Secret Hikes: Isle Royale National Park

this is my 5th year in a row - hiking the island is so special and resets my sanity every year!
It took me 4 years to see a moose but it was and is worth it!

A friend and I hiked Isle Royale late last August. We were dropped off at Rock Harbor and hiked to Windigo via the Minong Trail. We spent the first night at Daisy Farm, second night at McCargoe Cove and left McCargoe at 9AM the next morning. We hiked all day and throughout the entire night with a few couple hour breaks. Awesome experience, especially hiking the Minong trail at night with no light except for our headlamps. Virtually no bugs during our trip, didn't see or hear a wolf and saw 1 moose. It was a quick trip, but I will go back for sure and take more time. I would like to concentrate on the fingers on the Rock Harbor end. Also, no idea what the person was talking about as far as filtering the water? Used a Hiker Pro and the water tasted better than anything you will buy at the store and if you take it out of Superior, it is ice cold. I will agree with the thimbleberries however. I thought they tasted great and they are so easy to pick while you are hiking, but they will mess you up and make it necessary to dig a few extra cat holes! Hike it, but plan for a few days to do the Minong Trail, we had fun but didn't get to enjoy it like we would have liked.

I have been there three times in the last 27 years and am planning another trip this summer. I can't wait to go again.

My suspicion is that people who claim to "hate" Isle Royale really are trying to keep it for themselves.

Been there with our scouts. I loved the whole island then and am going back in September with jusf my husband this time.

Spent five days hiking the island in late June 2011. Loved it, and hope to return next year.

Spent eight miserable days on that God forsaken island. Mosquitoes everywhere! Don't even think about eating the wild thimbleberries, the taste is overrated and will have you running for the wooden shack, disappointingly opening that crescent mooned door only to find out some boy scout already blew that place up. Probably from too many berries! Which leads to me to the wild blueberries, the island is full of "blueberries" most of which are poison, enough said. If you wade knee high into any inland lakes on the island you will get a parasite, good luck filtering water. Try to rise off in Lake Superior after a couple of days of hiking and you WILL be attacked by at least half a dozen lampreys. How do they even live in that water, it's so f***ing cold! I do not recommend this National Park to anyone. I don't think the wolves and moose enjoy living there, I'm pretty sure if Lake Superior ever froze again they would leave in a heartbeat and take there chances with the Minnesota rednecks!

Spent 2 month stretches there in my early teens, at my grandmother's life-leased summer cottage (repossessed by the NPS after she died). Some of the best times of my life, I look forward to taking my own children there some day. Although the experience just won't be the same, they can have their own, unique experiences (just like life). It really is a magical sleeper. Another excellent option to Minong Ridge (I did it in 2 days, starting from the Lookout Louise trailhead),portage from Rock Harbor, up through Tobin's, Duncan's, etc. to McCargoe's Cove. Take your time and savor it.

Spent 2 month stretches there in my early teens, at my grandmother's life-leased summer cottage (repossessed by the NPS after she died). Some of the best times of my life, I look forward to taking my own children there some day. Although the experience just won't be the same, they can have their own, unique experiences (just like life). It really is a magical sleeper. Another excellent option to Minong Ridge (I did it in 2 days, starting from the Lookout Louise trailhead),portage from Rock Harbor, up through Tobin's, Duncan's, etc. to McCargoe's Cove. Take your time and savor it.

Had a great time. My first backpacking trip and I almost got run over by a moose. Will be going back.

Been there five times. I still hate it! You will not like it either.

Don't go, you'll hate it.
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-I was there last year and can't wait to go back. But let's keep it a secret.

Mc Cargo Cove is truely a beautiful place to stay while on the island. The beach at Lane Cove is worth the hike in as well. I usually see an eagle or osprey everyday there. They forgot to mention the thimble berries, even more plentiful than than the blueberries, tasty!!