When you get your permit, Rock Harbor is actually your first night camping, unless you’re staying at the lodge. Washington Creek is your second night, and then your third night is wherever you hike to.

Yup, ivory bar soap is considered ok, but I choose campsuds because it rinses out with no soapy taste on my dishes.

I carry a small plastic pail (2.5 qts - paint pail) that adds about 3 oz to my gear but it's useful for so many things! One of them is washing up. I carry a tiny bottle (used to be eyedrops, I think) of Campsuds to use for clean-up of dishes, socks and underwear, and me. With the pail, I can take wa...

Have fun!

Secure your lodging on the island first. If you are not able to camp, then you really cannot come to the island without lodging reservations. You may have to alter your dates to get the lodging to work.

I wish I had known: that I almost never end up hiking exactly the itinerary I had spent months meticulously planning and researching. So I now plan a route, but don't obsess if I diverge from the daily plan. I tend to get ahead of plan. Oh, and, sitting on the docks at a campsite is a great place to...

But, don’t reroute and plan to stay at East Chickenbone.....that campground is purely functional, built to put a couple more group sites on the eastern half of the island, and not worth staying at when you have other options. I stayed there once for the sole purpose of ticking it off my list for sta...

You got the 1-night limit thing figured out right! About McCargoe Cove, either path is good. I always like more time rather than less at McCargoe. Visit the mine, relax on the dock, take a nap in a shelter......

Sounds like a great trip plan.

I saw a loon family, parent and juveniles, call out in alarm and dive just in time to avoid a bald eagle swooping in to grab a chick for lunch. 20 yards from my kayak inTobin Harbor near Merritt Island.

I do as described above, but additionally dry my filter open, but in the refrigerator to discourage mold while it’s drying. Once it’s fully dry, thenI store it with the rest of the kit.

Does anyone know when the NPS will post plans for summer 2021 rules? I specifically want to know if the full length of the Minong Ridge trail will be open, and whether hikers will be able to get cross-country zone camping permits. Both were not available last summer.

Lake Ritchie is nice enough (unless there’s an algae bloom), but Moskey Basin is spectacular. Consider stopping at Moskey. Or at least check if there’s an available shelter then decide! Great choice of route. On your way back to Rock Harbor, consider climbing back up the hill after staying overnight...

One thing people are surprised by at Isle Royale: It can be both extremely hot and pretty darn cold on the same day. The ridges, where you will be hiking all day, get very hot in summer weather. Be sure to have enough water carrier volume to carry enough water to keep yourself well hydrated on a roc...

Also note, there are multiple things you can do from Rock Harbor area, and with the Queen you depart in the afternoon, so you have another almost-full day. As Torpified mentioned, use the half-day canoe rental to explore Tobin Harbor and maybe hike to Lookout Louise and explore Hidden Lake. There's ...

Yes. I carry a small NOAA weather radio when I go to Isle Royale. You get either US or Canadian weather forecasts depending on where you are on the Island, for the western Lake Superior region. I recall Rock Harbor as being particularly bad for reception. I would also check the websites before your ...