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Backpacking Isle Royale
Isle Royale National Park, MN
September 7 - 15, 2008 (Sunday - Monday)
Isle Royale National Park is one of our 10 least used national parks. And no wonder: located in the middle of Lake Superior, accessible only by ferry, it remains a favorite destination for backpackers and research scientists, but few if any casual tourists. The park is covered with giant yellow birch, aspen, hemlock, and yew trees, roamed by majestic moose and wolves, and surrounded by a rocky shoreline. From the forests to the unique ecological interaction of the animals, Isle Royale provides wilderness travelers with a variety of natural treasures to learn about and explore. .
This trip is for: women who are in very good condition and have backpacking experience. Our trek involves early mornings, strenuous hiking, and some elevation gain and loss. If you have never backpacked or if it has been a long time since you did, please consider Intro to Backpacking.
Accommodations:
- one night each in a motel in Grand Portage, MN at the beginning and Grand Marias, MN at the end
- six nights of camping; some of our campsites will be at shelters with fire grates and pit toilets; others will be completely primitive
Maximum group size: 8
Trip price: $1125 (deduct $50 for registration by 5/7/08). $300 deposit.
Trip price includes:
- experienced guides
- two nights lodging and six nights camping
- all meals from dinner Sunday to dinner the following Sunday
- group camping, cooking, and safety equipment
- roundtrip ferry to the island
- permits
- We will provide roundtrip transportation from the Duluth, MN (DLH) airport if you're flying in for an additional $50
Trip starts: at 5 p.m. at our motel in Grand Portage, MN on September 7. If you are flying in, we'll pick you up at the Duluth airport (DLH) about 12:00 pm
Trip ends: anytime after breakfast in Grand Marias, MN on September 15. If you are flying, we will have you back to the airport by 12 pm.
More information: a summary of all this information, daily itinerary, packing list, notes on packing list, and general information (must have Adobe Acrobat Reader)
For more information about Isle Royale, read the excellent Wikipedia article or the Isle Royale National Park web site
For pictures from the area trips, click here.
Register for this trip or Contact us for more information
Itinerary
Sunday: Meet at 5 p.m. at our motel in Grand Portage, MN. If you are flying in, the closest airport is Duluth (DLH) and we can pick you up there at 12 pm. We'll start with a discussion of what to leave behind and then share dinner and introductions. We'll spend the rest of our evening getting ready for our adventure.
Monday: This will be an early morning as we pack up and head to the ferry that will take us to Isle Royale. We board the Voyageur II at 8 am and take it to Rock Harbor, about a 6.5 hour ferry ride. Once at Rock Harbor, we will walk to the campsite, set up camp, and if time permits, go for a hike. Mileage 1-3 miles
Tuesday: After a hearty breakfast we will pack up and head out on our first day of backpacking. Today we will follow the Rock Harbor Trail that parallels Lake Superior. The first three miles of our hike is one of the prettiest sections of trail on the island and is mostly within view of Lake Superior. At about mile 6 we'll pass remains of the Siskowit Mine, which was in operation from 1847 to 1855. The last couple of miles before reaching our shoreline campsite are fairly level.
Hike from Rock Harbor to Daisy Farm -7.3 miles
Wednesday: Our trail today takes us from the Rock Harbor Trail to the Greenstone Trail in the center of the island. We will hike past some lovely interior lakes. Once we reach the Greenstone Ridge Trail, we'll pass through thick forest and bog as well as open ridges that provide good views of Canada to the north. At the East Chickenbone Trail junction we'll turn and head to the beautiful campground at McCargoe Cove. 8.7 miles
Thursday: Today we will hike the North side of Isle Royale, traversing along the scenic Minong Ridge. In the afternoon we will turn inland again and back to the Greenstone Trail via the Hatchet Lake Trail. We will camp at Hatchet Lake. 10.5 miles
Friday: We now follow the Greenstone Trail - the one trail that traverses the entire length of the Island. The inland trail is quite different from the shore trails.There will still be plenty of ups and downs, but we will hike through deciduous forests that at this time of year should be turning exquisite colors. Our destination is South Lake Desor campsite - 8 miles
Saturday: We will need to get an early start today as this is our longest day. Today we will hike from Desor Lake to Windigo. The trail winds through beautiful maple and birch forest, where we may possibly see moose. We will spend the night at the Washington Creek campground. Distance - 11miles
Sunday: We have the morning free to pack up camp, take a short hike, and relax. We will take the ferry at 12:30 today from Windigo Harbor back to Grand Portage. We should arrive by 4pm. We will then drive to Grand Marais (about 40 minutes) where we will check into our hotel, have hot showers and then share a final dinner together at a local restaurant. Grand Marais is a charming town on the shores of Lake Superior, known for its artistic community and art galleries.
Monday: You are free to leave anytime this morning. If you flew into Duluth,you can plan to fly out after 1 pm.
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