Hit length of Greenstone except for Lookout Louise section: Windigo - Todd - Rock Harbor - Ritchie - Malone. Chilly in late May but only one morning of rain the whole trip.
tarol - Aug 22, 2010 2:38 pm Date Climbed: Aug 11, 2010
Desor, Ishpeming, and Sugar
Hiked part of the Greenstone, part of the Minong, and connecting trails over the course of a week - loved it!
Bark Eater - Jun 22, 2010 2:02 pm Date Climbed: Sep 1, 1983
Grad. School Break
Gary, Jim, and I enjoyed a fine 5-day backpack trip prior to starting second year of grad. school in Wisconsin. Other than a bit of queasiness on the ferry ride from Copper Harbor (read rough seas) we had an excellent time. The island was for all practical cases deserted...a true wilderness experience. We especially enjoyed the screened in leantos that protected us from the evening flocks of mosquitoes.
mountainmatt - Nov 25, 2008 6:35 pm Date Climbed: Aug 19, 1999
Enjoyed
this view so many times during 98-01. I made the trip to Isle Royale four times in those few years. I love it there.
I backpacked here with a group of high schoolers from Maryland in July 1972 for a week and remember the wildlife and fantastic four feet tall sunflowers on the ridge. I'll have to dig out the slides I took and scan them in. The water in Lake Superior was so clean we drank right from the lake. This was a great trip!
I was a Boy Scout when I came to this beautiful piece of driftwood set in Lake Superior. I think I probably weighed 90 pounds soaking wet on this trip, probably my first major backpacking trip with the Scouts. My backpack, though, which I had packed myself (and being a studious kid I had brought a few heavy wilderness survival guides along with my Scouting guidebooks) weighed near 40 pounds, but I didn't have the sense to tell anyone. It did put me in the lead as the slowest hiker. We hiked from Rock Harbor to Three Mile campground and a rocky gulch where we pitched out tents. It would stay light outside to past 11 o'clock we were so far north. We continued our trip up Mount Franklin (my first summit) and I was amazed by the cliffs along the northern edge of the Greenstone Ridge. We continued west towards Mount Ojibway, whose lookout tower I have a clear memory of. This long day, though, broke our patrol's back. We made it finally to Daisy Farm, but the following day when we were to penetrate deeper into the wilderness there was revolt and, instead, we took some easy hikes back towards Rock Harbor. The over-weight of my pack was discovered by a scout leader that was trying to help sling it up on my shoulders. His first clue must have been the multiple face plants I had taken previous days on the trail. My portable library was foisted upon some other poor souls and I fairly flew back down the ridges towards the showers at Rock Harbor. If nothing else I learned to appreciate a hot shower on this trip. We took the ferry back to Copper Harbor, but I was terribly sick the whole way in three-foot swells.
eric-griz - Dec 1, 2007 4:34 pm Date Climbed: Jun 7, 2001
Mt. Ojibway
A wonderful place this island is. A great place to see wildlife and enjoy solitude.
Tadberry - Jun 12, 2007 10:21 pm Date Climbed: May 8, 2007
Windigo to Rock Harbor
This was an awesome trip. We did 43 miles in four days with the second day being a challenging 15 miler. The pristine wilderness is something to behold. I hope to be back soon.
I backpacked the length of the island from Windigo to Rock Harbor. On the West end there exists huge decidious trees rolling terrain and delicious boysenberries. As one moves East the terrain hardens out a bit and the forest becomes more coniferous. I have many vivid memories of this incredible journey. I believe that the only way to truly get to know this island is on foot.
The Vor - Apr 11, 2007 3:08 pm Date Climbed: May 20, 2003
Awesome trip
Went up and over the greenstone 2 times in a 12 day trip across the whole island with my dad. One morning came around the bend and was face to face, maybe 20 feet away from two moose. Very memorable trip.
KRomanIV - Mar 6, 2007 5:29 am Date Climbed: Aug 14, 2004
Beautiful Wilderness
Isle Royale is a beautiful wilderness island and my 5 day backpacking trip with the Boy Scouts in 2004 is by far one of my most memorable camping experiences. We landed at Rock Harbor and climbed up to Mt. Franklin and then over to Mount Ojibway as part of our camping excursion. Can't wait to go back again someday.
Took ferry from Copper Harbor to Rock Harbor. Followed Greenstone out to Chickenbone Lake then went up to McCargoe Cove. Crossed the Greenstone again on way down to Moskey Basin then followed the Rock Harbor Trail back. The best wilderness experience of my life. Can't wait to go back! Check out some pics I took HERE and HERE.
While we did the Isle as a kayak trip, not a hiking trip, this was by far the best wilderness experience I've had. The amount of wildlife we encountered was incredible: Fox, moose, loons, hearing wolves our last night there...the list goes on. The only downside was paddling into a 30 knot wind in open water on our second day out. Isle Royale is a must see.
chilkoot - May 10, 2006 6:37 am Date Climbed: Jun 30, 1992
One of my best trips ever!
This was one of the most relaxing, enjoyable backpacking trips I have ever taken, and I have traveled thousands of backcountry miles. Very few people and lots of moose (we saw several each day). A great mix of small mountains, lakes and of course the Big Lake. Beware of riding the Isle Royale Queen in rough weather. It is nicknamed "The Barf Barge" with good reason!
Arthur Digbee - May 27, 2019 4:56 am
Hiked it, liked itHit length of Greenstone except for Lookout Louise section: Windigo - Todd - Rock Harbor - Ritchie - Malone. Chilly in late May but only one morning of rain the whole trip.
tarol - Aug 22, 2010 2:38 pm Date Climbed: Aug 11, 2010
Desor, Ishpeming, and SugarHiked part of the Greenstone, part of the Minong, and connecting trails over the course of a week - loved it!
