Photo: Todd VerBeek, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Isle Royale is a wilderness island in the middle of Lake Superior, with no roads, no cars, and more moose than people most days. You arrive by ferry or seaplane, then walk, paddle or catch a water taxi. Rock Harbor on the east end has the lodge, the busiest trails and the best day hikes; Windigo on the west end is quieter and moose country. Plan at least two nights, because the boat ride alone eats most of a day, and come ready for cool, changeable lake weather even in August.
TRAILS
1 OF 7
Scoville Point
Difficulty
Moderate
Length
4.2 mi loop
Elevation gain
About 300 ft
Rock Harbor · Rock Harbor dock — The classic first hike off the boat. A figure-eight loop runs out along the rocky shore of Lake Superior to Scoville Point, then returns through spruce and fir forest, with signs along the way about the island's past. On a stormy day the waves crash right below the trail. If you are short on time, the 1.8-mile Stoll Memorial loop covers the first part.
Photo: Tony Webster from Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
2 OF 7
Lookout Louise
Difficulty
Moderate
Length
2 mi
Elevation gain
About 400 ft
Tobin Harbor · Hidden Lake dock — Paddle about 20 minutes across Tobin Harbor or ride the water taxi to the Hidden Lake dock, then climb past a small pond where moose come for minerals. The trail tops out on a cliff with a long view over the island's ragged north shore and across the water to Canada. Strong hikers can walk the 9.4 miles back to Rock Harbor over the Greenstone Ridge and Mount Franklin.
⚠︎ Reached by boat. Book the water taxi at Rock Harbor or rent a canoe.
Photo: Ben+Sam, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
3 OF 7
Mount Franklin
Difficulty
Strenuous
Length
10 mi
Elevation gain
About 900 ft
Rock Harbor · Tobin Harbor Trail — A full day that takes you from the harbor up onto the island's spine. Follow the calm Tobin Harbor Trail, then climb steeply to the Greenstone Ridge and the open rock of Mount Franklin, where the view reaches the north shore and the Canadian mainland. Pack rain gear, lunch and plenty of water. Turn around early if fog rolls in off the lake.
Photo: Wade9801, public domain, Wikimedia Commons
4 OF 7
Suzy's Cave
Difficulty
Moderate
Length
3.8 mi loop
Elevation gain
About 200 ft
Rock Harbor · Tobin Harbor Trail — A loop to an inland sea arch that waves carved about 4,000 years ago, when Lake Superior stood much higher. Go out on the easier Tobin Harbor Trail and come back on the rougher Rock Harbor Trail along the shore. It is a great half-day hike for families, and you can crawl through the arch.
Photo: MDuchek, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
5 OF 7
Rock Harbor Lighthouse and Edisen Fishery
Difficulty
Easy
Length
Boat trip + short walk
Elevation gain
Flat
Rock Harbor · Moskey Basin — Take a guided boat tour or paddle down Rock Harbor to the restored Edisen Fishery, where a family fished commercially for decades. A short trail leads from there to the white Rock Harbor Lighthouse, one of the oldest on the island. It is the easiest way to see the human history of Isle Royale, and a good pick for a rainy day.
⚠︎ Reached by boat. Check tour times at Rock Harbor.
Photo: Ray Dumas, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
6 OF 7
Greenstone Ridge Trail
Difficulty
Strenuous
Length
About 40 mi one way
Elevation gain
Many ridges
Island spine · Windigo to Lookout Louise — The island's signature backpacking trip, running nearly end to end along its highest ridge. Expect four to six days, long views to Lake Superior on both sides, fire towers, and nights at lakeside campgrounds. Most people take the boat to Windigo and hike east so they can catch a ferry home from Rock Harbor.
⚠︎ Backcountry permit required. Treat all water and pack for cold rain.
Photo: Ben+Sam, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
7 OF 7
Grace Creek Overlook and Feldtmann Lake
Difficulty
Moderate
Length
3.6 mi to the overlook
Elevation gain
About 300 ft
Windigo · Feldtmann Lake Trail — From Windigo, the Feldtmann Lake Trail runs along Washington Harbor, and a short spur climbs to a rocky overlook above Grace Creek. That is a good half day; the full trail continues about 8.5 miles one way to Feldtmann Lake, a favorite stop on multi-day loops. The marshy west end is where you are most likely to meet a moose, so give them lots of room.
Photo: Todd VerBeek, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Plan your Isle Royale trip
The Nova Bound app builds the whole trip around these trails: where to stay, where to charge, and what to see each day. Coming soon to the App Store.
Distances are round trip unless noted, from NPS.gov and rounded. Trails, permits and road openings change; always check nps.gov before you go. Trail write-ups by Nova Bound.