Isle Royale Forums

Back for 2016, it's our annual trip log!

Once finalized as best as possible, post your itinerary, and then look around the list at who may else be enjoying a trip at the same time. It's a great way to make new friends on the Island.

If you have questions or want feedback on your planned trip, consider posting your questions on the Trail and Campsites (viewforum.php?f=4) and Canoeing, Kayaking, & Fishing (viewforum.php?f=5) subforums.

We also have a visual calendar (app.php/calendar) to post the simple schedule, as well.

When you return, we hope you share your experience with a Trip Report!

Please copy below and post your plans in the following format:

Name:
Email: (at)
Hometown:
Arrival Date:
Departure Date:
Coming From/Via:
Itinerary:
Notes/Other:

Name Kelly
Email PM me
Hometown Berrien Springs, MI
Arrival Date May 25, 2016
Departure Date June 11, 2016
Coming From/Via Grand Portage via Voyageur II
Itinerary
Day 00: Hike to Three Mile
Day 01: Hike to Moskey Basin
Day 02: Stay at Moskey Basin
Day 03: Hike to Chippewa Harbor
Day 04: Stay at Chippewa Harbor
Day 05: Hike to McCargoe Cove
Day 06: Hike to Todd Harbor
Day 07: Stay at Todd Harbor
Day 08: Hike to Little Todd Harbor
Day 09: Hike to North Lake Desor
Day 10: Hike to Windigo
Day 11: Hike to Feldtmann Lake
Day 12: Hike to Siskiwit Bay
Day 13: Stay at Siskiwit Bay
Day 14: Hike to South Lake Desor
Day 15: Hike to Malone Bay
Day 16: Stay at Malone Bay
Day 17: Stay at Malone Bay
Day 18: Return to Grand Portage

Notes Second time on the island; Chippewa Harbor is new, as is everything past Todd Harbor.

Name: Mike Papin
Email: mwpapin@gmial.com
Hometown: Ann Arbor Area
Arrival Date: June 6, 2016
Departure Date: June 15, 2016
Coming From/Via: Copper Harbor/Isle Royale Queen
Itinerary:
June 6 (Monday) Depart for Isle Royale on the Isle Royale Queen
-Paddle approximately 12 miles/5 hours to Chippewa Harbor
-Campsites along the way are Tooker Island, Caribou Island & Daisy Farm
June 7(Tuesday) Depart Chippewa 
-Paddle 15.5 miles to Hay Bay
-Campsites along the way are Malone Bay at the Siskiwit River
June 8 (Wednesday) Depart Hay Bay
-Paddle 22.5 mile to Grace island
-Campsites along the way are Rainbow Cove at the Rainbow cove trail 
June 9 (Thursday) Depart Grace Island
-Paddle 4 miles to Windgo
-Rent cabin for one night
June 10 (Friday) Depart Windigo
-Paddle 26 miles to Todd Harbor
-Campsites along the way are Huginin Cove, Little Todd Harbor
June 11(Saturday) Depart Todd Harbor
-Paddle 8.5 miles To Birch Island (entrance to MaCargo Cove)
June 12 (Sunday) Depart Birch Island
-Paddle 6 miles to Belle Isle
June 13 (Monday) Depart Belle Isle
-Paddle 4 miles to Duncan Bay portage(.2 mile portage) then Paddle 2.5 miles to
Duncan Bay Narrows
June 14(Tuesday) Depart Duncan Bay Narrows
-Paddle 8 miles to Rock Harbor.
Notes/Other: Miles are estimated. Trip can be shortened to accommodate poor weather.

Name: Jerry B
Email: (at) Bowman644@gmail.com
Hometown: Chicago
Arrival Date: May 18
Departure Date: May 22
Coming From/Via: Grand Portage
Itinerary:5/18--McCargo (or Todd)
5/19 Todd (or Little Todd)
5/20 Hatchett
5/21 Malone
Notes/Other: May be solo or may be with one or two others

Name: Andy Waldron
Email: (at) Tightlines01@gmail.com
Hometown: Kentwood, MI
Arrival Date: 6/10/16
Departure Date: 6/18/16
Coming From/Via: Houghton/Ranger III
Itinerary:
6/10 => 3 Mile
6/11 => Daisy
6/12 => Moskey
6/13 => Chipewa Harbor
6/14 => Moskey
6/15 => Daisy
6/16 => 3 Mile (likely via Greenstone to see Mt Ojibway and Franklin)
6/17 => Rock
Notes/Other: 7th trip for me, first for my 9 year old twin sons. Likely going to take it slow and easy, may take a couple of Zero days at Moskey if they're having trouble, may jump and do a couple of bigger days if they are doing really good. Can't wait to share Isle Royale with them!

Sorry, but this summer's trip ended up being in Shenandoah NP (40 miles on the AT north into Big Meadows). Maybe IR next year.

Name: Rob Dumas
Email: (at) vladinator1@sbcglobal.net
Hometown: Commerce Township, MI
Arrival Date: 6/17/16
Departure Date: 6/24/16
Coming From/Via: Houghton/Sea Plane
Itinerary:
6/17 => Feldtmann Lake
6/18 => Siskiwit Bay
6/19 => Washington Creek
6/20 =>Hugginin Cone
6/21 =>Beaver Island / Washington Creek
6/22 => Voyageur to Rock Harbor Possibly hike to Three Mile
6/23 => Lane Cove
Notes/Other: This is my eight visit to the island! This is my first time backpacking though, as I have always either rented a boat at Rock Harbor, or brought my own boat on the Ranger. I am excited to Solo Across the island!

