Isle Royale Forums

Love the trip report. You're making me island-sick!

What was the diner -- Suomi? Kaleva? Both excellent choices if you haven't been there.

For mapping, I really like Acme Mapper. Click the "layers" button in the top right to change between aerial, maps, and topos. I've used those to figure out hiking topography quite often.

We aren't all online all the time, Fastcat. ;) Midwest Ed is right on. I've stayed in every hotel in downtown Houghton. The Franklin Square Inn (which is a Magnuson) is the nicest, but not that great. Super 8 can be downright wretched depending on who else is staying there. Across the bridge, the Ra...

Moskey is beautiful. It's worth staying there if you can. I've done Moskey to Rock Harbor in one day -- 12 miles. I was dragging at the end, but it was doable. Most of those 12 miles are about as flat as the island gets, but remember that it will still be rocky and rooty. If you're an experienced ba...

Moose come to those who get up early. Look at lakes and swampy areas early in the morning. Of course, we saw two (!!) on the paved trail in Rock Harbor last year, so you never know what will happen.

In my opinion, you'll find the trails on Isle Royale more rugged; more rocks, roots and up & down. If it rains, the IRNP trails can get muddy & slippery. But your route is certainly doable. I like to include a rest day somewhere along the way but that's just me. And you can skip Island Mine CG if y...

I've had this trouble a lot too, also with Chrome. I've deleted all cookies for this domain repeatedly, and that solves the problem for a couple of days -- then it comes back again. There is a bright red banner at the top of each page of the forums telling me to trash my cookies -- so I assume this ...

My suggestions here are pretty east-end-centric, and others can tell you more about what to look for on the west end. But there's plenty to see on the east... * My absolutely top recommendation for a fellow history buff: Spend at least a few hours at the Minong Mine (just up the hill from McCargoe C...

Yes, brush along the trails can be pretty thick this time of year, and it will be wet with dew in the mornings. It can definitely soak your pants. I use rain pants, but others swear by gaiters.

It's fantastic. Bugs are probably at their minimum. Lakes are nearly at their warmest. Expect rain, as always. Nights will start to get colder (40's are possible).

Not to scare you too much, but "quite smooth" is the opposite of the truth. The island is very rugged. (Regular alpine hikers might disagree with that statement, but I don't think anyone else would!) It's at least as rugged as the SHT, usually more so. The map you're looking at doesn't show much top...

The main roads are open now, so anyone who needs to travel through Houghton/Hancock can do so. Locals confirm that the seaplane dock is accessible and open.

Be sure to hit Moskey Basin (sunrises), Lane Cove (sunsets), and McCargoe Cove (just beautiful in every way). Plan a zero day or two. Enjoy laying around in a beautiful spot (you already know my recommendations for where). Read a book, explore the area, swim, fish, whatever you like. You don't have ...

Here's a link to a google map showing the status of washed-out roads:

https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/viewe ... 01128&z=13

Per local facebook friends, Airport Road is also washed out (the uphill stretch coming out of Dollar Bay). Coal Dock Road is a possibility or just walk to Ripley from Hancock. It's not too far (less than a mile). Crossing the washout couldn't be worse than a beaver dam, I guess? Stay safe everyone....