I am bringing a group of 7. 5 of whom are set in stone and have already bought ferry ticket and all. The other 2 spots, I'm still not sure who is going. I get some who drop out and others that take their spot. I already bought the group permit for the original 7 that I thought were going. The application asks for full names of everyone in the group.

Since my last 2 spots keep changing, those 2 names on the application won't match whoever fills the 2 spots. Will this be a problem with the park service or will I need to contact them to change the names once I have them set in stone?

I wanted to get the group permit submitted ASAP so that I can have our camping spots reserved.

If only 6 end up going, technically a group permit would not be necessary. Though I'm pretty sure we'll end up with 7, how would this affect my permit that I already submitted if only 6 come?

Planning an 8 day itinerary this summer. Any recommendations on an external battery pack to keep phones charged for photos? Thanks so much for any advice!

I have been to the island once before years ago. I am bringing a group of 6 or 7 friends this time. We will be arriving by ferry and taking a water taxi, maybe to Moskey Basin but that's yet to be decided.

I have several beginners in my group so I want light mileage. The island is so beautiful that I'm ok with a slower pace.

I need itinerary recommendations. Beginning anywhere on the East half via water taxi and ending at Rock Harbor 6 days later.

So 6 day itinerary (so 5 nights). 30 miles max total. Advice on best campsites, roughly 6-7ish miles per day. The last night, I'm thinking maybe Three Mile so we're close to Copper Harbor. But I'm open to changing that.

A corollary question: which inland lakes have the best fishing?

My main question is what are some good campsites/destinations to shoot for from Rock Harbour? I'm putting together a 5-day itinerary for a backpacking trip starting out of Rock Harbour in September. Going with my SO who isn't as big into backpacking as I, but she can handle 10 to 13 miles days comfortably. Also debating throwing in a day of slack-packing in the middle to keep things chill. Open to any suggestions! Thank you in advance

edit: thanks yall, you've given me some great starting points for more planning!

First-thank you to this community for offering great advice on previous posts! Looking to update my old school MSR ceramic water filter from the 1990’s in preparation for 8 days on the Greenstone this summer. Recommendations?

This amusing little sign was on the Isle Royale Queen IV when my friends and I went in September last year.

Any advice on head nets to wear while on IR. Will be there mid June so preparing for the worst. Cheers!

My wife and I will be on the island for 9 days this summer and she really loves our kids. Not that I don’t…I’m just happy to leave them on the mainland for that long. Does anyone have advice on a satellite communication device to use on IR? Cheers.

Never been there before but hoping to rent a cabin for a few days and then book the ferry. Any advice as to how to get a room before all the dates are gone? Sorry for the ignorance.

My wife and I are considering kayaking while we are doing an overnight trip in Isle Royale. We're getting the ferry from Copper Harbor and spending 1 night. We would like to rent kayaks in Rock Harbor and then kayak along the coast down to Daisy Farms or over to Caribou Island to camp. We figured it's 8 miles down (with sightseeing) and 6 miles back (straight shot). We hope to stay along the inner island coast until we get to Daisy Farms and then cut over with our return trip going from Caribou up to mid-Mott Island before cutting over at the smallest distance point.

Please poke holes in this plan. Let us know what isn't possible or isn't likely to happen. Our plan B if we can't rent kayaks overnight (still don't know if this is possible) is to hike to Three Mile Campground and spend the night there, but we'd really like to utilize the kayaks to see more of the island for the same amount of time.

We are moderate in experience with kayaks. We've gone through "lazy river" caves to rivers with some current but not white water, to in the bay near Bar Harbor Maine. I'd also consider us moderate in speed and endurance. Hiking (using my legs) is my downfall due to a bad knee.

Any help ya'll can give us would be appreciated! Thanks!!

Please post your trip reports here! Anything relevant to your time on the island in 2024 is welcomed (bug reports, trail conditions, closures, etc).

Please post your trip plans here! This is a great way to get route tips and advice. You don’t have to include specific dates (we encourage you not to) but a time frame would be nice (eg: August).

Please include in your post:

• Chosen method of travel
• Route plans (trails and campsites)
• and anything else relevant to your trip

As always feel free to ask any questions or for feedback on your route.

My husband and I car camp regularly, but have never backpacked. We are considering a trip to IR this August for 3 nights. I would like to base camp and do day hikes from there. We would be arriving in Rock Harbor. I know the campsites have stay limits so we would not be able to stay at Rock Harbor for all three nights, but would Daisy Farm or be an okay option for base camping? I have read that you can take a water taxi there/back. Are there other good campsites for base camping?

Edit: would also be willing to consider leaving from MN and base camping at Windigo/Washington Creek. Anyone have experience doing this?

Looking for any advice for base camping on IR. Thanks!

Landing in Rock Harbor and backpacking to Windigo. Can we make it to Daisy in the first day? Taking sea plane in so landing before noon. Is it a better campground?