Name: Kevin Langton and 3ish others
Email: (at) kevinjlangton@gmail.com
Hometown: Mankato MN
Arrival Date: Wed May 11
Departure Date: Sun May 15
Coming From/Via: Voyageur Dos
Itinerary: Arrive at Windigo and walk to a shelter (preferably #13) and establish base camp. We will most likely stay there every night until Voyageur Dos picks us up on Sunday. We are all ultrarunners and will run the shit out of the trails as best we can or want to.
Notes/Other: I have done early spring (first boat!) and late fall trips but never base camped like this. I've always packed or paddled. I'm looking forward to comfort items. Like a camp chair.

Name: Rainelde
Email: rainelde@hotmail.com
Hometown: Blanchardville
Arrival Date: June1
Departure Date: June 5
Coming From/Via: Voyageur
Itinerary: Arrive Windigo, head to island mine, siskiwit bay, feldtman lake, back to windigo stay one night before catching voyager back to grand portage.

I'm a walking fool who's lived in MI for the last 8 yrs, but this is my first trip. I'm super-excited (except about the tapeworms)!

Name: Laura
Email: ruetsche@umich.edu
Hometown: Ann Arbor, MI
Arrival Date: June 20
Departure Date: June 23
Coming From/Via: Grand Portage/Voyageur II
Itinerary:
6/20: Windigo => Desor S.
6/21: Desor S => Chickenbone West
6/22 [*my 51st birthday!*] Chickenbone West => Rock Harbor
6/23: Voyageur II back to Grand Portage

Name: Alan G. ("Senior Packrafter")
Email: algr6@yahoo.com
Hometown: Farmington Hills, MI
Arrival Date: May 16, 2016
Departure Date: May 27, 2016
Coming From/ Via: Copper Harbor via Isle Royale Queen
Itinerary:
5/16: Tobin Harbor paddle (or Tobin Harbor Trail if wind-prohibitive); Mt. Franklin Tr south to Rock Harbor Tr to Daisy Farm CG
5/17: Moskey Basin paddle (or Rock Harbor Tr if wind-prohibitive) to L. Richie Tr to L. Richie east side and south arm paddle to Indian Portage Tr to paddle to
Chippewa Harbor CG
5/18: Chippewa Harbor & CG
5/19: Paddle to L. Whittlesey portage; paddle to L. Whittlesey CG
5/20: Bushwhack to L. Dustin and Greenstone Beach; L. Whittlesey CG
5/21: Paddle to Wood L. portage ; paddle to Wood L. CG
5/22: Siskiwit L.; Wood L. CG
5/23: Paddle to Intermediate L. portage; paddle to Intermediate L. CG
5/24: Paddle to Richie L. portage; paddle to Richie L. Canoe CG
5/25: Paddle to L LeSage portage; Paddle L. LeSage to Indian Portage Tr to W. Chickenbone L. CG
5/26: Paddle Chickenbone L. to east end take-out to Greenstone Ridge Tr; bushwhack to Angleworm L., paddle to east end and bushwhack back to Greenstone Tr
to Daisy Farm Tr to Rock Harbor Tr to Threemile CG
5/27 Tobin Harbor paddle to Rock Harbor

Notes/Other: Any suggestions would be very welcomed

Unfortunately I had to cancel my trip posted here May 9. I sincerely hope that all of you that have posted on this Forum have the best trips of your dreams on IR this season.

Name:Matt
Email: pm me
Hometown: Mason City, IA
Arrival Date: June 6th
Departure Date: June 15th
Coming From/Via: Grand Portage/ Voyager II
Itinerary:
Day 1- Feldtman Lake
Day 2- Siskiwit Bay
Day 3- South Desor
Day 4- Malone Bay
Day 5- Hatchet Lake
Day 6- Todd Harbor
Day 7- Little Todd Harbor
Day 8- North Desor
Day 9- Huginnin Cove
Day 10- Depart Windigo
Notes/Other- 2ND trip to the Isle both solo trips...first time I covered most of the East side in 7 days. There be a few spots I haven't seen after this trip like Chippewa Harbor and Lookout Louise.

Name: David
Email: djs1.618@gmail.com
Hometown: Grand Rapids, MI
Arrival Date: Sept. 4, 2016
Departure Date: Sept. 9, 2016
Coming From/Via: Copper Harbor, Queen IV
Itinerary: IN PROGRESS - Input appreciated!
Notes/Other: Group of seven, all first timers, interested in fishing at least one of the days, open to lengthy hikes, looking for great views!

Name: Mitchell
Email: PM
Hometown: Minneapolis, MN
Arrival Date: June 11, 2016
Departure Date: June 18, 2016
Coming From/Via: Grand Portage, Voyageur II
Itinerary:
6/11 - Windigo to Feldtman Lake
6/12 - Feldtman Lake to Siskiwit Bay
6/13 - Siskiwit Bay to South Desor
6/14 - South Desor to Hatchet Lake
6/15 - Hatchet Lake to Little Todd
6/16 - Little Todd to North Desor
6/17 - North Desor to Washington Creek
6/18 - Depart Windigo
Notes/Other: Two first timers who have been anticipating this trip for a while! Open to suggestions.