I'm looking for opinions on Isle royal . I'm trying to decide Between doing the entire green stone ridge trail or doing part of the greenstone and all of the Minong trail. This will be our first time to the island. Thanks for any input.
I'm looking for opinions on Isle royal . I'm trying to decide Between doing the entire green stone ridge trail or doing part of the greenstone and all of the Minong trail. This will be our first time to the island. Thanks for any input.
Minong Ridge Trail is certainly more challenging but, also more interesting. If you have the hiking staimina, I would be my recommendation. I found all the campsites along the Minong Ridge trail to offer multiple hammock hanging options.Originally Posted by daltonivy
Geenstone Ridge Trail can be like a freeway, relatively speaking. I understand that going after September 1 greatly decreases the number of others with whom you'll share the island and the Greenstone Ridge Trail. Personally, I have always found other trails on the island to be more interesting. I like campsites with access to Lake Superior waters. (Best day on the island for me was capped off diving from the pier at Chippewa Harbor.)
When are you going? How are you getting there? From where on mainland are you leaving and which end of the island to plan to arrive?
The Voyager II gives you many drop-off pick up options at just a small price increase if coming from Grand Portage. A water taxi can give you a lot of hiking flexiblity but, at more of a premium.
Keep in mind, while the NPS will ask you to provide an itinerary, you are not obligated to adhere to it. If you find the hiking easier or harder than anticipated or just, want to change course, you are free to do so. For example, if your get to Lake Desor fron McCargo Cove along the Minong Ridge Trail and don't feel excited for the long, dry stretch between Lake Desor and Washington Harbor reversing course is perfectly acceptable. (When they say Minong Ridge trail in the hardest in MI, it is because of that section of trail).
Good Luck. Feel free to PM me if you have any specific questions for which I could provide answers.
Questioning authority, Rocking the boat & Stirring the pot - Since 1965
Having backpacked on IR, 3 trips so far, the Minong has a slightly elevated hype of the true difficulty. A reasonably experienced and healthy backpacker shouldn’t have much of an issue tackling the Minong imho. Yes there are a few more technical aspects; steeper climbs, beaver dams, streams without bridges and fewer hikers who could possibly render aid should you need it. I’m not sure if I’d hike it solo due to the elevated chance for injury on the Minong, but with one or two other hikers it’s worth it. A casual backpacker will see their pace slowed by 1/3- 1/2... but having to slow your pace is rewarding too.
If the sense of risk exceeds your comfort threshold, remember all trails on Isle Royale are rewarding, use the Greenstone and save the Minong for another visit after you have a sense of the terrain.
Use trekking poles, watch your step and enjoy.
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Did the Minong Ridge Trail a few years ago and loved it. Seaplane dropped us in Windigo and we hiked the Minong to McCargoe Cove. Little Todd campsite is one of my top 5 campsites of all time. Absolutely amazing and remote. Cut south on the island to Daisy Farm and took the Rock Harbor Trail the rest of the way. Seaplane picked us up in Rock Harbor. Agree with others, the hype of Minong is there. I wouldn't hike it alone, but it's not awful for serious backpackers and hikers. Just more rugged terrain and a slower pace at times. The section from Lake Desor and Little Todd is by far the most challenging but also the most beautiful and rewarding.
Going 9/21-9/28 this year, last run on the Isle Royale Queen.
Option 1
9/21 Rock harbor to Daisy Farm - 7.1 miles
9/22 Daisy Farm to McCargo Cove - 8 miles
9/23 McCargo Cove to Little Todd - 12.7 miles
9/24 Little Todd to Huggin Cove - 18.5 miles
9/25 Chill day at Huggin Cove explore the mines, and move to Washington Creek/Windigo - 4.3 Miles
9/26 Water taxi from Windigo to McCargo then to Chippewa Harbor - 11 miles
9/27 Chippewa Harbor to Daisy Farm - 9.9 miles
9/28 Daisy Farm to Rock Harbor for 2:45 IRQ departure - 7.1 miles
Option 2
9/21 Rock harbor to Daisy Farm - 7.1 miles
9/22 Daisy Farm to McCargo Cove - 8 miles
9/23 McCargo Cove to Todd Harbor - 6.6 miles
9/24 Todd Harbor to North Desor - 10.7 miles
9/25 North Desor to Washington Creek/Windigo - 12.7 Miles
9/26 Water taxi from Windigo to McCargo then to Chippewa Harbor - 11 miles
9/27 Chippewa Harbor to Three Mile - 14.3 miles
9/28 Three Mile to Rock Harbor for 2:45 IRQ departure - 3 miles
Still tossing around other options but I've done the Greenstone, so i'm good on that. Apparently Chippewa Harbor is amazing so that and the Minong is a must this trip.
Option 3 (which I've done)
9/21 Rock Harbor to Lane Cove - 6.9 miles
9/22 Lane Cove to West Chickenbone - 12.8 miles
9/23 W. Cbone to Hatchet Lake - 7.2 miles
9/24 Hatchet to South Lake Desor - 7.3 miles
9/25 S. Desor to Washington Creek/Windigo - 11 miles
9/26 Water taxi from Windigo to McCargo Cove, hike to Lake Richie - 6.3 miles
9/27 Lake Richie to Three Mile - 10.2 miles
9/28 Three Mile to Rock Harbor - 3 miles
I strongly recommend staying at Little Todd, it's an amazing campsite. Heard the wolves howling and had the campground to ourselves. Could likely get a glimpse of the northern lights (wasn't clear enough for us, though). The stretch between Little Todd and North Desor is the toughest stretch on the Minong, so allow plenty of time. Plenty of great ridges to stop and rest and enjoy the view though.
You might consider crossing "Little Todd to Huggin Cove" off your list. I won't say it's not possible but, I am pretty sure you would want a zero day or two after. Even Lake Desor to Huggin Cove is a pretty full day. Additionally, Lake Desor is probably the most hammock friendly collection of campsites on the island so you shouldn't skip it.
Note: The Voyager leaves Windigo early (9:30-10:00) on Wednesday 9/26 to hopscotch around the north side of the island. Depending on the number in your group, a Voyager trip might cost much less than a water taxi.
Enjoy you trip!
Questioning authority, Rocking the boat & Stirring the pot - Since 1965
Yeah we would just chill at Huggin for the day and wonder down to Washington Creek to hit the AM taxi whenever we felt.
Here is what we're thinking now. no 18.5 mile day, and no duplicate Daisy Farm night.
Option 4
9/21 Rock harbor to Daisy Farm - 7.1 miles
9/22 Daisy Farm to McCargo Cove - 8 miles
9/23 McCargo Cove to Little Todd - 12.7 miles
9/24 Little Todd Harbor to North Desor - 4.6 miles
9/25 North Desor to Huggin Cove - 12.7 Miles
9/26 Huggin to Windigo 4.6 (10AM water taxi) + McCargo then to Chippewa Harbor - 11 miles (15.6)
9/27 Chippewa Harbor to Three Mile - 14.3 miles
9/28 Three Mile to Rock Harbor for 2:45PM IRQ departure - 3 miles
From what i remember about south desor is there were plenty of places to hang, and plenty of opportunity to get smoked by a dead birch. We could hear them crashing down in the wind all night.
Sounds like a great trip! Our itinerary was very similar in reverse, we went:
Day 1) Windigo- 8 miles into backcountry permit site
Day 2) Backcountry site to Little Todd
Day 3) Little Todd to Todd Harbor
Day 4) Todd Harbor to Daisy Farm
Day 5) Daisy Farm to Rock Harbor
I would love to go back and checkout the Huggin Cove Trail, so would love to hear about the Huggin campsite.
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