Arriving in Rock Harbor and flying out of Windigo 8 days later. Was planning on Greenstone Ridge but reading great things about McCargoe and Todd harbor campgrounds and some anti-chickenbone comments. What would your dream itinerary be?

Is a hammock with a bug net suitable for sleeping on isle? My friend and I are deciding on sleeping arrangements and I believe a hammock would be lighter and better for storage. What are your thoughts?

My wife retires in June, and we're planning a summer-long series of outdoor adventures to celebrate (Boundary Waters in July, Isle Royale in late July/early August, Pictured Rocks in mid-August, Shenandoah National Park and the Carolinas Foothills Trail in September). We're in decent shape and are reasonably experienced backpackers. We're very comfortable with (and prefer) cross-country/dispersed camping.

We're planning 7 days/6 nights in IRNP, starting at Rock Harbor and ending up at Windigo. After researching the options, I had in mind starting on the Greenstone Trail, cutting over to the Minong trail at either Chickenbone or Hatchet Lake, and finishing up with the Huginnin loop, for a total of around 53 miles. The general itinerary would be:
(Night 1) either Three Mile or cross-country near Mt. Franklin
(2) Chickenbone East or West
(3) either Todd Harbor or Hatchet Lake, depending on where we jump over to the Minong
(4) Little Todd Harbor
(5) ???
(6) Huginnin Cove
Then on Day 7 hike the 4 or so miles to Windigo, grab a shower, and wait for the ferry back to Grand Portage.

It's that Night 5 that I'm concerned with. Given the vertical involved, N. Desor to Huginnin is a bit further than we're totally comfortable with for one day. We'd be fine cross-country camping somewhere around halfway between Little Todd and Huginnin (Zone 3 or 20). It's just not clear to me whether you can find a spot to pitch a tent there - it looks like several miles worth of swamp and beaver dams.

Is this a reasonable plan? Will we find a workable campsite SW of Lake Desor? What are the water sources in that stretch like? (We're prepared to both filter and chemically treat with chlorine dioxide.)

That's the main concern, but I'm also interested in hearing other feedback. Where should we cut over from the Greenstone to the Minong - Chickenbone or Hatchet? Both trails look spectacular in that stretch. Thoughts on cross-country camping near Mt. Franklin? (I realize the area between Three Mile and Mt. Franklin is a no-cross-country zone, and near Mt. Franklin would be a dry camp, with no water for 6 or 7 miles the next day). Any other advice?

Looking forward to feedback from those with more experience in IRNP. Would love to hear from anyone who's cross-country camped along the Minong Ridge!

We are visiting Rock Harbor lodge and are a family that likes hikes up to 5 miles between moderate and hard. We do not Canoe or Kayak and would do a motorized boat tour. We have 4 days at Rock Harbor probably, possibly Windigo.

My brother and I are planning to camp for a month, weather permitting we will be arriving on opening day April 16th (which also happens to be both of ours birthday. Twins) and camping through May 14th. We start working at Rock Harbor Lodge that day and then will be spending the summer working at Rock Harbor. We have a ton of experience on the island but have never been there earlier then mid May. What can we expect this time and what advice would you give to us?

We are getting a ride over on my friend's boat, so we will be bringing more then enough gear and food to last us the month. We planned on using a shelter in Rock Harbor for two weeks, then moving to 3mile for 2 weeks.

We are planning a backpacking trip for July. We did a week in Glacier last year averaging 10 miles per day, but we did not camp nor did we carry anything more than rain gear and water. We are a family of 4 with 9 year old twins. I will do a lot of research prior to, and we will do a trial run with our gear to make sure we can carry what we need and to make sure our tent is suitable, etc. I have tons of questions. We could do probably a max of 6 nights.

Any itinerary or first timer suggestions are really appreciated. I figure while I read through all the web sources I can find I can poll the folks who have actually done it. Im open to starting at wendigo or rock harbor, i havent decided yet.

Also open to advice on whether you used quick dry trail runners or waterproof and how it worked out. Water is also something I need to research, do we need to bring water purification supplies? I have a million more questions but I'll start with these.

Planning an overnight trip to Isle Royale in June, but need to find a reputable kennel for a 9 month old lab. Any suggestions?

Has anyone flown into Rock Harbor and been able to get Jet Boil fuel for backpacking stoves at the store? Sounds like we're unable to pack any on the short flight from the UP. We're headed there in June. Emailed the store today but they weren't able to give me any brands.

The 2024 edition of the Greenstone has been released into the wild!

https://www.nps.gov/isro/learn/upload/Web_2024-Greenstone_Final.pdf

I have a group of friends that are making plans for an isle royale backpacking trip in August. There are 6 of us, is there a limit to the amount of tents in the campsites?

I’ve been doing a lot of reminiscing of my trip recently. I think the island is trying to call me back!