Bark Eater - Jun 22, 2010 2:02 pm Date Climbed: Sep 1, 1983
Grad. School BreakGary, Jim, and I enjoyed a fine 5-day backpack trip prior to starting second year of grad. school in Wisconsin. Other than a bit of queasiness on the ferry ride from Copper Harbor (read rough seas) we had an excellent time. The island was for all practical cases deserted...a true wilderness experience. We especially enjoyed the screened in leantos that protected us from the evening flocks of mosquitoes.
mountainmatt - Nov 25, 2008 6:35 pm Date Climbed: Aug 19, 1999
Enjoyedthis view so many times during 98-01. I made the trip to Isle Royale four times in those few years. I love it there.
silversummit - Oct 21, 2008 8:44 pm
Backpacked here in 1972I backpacked here with a group of high schoolers from Maryland in July 1972 for a week and remember the wildlife and fantastic four feet tall sunflowers on the ridge. I'll have to dig out the slides I took and scan them in. The water in Lake Superior was so clean we drank right from the lake. This was a great trip!
Etaoin - Jan 3, 2008 2:54 pm
First Pseudo-peaksI was a Boy Scout when I came to this beautiful piece of driftwood set in Lake Superior. I think I probably weighed 90 pounds soaking wet on this trip, probably my first major backpacking trip with the Scouts. My backpack, though, which I had packed myself (and being a studious kid I had brought a few heavy wilderness survival guides along with my Scouting guidebooks) weighed near 40 pounds, but I didn't have the sense to tell anyone. It did put me in the lead as the slowest hiker. We hiked from Rock Harbor to Three Mile campground and a rocky gulch where we pitched out tents. It would stay light outside to past 11 o'clock we were so far north. We continued our trip up Mount Franklin (my first summit) and I was amazed by the cliffs along the northern edge of the Greenstone Ridge. We continued west towards Mount Ojibway, whose lookout tower I have a clear memory of. This long day, though, broke our patrol's back. We made it finally to Daisy Farm, but the following day when we were to penetrate deeper into the wilderness there was revolt and, instead, we took some easy hikes back towards Rock Harbor. The over-weight of my pack was discovered by a scout leader that was trying to help sling it up on my shoulders. His first clue must have been the multiple face plants I had taken previous days on the trail. My portable library was foisted upon some other poor souls and I fairly flew back down the ridges towards the showers at Rock Harbor. If nothing else I learned to appreciate a hot shower on this trip. We took the ferry back to Copper Harbor, but I was terribly sick the whole way in three-foot swells.
eric-griz - Dec 1, 2007 4:34 pm Date Climbed: Jun 7, 2001
Mt. OjibwayA wonderful place this island is. A great place to see wildlife and enjoy solitude.
Tadberry - Jun 12, 2007 10:21 pm Date Climbed: May 8, 2007
Windigo to Rock HarborThis was an awesome trip. We did 43 miles in four days with the second day being a challenging 15 miler. The pristine wilderness is something to behold. I hope to be back soon.
jtree - May 9, 2007 7:17 pm
Wonderful diversityI backpacked the length of the island from Windigo to Rock Harbor. On the West end there exists huge decidious trees rolling terrain and delicious boysenberries. As one moves East the terrain hardens out a bit and the forest becomes more coniferous. I have many vivid memories of this incredible journey. I believe that the only way to truly get to know this island is on foot.
The Vor - Apr 11, 2007 3:08 pm Date Climbed: May 20, 2003
Awesome tripWent up and over the greenstone 2 times in a 12 day trip across the whole island with my dad. One morning came around the bend and was face to face, maybe 20 feet away from two moose. Very memorable trip.
KRomanIV - Mar 6, 2007 5:29 am Date Climbed: Aug 14, 2004
Beautiful WildernessIsle Royale is a beautiful wilderness island and my 5 day backpacking trip with the Boy Scouts in 2004 is by far one of my most memorable camping experiences. We landed at Rock Harbor and climbed up to Mt. Franklin and then over to Mount Ojibway as part of our camping excursion. Can't wait to go back again someday.
Arthur Digbee - Feb 22, 2007 9:29 pm
great "mountain" !This is a wonderful trail along the ridge -- some stretches with great views, other parts dense woods.
indianabob - Nov 19, 2006 6:01 pm Date Climbed: Sep 4, 2006
Greenstone Ridge 2006During our 2006 trip to IRNP, we ascended the Greenstone Ridge three different times. On day 2, we hiked from Mount Franklin to Mount Ojibway.
dwhike - Jul 30, 2006 2:42 pm
I Love Isle RoyaleTook ferry from Copper Harbor to Rock Harbor. Followed Greenstone out to Chickenbone Lake then went up to McCargoe Cove. Crossed the Greenstone again on way down to Moskey Basin then followed the Rock Harbor Trail back. The best wilderness experience of my life. Can't wait to go back! Check out some pics I took HERE and HERE.
hikeman76 - Jul 24, 2006 12:54 pm Date Climbed: Jul 18, 2006
Wow!While we did the Isle as a kayak trip, not a hiking trip, this was by far the best wilderness experience I've had. The amount of wildlife we encountered was incredible: Fox, moose, loons, hearing wolves our last night there...the list goes on. The only downside was paddling into a 30 knot wind in open water on our second day out. Isle Royale is a must see.
chilkoot - May 10, 2006 6:37 am Date Climbed: Jun 30, 1992
One of my best trips ever!This was one of the most relaxing, enjoyable backpacking trips I have ever taken, and I have traveled thousands of backcountry miles. Very few people and lots of moose (we saw several each day). A great mix of small mountains, lakes and of course the Big Lake. Beware of riding the Isle Royale Queen in rough weather. It is nicknamed "The Barf Barge" with good reason!