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Scott Sheridan
{ssherid1@kent.edu}
Page created 2003
Larger pictures added 2006

Located amid the cold waters of Lake Superior, Isle Royale is the least visited park in the lower 48, with only around 15,000 visitors a year. It's no surprise, given how difficult it is to reach. But once there, it's without a doubt one of the most amazing places. There are no breathtaking vistas here, but the island has a rugged beauty hard to deny after exploring it. (And if I can say this after being wet half of the trip, it must be amazing!) The map shows the trek Mike and I took, covering a total of around 61 miles over seven days. Below are some pictures.

  • Copper Harbor.On the mainland, the Isle Royale Queen is docked, the night before taking us out to Isle Royale.
  • Copper Harbor.There's no accounting for fashion here, as we begin boarding the Isle Royale Queen.
  • Rock Harbor.Our first views of Isle Royale, after a 4 1/2 hour journey across Lake Superior, of the lodge, some of the few structures on the island.
  • Trail.Here I am on some of the first few feet of our journey.
  • Rock Harbor.A vista looking back eastward as we continue our journey along the isle's southern shore.
  • Rock Harbor.Mike continues along the trail on the southern shore.
  • Daisy Farm.Shortly before sunrise, on the shores of Lake Superior, after our first night on the island.
  • Lake Ritchie Trail.A typical view of the forest, as we begin to ascend from the lakeshore.
  • Lake Ritchie.The first of many inland lakes we passed.
  • Chickenbone Lake. Named for its shape, the shores of this lake host our second campsite. The water was actually quite warm, though leech-infested!
  • Moose.Our first moose sighting of the journey, at a distance across Chickenbone Lake. I'll always be amazed by how well such a clumsy-looking animal could swim!
  • Greenstone Ridge Trail. The next day we begin our trek on the Greenstone Ridge, the backbone of the island. It's heavily forested in most places so you wouldn't necessarily realize how high you are. Note how it's suddenly become much grayer and wetter!
  • Vista.Mike at one of the few places along the Greenstone Ridge where the trees part to provide a view. This view includes Chickenbone Lake, where we'd stayed the night before.
  • Greenstone Ridge Trail. A cairn leads the way onward.
  • Hatchet Lake.Here I am trying to dry out after the rain ended, near our third campsite.
  • Hatchet Lake.The trail leading up from the lake, as the sun peeked around the clouds late in the day.
  • Hatchet Lake.Another view of the birch forest in the late afternoon sun.
  • Moose.Well, it was a moose at some point in the past.
  • Greenstone Ridge Trail. One of the sections in desperate need of clearing, the plants were more than happy to share hit you with all the water they caught.
  • Greenstone Ridge Trail. Happy camper.
  • Lake Desor.Taking a break near another overlook.
  • Mount Desor.Here I am at the highest point on the island, at least we think it was.
  • Island Mine.Mike at our fourth campsite, with everything we were trying to dry out after our 13- mile trip that day.
  • Moose.A mother and her calf, near Windigo, our fifth campsite on the western end of the island.
  • Moose.The same two suspects out foraging for food in the harbor.
  • Washington Creek.A scene near our campsite.
  • The Voyageur.The ship taking us around to the east side of the island pulls into Windigo Harbor.
  • Shoreline.Coming into or out of the fog aboard the Voyageur.
  • McCargoe Cove.Another view from our boat.
  • Scoville Point.On the eastern tip of Rock Harbor, as the fog comes in.
  • Scoville Point.Another picture of the barren landscape.
  • Scoville Point.A close up of some daisies, that grew a few feet tall elsewhere but could only manage a couple of inches out here.
  • Fox.Hamming it up for us by the visitors' center, near where we camped the last night.
  • Bull Moose.In Tobin Harbor, on our last hike of the trip.
  • Two moose.Six nights without a real bed will do this to you.
  • Rock Harbor.The Isle Royale Queen sits, waiting to take us back the mainland.
  • Group.Mike, me, and several fellow hikers whose hiking itineraries coincided with ours much of the trip.