Jill Hinton

Jill Hinton

Backpack Isle Royale NP's Greenstone Ridge Trail

08/12/15

Here's some more helpful information: Isle Royale is actually in Michigan (in fact, it's Michigan's only National Park), though if you want to hike the Minong Trail, taking the ferry from Minnesota is your best bet. But there's lots to discover about the island besides the Minong Trail! The Greenstone Ridge is another great hike — but be warned, seven miles on Isle Royale is like 14 miles on most other trails. The terrain is rocky and unsteady, and has chewed up many of an experienced hikers' feet. Rock Harbor is the main campground and visitor's center on the island — in fact, there's even a lodge there for visitors who don't want to spend the night in a tent (or in one of the lovely shelters built at a number of the island's campgrounds). You won't be able to get a phone signal on the island, and the lodge's wireless (reserved for guests) is spotty at best. Also, while the ferry service is fairly reliable, we ended up staying an extra day on the island when there were gale force winds that kept the boats from running (we were happy to have the delay to explore even more of the island!). As of this writing (Aug. 2015) there are only likely two wolves left on the island. The National Park Service is currently studying whether it will intervene and bring more wolves back or just let nature take its course. That being said, when we backpacked there last month, we could hear the wolves howling at night (the animals are very reclusive, so it's a rare, RARE treat if you actually see a wolf!). We also saw a moose, walking right through the middle of the Rock Harbor campground early one morning! I love Isle Royale and can't wait to go back, but next time I'll bring my kayak (as I imagine I might still be healing from the blisters I received last time I was on the island)!

5.0