you, but you’ll likely need to refill, especially if you plan on going on a long day hike.
Food/snacks – The Rock Harbor Lodge has a restaurant, and Windigo has a camp store with some snacks and food, so if you’re going on day hikes from either of these locations, you can stock up before hiking, but usually people bring their own food and snacks with them when planning to hike in Isle Royale.
Bug spray and bug net- Like we said above, the black flies and mosquitoes can be pretty bad in spring and early summer, so come prepared!
Layers and rain gear- The weather can be variable and unpredictable on the island, so come prepared for anything!
First aid kit – One thing the park really wants you to know is that help can take a long time to get to you out on the Isle Royale trails. You’ll have to be self- sufficient and prepared to deal with any minor injuries.
Map – Make sure to carry a map or some sort of navigation with you on the trails. There are a lot of interconnecting trails in Isle Royale so you’ll want to make sure you have something to keep you on the right path.
Binoculars/camera with a good zoom – If you see wildlife on a hike in Isle Royale, you’ll want to keep your distance, so having binoculars or a good zoom camera will help! We saw lots of eagles flying overhead and resting in trees in the distance this way, and could zoom in on beavers and otters in lakes and ponds, too!
Will I See Moose on Isle Royale?
Spotting a moose is one of the best parts of hiking in Isle Royale!
Moose are one of the most well-known wildlife on Isle Royale…so will you see one? Maybe! If you’re on a hike in Isle Royale, you definitely have a good chance of spotting one.
They are particularly commonly spotted at Hidden Lake on the Rock Harbor side, along Washington Creek on the Windigo side, and at inland ponds and lakes throughout the island. On most of the Isle Royale trails we hiked, we frequently saw prints and droppings, and we were lucky enough to see one right on the Greenstone Ridge Trail and then a few in Windigo along the Creek (right from our campsite!).
Remember, if you do see a moose in Isle Royale, keep your distance. Have binoculars or a good zoom camera if you really want to get a good close- up look. Make sure you aren’t doing anything to change their behavior and really even notice you. If they are on the trail, try to navigate around it through the trees, or just wait until it moves along. In the fall especially, male moose can be aggressive as it’s mating season, and in the spring, females are rearing young and can be extra protective.
Moose aren’t the only wildlife you can see on the hikes in Isle Royale, though! We saw plenty of snakes, hares, beavers, otters, birds, loons, and eagles! More elusive are wolves, so if you do see one, consider yourself lucky!
More Information for Your Isle Royale National Park Trip
Planning on hiking in Isle Royale? Then be sure to check out all of our other guides to help you plan your trip! Find out how to get there (hint: it’s a bit complicated!), what there is to do, how to plan a backpacking trip, how to visit in just a day, and more!
GUIDE TO ISLE ROYALE NATIONAL PARK – Read our complete Isle Royale Guide to learn all about how to get there, tops sights, and more, plus check out the top things to do in Isle Royale National Park and how to plan your time.
ISLE ROYALE DAY TRIP- Only have one day to visit Isle Royale National Park? Learn how to get there and how to plan your day in our Isle Royale Day Trip Guide.
ISLE ROYALE BACKPACKING- Our Isle Royale backpacking guide has everything you need to know to map out your very own Isle Royale backpacking itinerary. Plus, check out our guide to the Greenstone Ridge Trail, which includes information about the park’s most famous backpacking route.
SCOVILLE POINT LOOP- Learn all about one of Isle Royale’s best day hikes in our Scoville Loop Hiking Guide.
Are you planning a trip to Isle Royale soon? Which of these day hikes in Isle Royale National Park are you adding to your list? Let us know if you have any questions about hiking in Isle Royale…we love to help!