Favorite Boat only Campsite

Questions about water transportation and fishing on the island.

Moderators: Ingo, johnhens

Post Reply
KeyMeKoe
NewbieCake
Posts: 15
Joined: Wed Sep 02, 2009 7:46 am

Favorite Boat only Campsite

Post by KeyMeKoe »

I count 15 boat or canoe only Campsites:
Belle Isle, Duncan Bay, Duncan Narrows, Pickerel Cove, Birch Island
Merritt Lane, Caribou Island, Tookers Island, Grace Island, Beaver Island
Hay Bay, Lake Whittlesey, Wood Lake, Intermediate Lake, Lake Ritchie Canoe
I have stayed at 5 and visited 5 others. 5 I have never visited.

My favorite is Belle Isle. I like the grounds, cabins, pavilion, central location to the area, view of Sleeping Giant.
User avatar
Tampico
May actually live on IR
Posts: 311
Joined: Tue Dec 08, 2009 10:59 pm
Isle Royale Visits: 4
Location: St. Paul, MN

Re: Favorite Boat only Campsite

Post by Tampico »

I like Duncan Bay. Unfortunately, the dock is slated to be removed in the future.
Damon S
Trailblazer
Posts: 120
Joined: Wed Oct 03, 2007 6:48 pm
Isle Royale Visits: 10
Location: Keego Harbor, MI

Re: Favorite Boat only Campsite

Post by Damon S »

Hey...dont forget about the backcountry..kayak only areas. Long Point, Attwood beach. But yes, Belle, Pickerel, Caribou and Merritt are some of our favorites... Birch is ok, but not on our top 5.

Damon...
Wilderness Junkie
LNT Expert
Posts: 76
Joined: Thu Jan 05, 2012 6:19 pm
Isle Royale Visits: 4
Location: SE Michigan

Re: Favorite Boat only Campsite

Post by Wilderness Junkie »

I've only hit a few 'boat only' on my kayak trip last year, but out of those, Lake Whittelsey is my favorite, probably due to the fantastic fishing.

I plan to do a '5 fingers' trip via kayak or canoe next year, so I will be watching this post :D
User avatar
Ingo
Forum Moderator
Posts: 1949
Joined: Wed Sep 12, 2007 1:11 pm
Isle Royale Visits: 14
Location: Hillsborough, NC
Has thanked: 269 times
Been thanked: 161 times

Re: Favorite Boat only Campsite

Post by Ingo »

Belle Isle is also my favorite. During my summer in Rock Harbor I paddled there as often as possible. Wood Lake would be my 2nd, but they're all good. Only one I didn't really care for (and haven't stayed at) is Tookers. I've camped at 7 and checked out another 4. Really need to make it to Merritt Lane.
22: BI-PC-BI-RH, 21: RH-ML-DF-MB-DF, 18: MC-PC-BI-DB-RH-DF, 17: WI-IM-SB-FL-WC, 16: RH-CI-TI-RH, 14: BI-ML-CI-CH-MB, 13: RH-PI, 12: MC-CB-HL-TH, 11: WC-HC-WC, 09: MC-BI-DN-RH, 05: MI-CI-MB-DF-RH-TM-RH, 02: MC-LR-WL-CH, 01: BI-DB-RH, 79: worked RH
User avatar
Midwest Ed
IR Expert
Posts: 1355
Joined: Sat Jul 03, 2010 1:25 am
Isle Royale Visits: 8
Location: Quad Cities, IL
Has thanked: 42 times
Been thanked: 82 times

Re: Favorite Boat only Campsite

Post by Midwest Ed »

Belle Isle, by far is the most scenic spot to stay and I'm including the trail accessible camp grounds also. For an inland, canoe only choice it has to be Wood Lake. My least favorite is Caribou Island. Maybe it was the 45 degree, 30 mph south wind the day I was there but there was something claustrophobic about the place. I could imagine Tookers Island would be even more so. Maybe on a warm sunny day with a good book things would be different.
8 trips, 1975 x 2, 1976 x 2, 1978, 1985, 2000, 2013
User avatar
IncaRoads
Forum Moderator
Posts: 347
Joined: Fri Feb 26, 2010 1:52 pm
Isle Royale Visits: 14
Location: St. Paul, MN / Fernandina Beach, FL
Has thanked: 39 times
Been thanked: 57 times

Re: Favorite Boat only Campsite

Post by IncaRoads »

Pickerel Cove is my favorite.
User avatar
Ingo
Forum Moderator
Posts: 1949
Joined: Wed Sep 12, 2007 1:11 pm
Isle Royale Visits: 14
Location: Hillsborough, NC
Has thanked: 269 times
Been thanked: 161 times

Re: Favorite Boat only Campsite

Post by Ingo »

Midwest Ed wrote:My least favorite is Caribou Island. Maybe it was the 45 degree, 30 mph south wind the day I was there but there was something claustrophobic about the place.

Sounds like my one day there, so I know what you're saying. But still loved it, maybe because the shelter faces north (and we were in it) :). Or maybe because it was the first night of that trip and we were just that happy to be there :D.
22: BI-PC-BI-RH, 21: RH-ML-DF-MB-DF, 18: MC-PC-BI-DB-RH-DF, 17: WI-IM-SB-FL-WC, 16: RH-CI-TI-RH, 14: BI-ML-CI-CH-MB, 13: RH-PI, 12: MC-CB-HL-TH, 11: WC-HC-WC, 09: MC-BI-DN-RH, 05: MI-CI-MB-DF-RH-TM-RH, 02: MC-LR-WL-CH, 01: BI-DB-RH, 79: worked RH
User avatar
MikeT
IR Pro
Posts: 362
Joined: Fri Oct 29, 2010 1:32 pm
Isle Royale Visits: 23
Location: Port Sanilac, Michigan
Been thanked: 2 times
Contact:

Re: Favorite Boat only Campsite

Post by MikeT »

Two ends of the spectrum, Caribou and Pickerel! I like both though.
- Caribou because of Cemetery Island, the lighthouse, fishery and Middles islands passage. Plus the north shore of the island in the middle of the night with the buoy bell ringing (with Maker's Mark :). Not much in terms of wilderness though. Busy area.
- Pickerel Cove is the BEST wilderness campground I have been to. Better than Little Todd which I believe is the best walking wilderness campground.
- Merritt is spectacular in terms of location, scenery and cool places to paddle to.
- Whittlesey and Intermediate have a nice wilderness feel, but are limited in view.
- Wood is a great location. I like looking at the two sides which are usually very different.
- Tookers is ok, but very limited on space. The north side is nice though. Good place to spend one night.
- Grace might be my worst because of the lack of easy exploring on land, the small area of the campground and the bustle. It is located close to many things to paddle to though (Washington, Barnum, etc,)
Mike T.
"Isle Royale Info - A Comprehensive Guide to Isle Royale National Park" available at: http://www.isleroyale.info
"Isle Royale Itinerary Generator" an intuitive program to create and manage itineraries. Description at: http://www.isleroyale.info/ig_description.html
"Half the fun is in the planning"
Post Reply