Welcome, WMI. I made my epic return to IR last year after a 37 year absence and it far exceeded my expectations! Hopefully your trip does the same.

I'm a big proponent of trail runners for most conditions other than snow. I converted from full-leather waterproof boots last year before my trip to IR ...

The video is great! I'm planning to do the Feldtmann Loop this next August so I appreciated being able to see the Senter Point detour that I've previously only read about.


Glad it was helpful! I was pretty anxious about senter point, and it ended up being no big deal! Not easy but definitely ...

...from reading your report I don't think my trail runners will cut it here lol

Not necessarily. I just did 70 miles on IR in trail runners and I'll never go back to boots (unless hiking in snow). It just depends on whether you're OK walking with wet feet. I assumed my feet would get wet no ...

Welcome to the forum, Shokwav. I just did 3/4 of the Feldtmann loop in August as part of our end-to-end trek (https://isleroyaleforums.com/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=4605) and it was noticeably less traveled than anywhere else on IR. You'll want 3 solid hiking days to make the loop with overnights at ...

In retrospect

The Route
Loved it and wouldn’t change a thing. Great variety of terrain and I feel like we hit many of the very best campsites on the island. We all agreed Feldtmann Lake was our favorite, but Siskiwit Bay, Todd Harbor, McCargoe Cove and Lane Cove were all very close seconds ...

Day 7 – Saturday, 8/21
Lane Cove to Rock Harbor
There was a slight threat of rain overnight so we actually had the rain flies on the tents. Thankfully, we woke to a dry but cloudy morning. We rolled out by 8:30 determined to survive the rock garden without any turned ankles and then steadily trudge ...

Day 6 – Friday, 8/20
McCargoe Cove to ???
Worst night’s sleep all week. Four dudes on air mattresses make a lot of noise that just reverberates off the bare walls of the shelter. I was up early and headed down to the dock to enjoy the sunrise. A bull moose came down to the shoreline and decided he’d ...

Day 5 – Thursday, 8/19
Todd Harbor to McCargoe Cove
We were packed up and on the trail early today. Really looking forward to a short day and hoping to snag a shelter at McCargoe Cove. Love this section of trail! I was intimidated by the idea of hiking Minong, but feedback from this forum was that ...

Day 4 – Wednesday, 8/18
Lake Desor S to Todd Harbor
Long day ahead of us and not much to do in camp, so we ate breakfast, packed up quickly and hit the trail by 8:30. The ladies had already cleared out half an hour earlier. To be honest, our first experience with the crowds at Desor had us concerned ...

Day 3 – Tuesday, 8/17
Siskiwit Bay to Lake Desor S
No moose sightings this morning, so we were packed up and moving before 9:00 today. We hiked along the beach until we hit the trail sign that directs you to the bridge over the Siskiwit River (less than 1 mile from the pier). Noticed wolf tracks in ...

We did McCargoe to Lane a few weeks back. It’s a really tough 13 miles - the first few miles coming out of Lane have a lot of elevation gain and difficult footing. I’d still choose to do it again because Lane Cove is such a great little site, but I would only recommend that stretch if you’re really ...

Day 2 - Monday, 8/16
Feldtmann Lake to Siskiwit Bay
After barely sleeping, I was up at 6:15 and plopped my chair on the lakeshore to watch the sunrise. I was soon joined by a moose cow & calf eating breakfast about 75 yards up the shoreline. They were both slowly working their way toward me until ...

I had planned to do this as a single post, but it's taking a while to write it up so thought I'd start with the first couple days and update as I can. I hope you enjoy and find it helpful!

Day 0 – Saturday, 8/14
Drove from Detroit Area to Houghton/Hancock. The crew consists of Joe, Brett, Gary & me ...

The NPS/IR fire policy is to let naturally occurring fires burn (this fire is said to have been started by lightning) provided they do not threaten any structures. Any idea of the size now? Is the NPS taking action on the fire?


No idea of the size now. A ranger told us this morning that it had ...

Just left Rock Harbor after a week on the island. Last night was pretty wild watching the smoke billow from the ridge just the other side of Tobin Harbor. Will have more in a TR later this week but here’s a couple pics from the plane as we left.

I can’t help feeling angry to see this. Anyone that ...